Tafseer Ibn Kathir of FUSHSHILAT [25]

25. And We have assigned for them intimate companions (in this world), who have made fair seeming to them, what was before them and what was behind them. And the Word is justified against them as it was justified against those who were among the previous generations of Jinn and men that had passed away before them. Indeed they (all) were the losers. 26. And those who disbelieve say: ”Listen not to this Qur'an, and make noise in the midst of its (recitation) that you may overcome.'' 27. But surely, We shall cause those who disbelieve to taste a severe torment, and certainly, We shall requite them the worst of what they used to do. 28. That is the recompense of the enemies of Allah: the Fire. Therein will be for them the eternal home, a recompense for that they used to deny Our Ayat. 29. And those who disbelieve will say: ”Our Lord! Show us those among Jinn and men who led us astray, that we may crush them under our feet so that they become the lowest.''

(who have made fair seeming to them, what was before them and what was behind them.) means, they made their deeds attractive to them in the past. As far as the future is concerned, they only see themselves as doing good, as Allah says:

(And whosoever turns away blindly from the remembrance of the Most Gracious, We appoint for him a Shaytan to be a companion for him. And verily, they hinder them from the path, but they think that they are guided aright!) (43:36-37)

(And the Word is justified against them) means, the Word of torment, just as it was justified against the nations of the past who did what they did, men and Jinn alike.

(Indeed they (all) were the losers.) means, they are all equal in terms of loss and being doomed.

(And those who disbelieve say: ”Listen not to this Qur'an...'') means, they advised one another not to pay heed to the Qur'an or obey its commands.

(and make noise in the midst of its) means, when it is recited, do not listen to it. This was the view of Mujahid. ”And make noise in the midst of its (recitation)'' means whistling and trying to make the Messenger of Allah confused when he recited Qur'an, which is what the Quraysh did.

(that you may overcome.) means, this is the practice of these ignorant disbelievers and those who follow in their footsteps, when they hear the Qur'an. Allah commanded us to be different from that, and said:

(So, when the Qur'an is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy.) (7:204). Then Allah says:

(But surely, We shall cause those who disbelieve to taste a severe torment, ) meaning, in return for what they do when they hear the Qur'an.

(and certainly, We shall requite them the worst of what they used to do.) means, for their evil deeds.

(That is the recompense of the enemies of Allah: the Fire. Therein will be for them the eternal home, a recompense for that they used to deny Our Ayat. And those who disbelieve will say: ”Our Lord! Show us those among Jinn and men who led us astray, that we may crush them under our feet so that they become the lowest.'') It was reported that `Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said, concerning the phrase,

(those who led us astray): ”Iblis and the son of Adam who killed his brother.'' As-Suddi reported that `Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said; ”Iblis is followed by everyone who commits Shirk and the son of Adam is followed by everyone who commits a major sin. So Iblis is the one who calls people to every evil thing, such as Shirk and lesser sins.'' As for the first son of Adam, it is as confirmed in the Hadith:

(No soul is wrongfully killed, but a share of the burden ï´¿of that sinï´¾ will be upon the first son of Adam, because he was the first one who set the precedent of killing another.)

(that we may crush them under our feet) means, `make them beneath us in the torment, so that they will be punished more severely than us.'

(so that they become the lowest.) means, in the lowest level of Hell, as already mentioned in Al-A`raf, where the followers ask Allah to multiply the torment for their leaders:

((Allah) said: ”For each one there is double (torment), but you know not.'') (7:38) i.e., Allah will give each of them the torment and punishment they deserve for their deeds. This is like the Ayah:

(Those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the path of Allah, for them We will add torment to the torment because they used to spread corruption.) (16:88).