Arabic can name an action with a verb or with a noun. A translation usually shows only one.
A verb carries a tense: it happens, then it passes. A noun has no tense: it describes what is settled.
And Allah would not punish them while you are among them,
and Allah would not punish them while they ask forgiveness.
The verse speaks to the Prophet ﷺ about Quraysh: two reasons why the punishment was held back.
The first “would not punish” is a verb: li-yu'adhdhibahum. The second is a noun: mu'adhdhibahum.
The first lasts while the Prophet ﷺ is among them, a limited time. The second is given no such limit.
And look at the condition: yastaghfirûn, a verb. Not mustaghfirûn, the noun.
Read this way, the condition is not to beg without a pause. It is to keep coming back to ask.
Ibn 'Abbâs (may Allah be pleased with him) said: they had two safeguards, the Prophet ﷺ and asking forgiveness.
“The Prophet ﷺ has gone, and asking forgiveness remains.”
Our messengers came to Ibrâhîm (peace be upon him) with good news.
They said: “Salâman, peace.” He said: “Salâmun, peace.”
The guests say salâman, ending in -an. It implies a verb, as if: “We greet you with peace.”
Ibrâhîm answers salâmun, ending in -un: a noun sentence, as if: “Peace be upon you.”
Ibn Kathîr explains that this second form is stronger and more firmly established.
And a verb needs a doer: “we” greet you. His noun sentence names no giver: peace on you, from every side.
When you are greeted with a greeting, greet with one better than it, or return it.
Ibn Kathîr cites this verse here: of the two greetings, Ibrâhîm chose the better one.
Ya'qûb (peace be upon him), when he loses Yûsuf: “So, beautiful patience. And Allah is the One whose help is sought.”
Sabrun jamîl: a noun. He cannot see how long this pain will last, so his patience has no end date.
So be patient, with beautiful patience.
Here the Prophet ﷺ is told “fa-sbir sabran jamîlan”: a verb, and the -an ending.
They see it as far, and We see it as near.
Ibn Kathîr: “it” is the Hour and its punishment. Proposed reading: this patience has an end, near in Allah's sight.
You have read it a hundred times: they said “Peace”, he said “Peace”.
In Arabic, the two words do not end the same way. Why?
A noun that lasts, a verb that returns: even the ending of a word was chosen for you.
Tonight, when someone greets you, answer with more than they said: “wa 'alaykum as-salâm wa rahmatullâh.”