“Those will not be able to escape on earth, nor will they have any protectors besides Allah. The punishment will be multiplied for them. They were not able to hear, nor did they see. (20) Those are the ones who have lost themselves, and whatever they used to fabricate will vanish from them. (21) Without doubt, it is they who, in the Hereafter, will be the greatest losers. (22)”

“Those who turn others away from the way of Allah” means that they prevent people from Allah’s religion, “and seek to make it crooked, while they disbelieve in the Hereafter.”

“Those will not be able to escape”: Ibn Abbas said, “They will not outstrip Us.” Qatada said, “They will not flee.” Muqatil said, “They will not elude Us.” “On earth, nor will they have any protectors besides Allah”—that is, supporters and helpers who would protect them from Our punishment. “The punishment will be multiplied for them,” meaning that their punishment will be increased. It was said: their punishment will be multiplied because they led others astray and because their followers took them as examples.

“They were not able to hear, nor did they see.” Qatada said: They were deaf to hearing the truth, so they did not hear it; nor did they see guidance. Ibn Abbas said: Allah has informed us that He prevented the people of polytheism from obeying Him in this world and the Hereafter. As for this world, He said, “They were not able to hear,” meaning obedience to Him; and concerning the Hereafter, He said, “They will not be able,” their eyes humbled.

“Those are the ones who have lost themselves”: they have brought loss upon themselves. “And whatever they used to fabricate will vanish from them”—namely, their claim that the angels ⦗174/a⦘ and idols would intercede.

“Without doubt” means: truly. It was also said to mean: indeed. Al-Farra’ said: inevitably. “It is they who, in the Hereafter, will be the greatest losers,” meaning, compared with others, even though all are in loss. (1)