As in ayah 112 above, this is a perfect tense verb: the speaker is Allah or His appointed angel.
قُلْ إِنْ
qul in
“Say, ‘You stayed but a little”
This is an imperative verb, implying that Allah instructs His angel to direct this response to the unbelievers.
Explanation
These readings provide complementary meanings [al-Alusi]. NB: Most readers recite here the same as in 23:112, whereas Ibn Kathīr switches from qul to qāla.
He has revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ the Book in truth, confirming what came before it, as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel
Explanation
These readings provide complementary meanings [al-Alusi]. NB: Most readers recite here the same as in 23:112, whereas Ibn Kathīr switches from qul to qāla.