Taberî9-10. c.✓ Citation verified
According to Taberî, this expression provides a reason for the servants to give thanks in return for the blessings God has given them (such as forgiveness after worshiping the calf, the giving of the Torah, the resurrection of the dead, and help against enemies). The particle 'lealle' (لعل) here means 'kî' (لكي), that is, it is a conjunction that expresses purpose. Furthermore, in certain contexts, this expression also means 'so that you may be guided.'
ومعنى لعل في هذا الموضع معنى كي، وقد بينت فيما مضى قبل أن أحد معاني لعل كي بما فيه الكفاية عن إعادته في هذا الموضع
Zemahşerî12. c.✓ Citation verified
Zemahşerî explains this expression as a will/purpose given for them to give thanks in return for the blessings bestowed upon them by God. To support this, he transmits a report from Katade: The Arabs were formerly the most humiliated, most difficult to sustain, most naked, and most misguided people; they were eaten by others and could not eat themselves; God strengthened them on earth, expanded their provision and spoils, and made them rulers.
كان هذا الحي من العرب أذل الناس ، وأشقاهم عيشا ، وأعراهم جلدا ، وأبينهم ضلالا ، يؤكلون ولا يأكلون ، فمكن الله لهم في البلاد ، ووسع لهم في الرزق والغنائم وجعلهم ملوكا
İbn Kesîr14. c.✓ Citation verified
The raw text provided does not contain exegetical content, but only consists of a brief expression that is a reference/heading to the verses. For this reason, it is not possible to summarize Ibn Kesîr's view on this verse.
< الآيات وقوله تعالى
Fahreddin er-Râzî12-13. c.✓ Citation verified
According to Râzî, the expression 'لعلكم تشكرون' indicates that the purpose of God's transitioning His servants from hardship to ease, from affliction to blessing, is to engage them in gratitude and obedience. In this case, it is not appropriate for the servants to engage in contention and dispute over spoils (anfal). Furthermore, the Mu'tazilites used this expression as evidence that God wants gratitude from everyone, and thus He wants everything He commands from both the obedient and the disobedient; whereas Ahl al-Sunnah understood it to mean that He wants it only from those whom He knows will obey.
فكيف يليق بكم أن تشتغلوا بالمنازعة والمخاصمة بسبب الأنفال ؟
Beydâvî13. c.✓ Citation verified
According to Beydâvî, the expression 'then We forgave you' refers to the forgiveness of the sin of worshiping the calf upon repentance; forgiveness means to erase the sin. The Book and Furqan given to Moses is the Torah; it is called by these two names both in the sense of being a revealed book and in the sense of being a proof that distinguishes truth from falsehood. For the word Furqan, other interpretations have also been transmitted, such as miracles, the law that distinguishes the lawful from the unlawful, or victory gained against the enemy.
والعفو محو الجريمة
Comparison
Common ground
Taberî, Zemahşerî, Râzî, and indirectly Beydâvî, agree that the expression 'lealle teşkurûn' aims at the servants giving thanks in return for the blessings given by God (such as forgiveness, the giving of the Book, victory, etc.); this conveys a purpose/cause.
Differences
Taberî uses linguistic analysis together with the chain of transmission (Abu al-Aliyah, Ibn Abbas); Zemahşerî exemplifies the Arabs' transition from previous humiliation to strength with the report of Katade; Râzî takes the matter to the theological level and discusses the disagreement between Mu'tazilites and Ahl al-Sunnah (to whom gratitude is commanded); Beydâvî brings different linguistic and transmitted interpretations to the concepts of 'forgiveness' and 'Furqan' in the previous part of the verse; Ibn Kesîr's view is not present in the text at hand.
Historical context
Early period exegetes (Taberî, Zemahşerî) base themselves on transmission and linguistic analysis, while later exegetes such as Râzî have incorporated theological discussions, taking the matter to a theological foundation, and Beydâvî has demonstrated a more compilatory approach through summary and multi-faceted reporting of opinions; the emphasis on the fundamental purpose has remained constant across all periods.
Modern connection
This verse points to the importance of maintaining consciousness of gratitude in every situation where humans transition from difficulty to ease, from deficiency to sufficiency. In our time as well, responding to possessed blessings (health, knowledge, security, social peace) with a sense of responsibility and service can be thought of as a constructive attitude that nourishes individual and social solidarity.
AI analysis — not a fatwa or ruling, not yet reviewed by a scholar