“And We certainly sent messengers before you. Of them are those whose accounts We have related to you, and of them are those whose accounts We have not related to you. No messenger could bring a sign except by Allah’s permission. Then, when Allah’s command comes, judgment will be passed in truth, and there the followers of falsehood will lose. Allah is the One who made livestock for you, that you may ride some of them and eat some of them. In them you have benefits, and that by them you may fulfill a need in your hearts; and upon them and upon ships you are carried.” (78–80)

“Into the scalding water; then into the Fire they will be thrust.” Muqatil said: “The Fire is kindled by means of them.” Mujahid said: “They become fuel for the Fire.” “Then it will be said to them, ‘Where are those whom you used to associate with Allah besides Him?’” That is, the idols. “They will say, ‘They have forsaken us’”: we have lost them and cannot see them. “Rather, we were not invoking anything at all before.” It was said that they denied it. It was also said that it means: Rather, we were not formerly invoking anything that could benefit or harm. Al-Husayn ibn al-Fadl said: “That is, we were not doing anything before”; meaning, our worship of them has come to nothing—just as one whose deeds have come to nothing says, “I was not doing anything.” Allah, exalted is He, says: “Thus”—that is, just as He led these astray—“Allah leads the disbelievers astray.”

“That”—the punishment that has befallen you—“is because you rejoiced” arrogantly and insolently “on earth without right, and because you exulted”: you rejoiced and strutted arrogantly.

“Enter the gates of Hell, to remain there forever. How wretched is the abode of the arrogant! So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah”—to grant you victory—“is true. Whether We show you some of the punishment We have promised them” during your lifetime, “or cause you to die” before it befalls them, “to Us they will be returned.”

“And We certainly sent messengers before you. Of them are those whose accounts We have related to you” in the Quran, “and of them are those whose accounts We have not related to you. No messenger could bring a sign except by Allah’s permission,” by Allah’s command and will. “Then, when Allah’s command comes”—His judgment between the prophets and their nations—“judgment will be passed in truth, and there the followers of falsehood will lose.”

“Allah is the One who made livestock for you, that you may ride some of them,” that is, some of them; “and from them you eat, and in them you have benefits”—in