And how many a city was insolent toward the command of its Lord and His messengers, so We took it to severe account and punished it with a terrible punishment.
{عتت عن أمر ربها}
They turned away from it in a state of arrogance and obstinacy.
{حسابا شديدا}
Through exhaustive scrutiny and interrogation.
{عذابا نكرا}
It is also read as *nukran* (disapproved/great). The meaning refers to the reckoning and punishment of the Hereafter—the calamity they taste and the loss they encounter therein. It is expressed in the past tense, similar to the verses: "And the companions of Paradise will call out" and "And the companions of the Fire will call out." This is because what is awaited from the promise and threat of God is, in reality, as good as having occurred; what is destined to be is as if it already was.
{أعد الله لهم عذابا شديدا}
This is a repetition of the threat and an explanation that it is something to be anticipated, as if He said: "God has prepared this punishment for them, so let that be a warning to you."
{واتقون يا أولي الألباب}
Addressed to the believers, as a kindness to encourage the fear of God and caution against His punishment. It is also possible that it refers to the counting and exhaustive tallying of sins against them in this world, their recording in the scrolls of the Guardian Angels, and the punishment they suffer in the immediate life.
{رسولا}
This is Gabriel (peace be upon him). It is an appositive (*badal*) for *dhikran* (a Reminder), because he is described as reciting the verses of God; thus, his descent is synonymous with the descent of the Reminder, making it valid to substitute him for it. Alternatively, *dhikr* may mean "honor," as in the verse: "And indeed, it is an honor for you and your people." Thus, he is substituted for it as if he himself is an honor—either because he is an honor to the one upon whom he descends, or because he possesses majesty and honor before God, as in the verse: "Possessor of the Throne, secure." Or, he is called *dhikr* because of his frequent remembrance of God and his worship. Or, it may mean *dhu dhikr* (possessor of fame), meaning an angel mentioned in the heavens and among all nations. Or, the verse "God has sent down to you a Reminder" implies "He has sent a Messenger." Or, *dhikr* is treated as a verbal noun acting upon the object, meaning: "God sent down that He mentioned a Messenger." It is also read as *rasulun* (nominative), meaning: "He is a Messenger."
{ليخرج الذين آمنوا}
After its descent, meaning: so that they may attain the state of faith and righteous deeds they are currently in, for they were not believers at the time of its descent; they only believed after the descent and the proclamation. Or, it means: to bring forth those of whom it was known that they would believe. It is also read as *yudkhiluhu* (He will admit him) with a *ya* and *nun*.
{قد أحسن الله له رزقا}
This contains a sense of wonder and glorification regarding the reward provided to the believer.
{الله الذي خلق سبع سماوات ومن الأرض مثلهن يتنزل الأمر بينهن لتعلموا أن الله على كل شيء قدير وأن الله قد أحاط بكل شيء علما}
{الله الذي خلق}
Subject and predicate. It is read as *mithlahunna* (accusative), as a conjunction to "seven heavens," and as *mithluhunna* (nominative) as an initial subject, with its predicate being "from the earth." It is said that there is no verse in the Quran that indicates the earths are seven except this one. It is said that between every two heavens is a journey of five hundred years, and the thickness of each heaven is the same, and the earths are like the heavens.
{يتنزل الأمر بينهن}
Meaning: God’s command and decree circulate among them, and His sovereignty is executed within them. Qatada said: In every heaven and every earth, there is a creation of His creation, a command of His command, and a decree of His decree. It is also said: It refers to the wonders of His management that He conducts within them. It is read as *yunazzilu al-amr* (He sends down the command). Ibn Abbas reported that Nafi' ibn al-Azraq asked him: "Is there creation beneath the earths?" He replied: "Yes." He asked: "What is the creation?" He said: "Either angels or jinn."
{لتعلموا}
Read with both *ta* and *ya*.
From the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family):
"Whoever recites Surah al-Talaq dies upon the Sunnah of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him)."
