Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:69

"The Truthful (al-ṣiddīqūn):" They are the most virtuous companions of the prophets, who preceded others in their belief—such as Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (may Allah be pleased with him)—and who were truthful in their words and deeds. This is an encouragement for the believers to obey, as they are promised the companionship of those who are closest to Allah and highest in rank before Him.

"And excellent (wa-ḥasuna):" This carries the meaning of exclamation (taʿajjub), as if it were said: "How excellent are those as companions!" It is used here to express wonder. It has been recited as wa-ḥsun (with a quiescent sīn). One who expresses wonder says: ḥasuna al-wajhu wajhuka (How beautiful is the face, your face!), and ḥasuna al-wajhu wajhuka with the fatḥah and ḍammah alongside the quiescence. The term rafīq (companion) is like ṣiddīq (truthful friend) and khalīṭ (associate) in that it is used equally for the singular and the plural. It is also permissible for it to be singular, used to clarify the genus in the category of tamyīz (specification).

The Occasion of Revelation: It is narrated that Thawbān, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), loved the Messenger of Allah intensely and could hardly bear to be away from him. One day, he came to the Prophet (ﷺ) with a changed complexion, a withered body, and visible sadness on his face. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked him about his condition, and he replied: "O Messenger of Allah, I have no illness, but when I do not see you, I miss you and feel a deep loneliness until I meet you. Then I remembered the Hereafter and feared that I would not see you there, because I know that you will be raised with the prophets. If I am admitted to Paradise, I will be in a station lower than yours, and if I am not admitted, I will never see you at all."

Then this verse was revealed. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "By Him in whose hand is my soul, no servant truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his own self, his parents, his family, his children, and all of mankind." This has also been narrated regarding a group of the Companions.

"That (dhālika):" This is the subject (mubtadaʾ), "the bounty (al-faḍl):" is its attribute, and "from Allah (min Allāh):" is the predicate. It is also permissible for "That" to be the subject and "the bounty from Allah" to be the predicate. The meaning is that the great reward given to the obedient and the companionship of those favored by Allah is from Allah, for He bestowed it upon them as a grace following their reward.

"As All-Knowing:" Of the recompense of those who obey Him. Or, it means that the bounty of those favored and their distinction is from Allah, because they earned it through His enabling and granting of success. "And sufficient is Allah as All-Knowing" of His servants; He grants them success according to their states.