“Those who wait and see what happens to you. If Allah grants you a victory, they say, ‘Were we not with you?’ But if the disbelievers have a share of success, they say, ‘Did we not have the upper hand over you and protect you from the believers?’ Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection, and Allah will never grant the disbelievers a way against the believers.” (141)

“And He has already revealed to you in the Book that when you hear Allah’s verses being rejected and ridiculed, do not sit with them until they engage in some other discourse; otherwise, you would indeed be like them. Surely Allah will gather the hypocrites and the disbelievers all together in Hell.”

Asim and Yaqub read nazzala, with an a-vowel on both the n and z, meaning: Allah sent it down. The others read nuzzila, with a u-vowel on the n and an i-vowel on the z, meaning: it was sent down to you, O community of Muslims. “When you hear Allah’s verses”—that is, the Quran—“being rejected and ridiculed, do not sit with them,” meaning, with those who ridicule them, “until they engage in some other discourse,” that is, until they begin speaking about something other than ridiculing Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Quran. This refers to what Allah revealed in Surah al-Anam: “When you see those who engage in vain discourse about Our verses, turn away from them until they engage in another discourse.” (al-Anam, 68)

Al-Dahhak narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: Everyone who introduces a novelty into religion and every adherent of innovation until the Day of Resurrection is included in this verse. “Otherwise, you would indeed be like them,” meaning: if you sit with them while they engage in such discourse and ridicule, and you approve of it, then you are disbelievers like them. But if they engage in some other discourse, there is no harm in sitting with them, though it is disliked. Al-Hasan said: It is not permissible to sit with them, even if they engage in some other discourse, due to the saying of Allah Most High: “And if Satan causes you to forget, then after remembering, do not remain with the wrongdoing people.” Most scholars hold the first view. The verse in Surah al-Anam is Meccan, whereas this one is Medinan, and the later revelation is more deserving of being followed: “Surely Allah will gather the hypocrites and the disbelievers all together in Hell.”

“Those who wait and see what happens to you”—that is, the hypocrites—[awaiting reversals of fortune for you] (1). “If Allah grants you a victory,” meaning victory and spoils, “they say” to you, “Were we not with you?”—upon your religion and alongside you in battle? We were with you, so give us a share of the spoils. “But if the disbelievers have a share of success,” meaning a turn of fortune and ascendancy over the Muslims, “they say”—that is, the hypocrites say to the disbelievers—98/b, “Did we not have the upper hand over you?” Istihwadh means gaining control and predominance. Allah Most High says: “Satan has gained mastery over them” (al-Mujadalah, 19), meaning: he has taken control and prevailed. That is, they say: “Did we not inform you of Muhammad’s vulnerabilities