Tafsir of Al-Qasas 28:61

Exegesis:

This verse is a confirmation and clarification of the one preceding it.

• "A good promise" (وعداً حسناً): This refers to the reward, for it consists of permanent benefits bestowed by way of honor and merit. What could be better than that? It is for this reason that Allah named Paradise al-Husna (the Best).
• "He will meet it" (فهو لاقيه): Similar to the Almighty’s saying: "And He will grant them radiance and happiness" (76:11). Its opposite is: "Then they will meet evil" (19:59).
• "Among those brought forward" (من المحضرين): Those who are brought into the Fire. Similar to: "I would have been among those brought forward" (37:57), and "They denied him, so they will be among those brought forward" (37:127).

Occasion of Revelation: It is said this was revealed regarding the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Abu Jahl. Others say it concerns Ali and Hamza versus Abu Jahl. Others say it concerns Ammar ibn Yasir versus al-Walid ibn al-Mughira.

Grammatical Inquiry: If you ask: "Explain the two fa’s (ف) and the thumma (ثم), and inform me of their positions."

Response: The preceding verse mentioned the enjoyment of the worldly life and what is with Allah, and the disparity between them. Then, it was followed by: "Is he whom We have promised..." The meaning is: "After this manifest disparity, can one equate the children of the Hereafter with the children of this world?" This is the meaning of the first fa and its position.

As for the second fa, it is for causation (tasbib), because the meeting of the promised reward is a result of the promise, which is a guarantee of good.

As for thumma (then), it denotes the delay of the state of being "brought forward" (in the Fire) relative to the state of "enjoyment" (in the world), not a delay in their respective times.

It has been recited as thumma huwa (ثم هو) with a sukun on the ha (هـ), similar to saying ‘adud for ‘adud (upper arm). This treats the separated pronoun as if it were connected. The sukun on the ha in fahuwa (فهو), wahuwa (وهو), and lahuwa (لهو) is better, because a single letter cannot be pronounced on its own, so it is treated as if it were connected.