In regard to the statement...

مِن عبادي) its predicate ( khabar ); but it is obvious that the intent is not to say that those whom nothing but poverty can reform are some of the servants, but rather the contrary. Therefore, it is better to consider the adverbial clause as the subject and the relative pronoun as the predicate.

And although this is contrary to general usage, the like of it has been considered permissible by some, as in the statement of God, the Exalted: ﴿وَمِنْ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقُولُ آمَنَّا…﴾ (Here ends his statement.)[^3] Perhaps in such cases the subject ( mubtada’ ) is elliptical and the genitive proposition is indicative of the elision. In such a case it would also not be contrary to the rules of grammar. And it is narrated from the author of al-Kashshaf [i.e.

al-Zamakhshari][^4] that [in such cases] the genitive pronoun and the clause in the genitive case are interpreted to be the subject. On the basis of that which has been said, there is also no need of any interpretation. We should know that this statement, here, is meant to dispel a doubt and to answer a question that might arise in the minds of some people who do not have the understanding of the perfect divine order [of creation] and the concealed Divine providence.

That [doubt and question] is that if the faithful have such a worth and station before God, the Exalted, why do they fall into poverty and destitution? And if the world does not have any worth, why do some of them become rich and wealthy. It answers by saying that the states of My servants and the conditions of their hearts are different. There are some whom nothing except poverty would reform, and I make him poor to reform their state.