Abu Maisarah (Amr bin Shurahbil) said: «الأواه» ‏‏‏‏ means kind and merciful in the Abyssinian language. And Ibn Abbas said: The meaning of «بادئ الرأي» is what has become apparent to us. And Mujahid said: «جودي» is a mountain on that island which is between the Tigris and Euphrates near Mosul. And Imam Hasan al-Basri said: «إنك لأنت الحليم» was said by the disbelievers to Shu'aib in mockery. And Ibn Abbas said: The meaning of «أقلعي» ‏‏‏‏ is "stop." The meaning of «عصيب» is "severe." The meaning of «لا جرم» is "why not" (i.e., it is necessary). The meaning of «وفار التنور» is "water gushed forth." Ikrimah said: «تنور» refers to the surface of the earth.

Other people besides ‘Ikrimah have said that the meaning of «حاق» is“descended,”and from this is «يحيق ينزل» “descends.”In «انه ليوس كفور» , the meaning of «يوس» is“to despair,”which is on the pattern of «فعول» . This is derived from «يئست» . And Mujahid said, the meaning of «لا تبتئس» is“do not grieve,”and the meaning of «يثنون صدورهم» is that they doubt the truth. «ليستخفوا منه» means, if possible, they would hide from Allah.

Narrated Muhammad bin `Abbas bin Ja`far: That he heard Ibn `Abbas reciting: "No doubt! They fold up their breasts." (11.5) and asked him about its explanation. He said, "Some people used to hide themselves while answering the call of nature in an open space lest they be exposed to the sky, and also when they had sexual relation with their wives in an open space lest they be exposed to the sky, so the above revelation was sent down regarding them."