Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AL AN'AAM [112]

112. And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies -- Shayatin among mankind and Jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion. If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it; so leave them alone with their fabrications. 113. And Tasgha to it that the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter may incline to such (deceit), and that they may remain pleased with it, and that they may commit what they are committing. Allah says, just as We made enemies for you, O Muhammad, who will oppose and rebel against you and become your adversaries, We also made enemies for every Prophet who came before you. Therefore, do not be saddened by this fact. Allah said in other Ayat:

(Verily, Messengers were denied before you, but with patience they bore the denial, and they were hurt...) ï´¿6:34ï´¾, and,

(Nothing is said to you except what was said to the Messengers before you. Verily, your Lord is the Possessor of forgiveness, and (also) the Possessor of painful punishment.) ï´¿41:43ï´¾ and,

(Thus have We made for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals.) ﴿25:31﴾. Waraqah bin Nawfal said to Allah's Messenger , ”None came with what you came with but he was the subject of enmity.'' Allah's statement,

(Shayatin among mankind...) refers to,

(enemies. ..) meaning, the Prophets have enemies among the devils of mankind and the devils of the Jinns. The word, Shaytan, describes one who is dissimilar to his kind due to his or her wickedness. Indeed, only the Shayatin, may Allah humiliate and curse them, from among mankind and the Jinns oppose the Messengers. `Abdur-Razzaq said that Ma`mar narrated that Qatadah commented on Allah's statement,

(Shayatin (devils) among mankind and Jinn...) ”There are devils among the Jinns and devils among mankind who inspire each other.'' Allah's statement,

(inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion.) means, they inspire each other with beautified, adorned speech that deceives the ignorant who hear it,

(If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it;) for all this occurs by Allah's decree, will and decision, that every Prophet had enemies from these devils,

(so leave them alone with their fabrications.) and lies. This Ayah orders patience in the face of the harm of the wicked and to trust in Allah against their enmity, for, ”Allah shall suffice for you (O Muhammad) and aid you against them.'' Allah's statement,

(And Tasgha to it.) means, according to Ibn `Abbas, ”incline to it.''

(the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter...) their hearts, mind and hearing. As-Suddi said that this Ayah refers to the hearts of the disbelievers.

(And that they may remain pleased with it.) they like and adore it. Only those who disbelieve in the Hereafter accept this evil speech, being enemies of the Prophets, etc., just as Allah said in other Ayat,

(So, verily, you (pagans) and those whom you worship (idols). Cannot lead astray. Except those who are predestined to burn in Hell!) ï´¿37:161-163ï´¾ and,

(Certainly, you have different ideas. Turned aside therefrom is he who is turned aside.) ï´¿51:8-9ï´¾ Allah said;

(And that they may commit what they are committing. ) meaning, ”let them earn whatever they will earn'', according to `Ali bin Abi Talhah who reported this from Ibn `Abbas. As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd also commented, ”Let them do whatever they will do.''