Thus he made his expectation of them come true and fulfilled it through his action toward them and their following him. The other reciters read it without intensification, meaning: his expectation concerning them proved correct—that is, concerning the people of Sheba. Mujahid said: concerning all people, except those who obey Allah.

“So they followed him, except for a party of the believers.” Al-Suddi narrated from Ibn Abbas: This means all the believers, because the believers did not follow him in the foundations of religion. Allah Most High has said, “Indeed, over My servants you have no authority” (al-Hijr 42)—meaning, the believers. It was also said that this is specific to those believers who obey Allah and do not disobey Him.

Ibn Qutaybah said: When Iblis asked for respite and Allah granted him respite, he said, “I will surely lead them astray and misguide them.” At the time he made this statement, he was not certain that what he had said about them would come to pass; rather, he said it only as an expectation. Then, when they followed him and obeyed him, what he had expected of them proved true concerning them.

Al-Hasan said: He did not draw a sword against them or strike them with a whip; rather, he merely promised them and filled them with false hopes, and so they were deceived. (1)

“And he had no authority over them, except that We might know who believes in the Hereafter and who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is Guardian over all things. (21) Say, ‘Call upon those whom you claim besides Allah. They do not possess even the weight of an atom in the heavens or on the earth, nor do they have any share in either of them, nor does He have among them any helper.’ (22)”