Here Allah tells us about His servant, Messenger and close Friend, the leader of the monotheists and the father of all subsequent Prophets, from whom Quraysh were descended and claimed to have taken their religion. He disowned his father's and his people's worship of idols and said:

The Word means the worship of Allah Alone with no partner or associate, and the denunciation of all gods apart from Him, i.e.. La ilaha illallah. He left this word as an example to be followed by those of his progeny who were guided by Allah.

{that they may turn back.} means, come back to this word.

Ikrimah, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, As-Suddi and others commented on the Ayah:

"This means, La ilaha illallah, and there are still those among his offspring who say it." A similar view was narrated from Al-Qurazi, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd.

Several scholars of Tafsir stated that by this, the Quraysh meant Al-Walid bin Al-Mughirah and 'Urwah bin Mas'ud Ath-Thaqafi. The apparent meaning is that what they meant was a great man from either of the two towns. Allah responded to their rejection by saying:

meaning, the matter has nothing to do with them; it is for Allah to decide. Allah knows best where to direct His Message, and He does not reveal it except to the one who is the purest in heart and soul, and of the noblest descent.

Then Allah points out that He differentiates among His creation in terms of what He gives them of wealth, provision, intellect, understanding and other visible and hidden strengths:

{so that some may employ others in their work.} It was said that this means that some employ others in their work, because one needs the other, and vice versa. This was the view of As-Suddi and others.

means, the mercy of Allah towards His creation is better for them than the wealth and conveniences of this world which they possess.

Wealth is not a Sign of Divine Pleasure

If this world were worth a gnat's wing before Allah, He would not give a disbeliever a drink of water. Al-Baghawi narrated its chain of narration.

means, it is exclusively for them, and no one else will share it with them. When 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, visited the Messenger of Allah in seclusion, when he was keeping away from his wives, and he saw him resting on a rough mat which had left marks on his side, his eyes filled with tears and he said, "O Messenger of Allah, look at this Chosroes and this Caesar with all that they have, and you are the best of Allah's creation." The Messenger of Allah was reclining, but he sat up and said:

"Are you in doubt, O son of Al-Khattab?"
Then he said:

"Those are people for whom the enjoyments are hastened in this world." According to another report:

"Does it not please you that this world is for them and the Hereafter is for us?"

In the Two Sahihs and elsewhere, it is reported that the Messenger of Allah said:

"Do not drink from vessels of gold and silver, and do not eat from plates of the same, for these things are for them in this world and for us in the Hereafter."

Allah has granted these things to them in this world because it is insignificant, as was reported by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah via Abu Hazim from Sahl bin Sa'd, who said, "The Messenger of Allah said:

"If this world were worth a gnat's wing before Allah, He would never give a disbeliever a drink of water." At-Tirmidhi said: "Hasan Sahih."