Tafsir of An-Naml 27:69

"Say, 'Travel through the earth...'"

The feminine marker was not attached to the verb ‘āqibah (consequence) because its femininity is not real (i.e., it is a non-human feminine).

"And see how was the end of the criminals." The meaning is: How was the final outcome of their affair? By "criminals," He meant the disbelievers. He expressed disbelief using the term "crime" to serve as a gentle warning to the Muslims to abandon crimes and fear their consequences. Do you not see His saying: "So their Lord brought destruction upon them for their sin" (Ash-Shams: 14), and His saying: "Because of their sins they were drowned" (Nuh: 25)?

"And do not grieve over them." Because they did not follow you, and they did not submit (to Islam) so that they might be saved. They are his people, the Quraysh, similar to His saying: "Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message" (Al-Kahf: 6).

"In distress" In a constriction of the chest due to their plotting and scheming against you. Do not be concerned by that, for Allah will protect you from the people. It is said: ḍāqa al-shay’u ḍayqan and ḍīqan (with both the fatḥah and kasrah on the ḍād). It has been recited as ḍīqan (with a kasrah). Al-ḍīq is also the lightened form of al-ḍayq. Allah the Almighty said: "ḍayyiqan ḥarajan" (Al-An'am: 125), which has been recited both lightened and weighted. It is also permissible that it means "in a matter of distress" caused by their plotting.

"And they say, 'When is this promise, if you should be truthful?' Say, 'Perhaps it is close behind you—some of that which you are hastening.'"