“That was your assumption about your Lord—the assumption you made—which brought about your ruin, and so you became among the losers.” (23) “So, whether they endure patiently, the Fire will be their abode; and if they seek to make amends, they will not be among those whose pleas are accepted.” (24) “And We assigned to them companions, who made attractive to them what lay before them and what lay behind them. Thus the Word was fulfilled against them among nations that had passed away before them, from among jinn and humankind. Indeed, they were losers.” (25) “Those who disbelieve say, ‘Do not listen to this Quran, and drown it out with noise, so that you may prevail.’” (26) “We shall surely make those who disbelieve taste a severe punishment, and We shall surely recompense them according to the worst of what they used to do.” (27)

Allah Most High says: “That was your assumption about your Lord—the assumption you made—which brought about your ruin”: that is, your assumption that Allah did not know much of what you used to do brought about your ruin. Ibn Abbas said: It cast you into the Fire—“and so you became among the losers.”

He then informs of their condition, saying: “So, whether they endure patiently, the Fire will be their abode”: a dwelling place for them. “And if they seek to make amends”: that is, if they seek to appease and seek acceptance, “they will not be among those whose pleas are accepted”: those with whom Allah is pleased. One whose plea is accepted is one whose reproach has been accepted and whose request has been granted. It is said, “So-and-so appeased me,” meaning, he pleased me after having angered me; and, “I sought his appeasement,” meaning, I asked him to be pleased.

“And We assigned to them”: that is, We sent and appointed for them. Muqatil said: We prepared for them. Al-Zajjaj said: We brought this about for them. “Companions”: counterparts from among the devils, until they led them astray. “Who made attractive to them what lay before them”: the affairs of this world, until they preferred them over the Hereafter; “and what lay behind them”: the affairs of the Hereafter, so they called them to deny it and to reject the resurrection. “Thus the Word was fulfilled against them among nations” [with nations] (1) “that had passed away before them, from among jinn and humankind. Indeed, they were losers.”

“Those who disbelieve”—that is, the polytheists of Quraysh—say, “Do not listen to this Quran, and drown it out with noise.” Ibn Abbas said: That is, raise a clamor over it. They would advise one another: “When you see Muhammad reciting, counter him with rhymed chants, poetry, and idle talk.” Mujahid said: Drown it out with whistling and shrill cries. Al-Dahhak said: Speak excessively, so that what he says becomes confused. (2) Al-Suddi said: Shout in his face. “So that you may prevail”: over Muhammad in his recitation.

“We shall surely make those who disbelieve taste a severe punishment, and We shall surely recompense them according to the worst of what”—that is, according to the most vile of what—“they used to do” in this world; namely, associating partners with Allah.