Narrated Ibn `Abbas: (as regards the Verse):--'You shall surely travel from stage to stage (in this life and in the Hereafter).' (It means) from one state to another. That concerns your Prophet.

Mujahid said «الأخدود‏» any ditch that is dug in the earth. «فتنوا‏» That is, causing harm.

Mujahid said «ذات الرجع‏» is an attribute of «ابر» (so by «سماء» is meant «ابر» ), meaning one that rains repeatedly. «ذات الصدع‏» means one that grows repeatedly, that sprouts; this is an attribute of the earth.

Narrated Al-Bara: The first of the companions of the Prophet who came to us (in Medina), were Mus`ab bin `Umair and Ibn Um Maktum, and they started teaching us the Qur'an. Then came `Ammar, Bilal and Sa`d. Afterwards `Umar bin Al-Kkattab came along with a batch of twenty (men): and after that the Prophet came. I never saw the people of Medina so pleased with anything as they were with his arrival, so that even the little boys and girls were saying, "This is Allah's Messenger who has come." He (the Prophet) did not come (to Medina) till I had learnt Surat Al-Ala and also other similar Suras.

And Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that by «عاملة ناصبة‏» are meant the Christians. Mujahid said that «عين آنية‏» means when it reaches the extreme of heat, its time for drinking has come. (In Surah Ar-Rahman) «حميم آن‏» also has the same meaning, that is, when it reaches the extreme of heat. «لا تسمع فيها لاغية‏» means that abusive language will not be heard there. «الضريع» is a type of vegetable which is called «شبرق» ; the people of Hijaz call it «ضريع» ; when it dries, it becomes poisonous. «بمسيطر‏» (with the letter 'Seen') means one given authority (over them); some have recited it with 'Saad' as «بمصيطر‏» . Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said «إيابهم‏» means their return. By «عاملة ناصبه» are meant the people of innovation.

Mujahid said that by «وتر» is meant Allah, the Exalted. By «إرم ذات العماد‏» is meant the ancient people of ‘Ad. The meaning of «عماد‏» is tents; these people were nomads. Wherever they found water and pasture, they would pitch their tents and stay there. The meaning of «سوط عذاب‏» is that they were punished. «أكلا لما‏» means to consume everything completely. «حبا جما‏» means to have great love. Mujahid said that whatever Allah has created ( «شفع» ) is in pairs; the sky is also the pair of the earth, and «وتر» is only Allah, the Pure. Others said that «سوط عذاب‏» is an Arabic idiom which refers to every kind of punishment, including the punishment of a single lash. «لبالمرصاد‏» means that everyone will return to Allah. «لا تحاضون‏» (with an alif, as is the famous recitation) means“do you not guard?”Some have read it as «متحضون» , meaning“do you not command?” «المطمئنة‏» is the soul that has faith in Allah’s reward, a believer, perfect in faith. Imam Hasan al-Basri said «نفس‏ المطمئنة‏» is the soul that, when Allah wishes to call it (death comes), finds peace with Allah, Allah is pleased with it, and it is pleased with Allah. Then Allah commands its soul to be taken and admits it to Paradise, including it among His righteous servants. Others said the meaning of «جابوا‏» is to dig and build a house; this is derived from «جيب» , and when «جيب» is added to it, in the same way the Arabs say «فلان يجوب الفلاة» meaning“he cuts the forest,”and «لما» the Arabs say «لممته» in the plural, meaning“he reached the end of it.”

Mujahid said that by «بهذا البلد‏» is meant Makkah. The meaning is that this city has been made lawful especially for you, and for others fighting there is a sin. By «والد‏» is meant Adam, and by «وما ولد‏» is meant his progeny. «لبدا‏» means a lot. «النجدين‏» means two ways, good and evil. «مسغبة‏» means hunger. «متربة‏» means to remain lying in the dust. «فلا اقتحم العقبة‏» means that he did not cross the mountain pass in the world, then the crossing of the mountain pass is explained ahead. «برده» means freeing a slave, feeding the hungry on days of hunger and hardship.

Mujahid said that «بطغواها‏» because of their sins. «ولا يخاف عقباها‏» means that Allah does not fear anyone who could take retribution from Him.

Narrated `Abdullah bin Zama: That he heard the Prophet delivering a sermon, and he mentioned the shecamel and the one who hamstrung it. Allah's Messenger recited:-- 'When, the most wicked man among them went forth (to hamstrung the she-camel).' (91.12.) Then he said, "A tough man whose equal was rare and who enjoyed the protection of his people, like Abi Zama went forth to (hamstrung) it." The Prophet then mentioned about the women (in his sermon). "It is not wise for anyone of you to lash his wife like a slave, for he might sleep with her the same evening." Then he advised them not to laugh when somebody breaks wind and said, "Why should anybody laugh at what he himself does?"

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that by «وكذب بالحسنى‏» it is meant that he does not have certainty that whatever he spends in the way of Allah, Allah will give him its reward. And Mujahid said regarding «اذا تردى‏» "when he dies." «تلظى‏» means the blazing, fiercely flaming fire of Hell. And Ubaid bin Umair recited «تتلظى‏» with two (ta’s).