298. Suddi has said that Allah made us succeed the disbelieving generations of the past times (Ibn Jarir, Alusi).

After mentioning Suddi's interpretation, Zamakhshari adds another possible meaning as: Men as Allah's Khalifah in His earth, enjoying its contents and utilizing it the way it pleases them.

Apart from mentioning Suddi's interpretation as well as agreeing with the possibility of Zamakhshari's opinion, Alusi adds Hasan's opinion: "Generation after generation Allah replaces one people after another. This is the meaning of being khalifah in the land."

299. According to Suddi the ranks referred to in the verse are related to wealth and provisions (Ibn Jarir).

300. Imam Ahmad has preserved the following narration of Abu Hurayrah. The Prophet said:

لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ الْعُقُوبَةِ مَا طَمِعَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَحَدٌ وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْكَافِرُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ الرَّحْمَةِ مَا قَنَطَ مِنْ الْجَنَّةِ أَحَدٌ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ مِائَةَ رَحْمَةٍ فَوَضَعَ رَحْمَةً وَاحِدَةً بَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ يَتَرَاحَمُونَ بِهَا وَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ تِسْعَةٌ وَتِسْعُونَ رَحْمَةً

"If the believer knew what punishments are with Allah, no one would ever covet Paradise. And if the unbeliever knew what mercy is with Allah, no one would despair of Paradise. Allah created a hundred parts of mercy. One part He distributed among His creations by which they show mercy to each other. And with Allah are ninety nine (parts of it)" Ibn Kathir.