And this is understood from the context accompanying the expression. If someone who hates a person and is hostile to him is mentioned, and it is said, “He speaks of him,” it is understood that he speaks ill of him. If someone who loves a person and is his ally is mentioned, and it is said, “He speaks of him,” it is understood that he speaks well of him. It was known that the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, hated their gods. Thus, when they said:

“Is this the one who speaks of your gods?” [al-Anbiyā’ 36]

it was understood that they meant speaking ill of them. Likewise, when Allah censured them for disbelieving in the mention of the Most Merciful, it was understood that what was meant was the mention He deserves. As He, Almighty and Majestic, says:

“When Allah alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion.” [al-Zumar 45]

And He says:

“When you mention your Lord alone in the Quran, they turn their backs in aversion.” (46) [al-Isrā’ 46]

Those who forgot Allah did indeed have Him in their thoughts, were aware of Him, and called upon Him in times of dire need. When asked who created them, they would say, “Allah, Almighty and Majestic.” Yet they did not remember Him as He deserves: they did not keep in mind His revealed Book, His commands, His prohibitions, or what He has told them. As Allah Most High says in another passage:

“But whoever turns away from My remembrance will have a life of hardship, and We shall raise him blind on the Day of Resurrection.” (124) He will say, “My Lord, why have You raised me blind when I could once see?” (125) He will say, “Just so: Our signs came to you, but you forgot them; and so today you will be forgotten.” (126) [Tā Hā 124–126]

Thus, the signs came to him, yet he did not keep them in mind; rather, he turned away from them, even though he was aware of them. The recompense therefore corresponded to the deed: he is not remembered in the way