Mosquitoes are small varieties of bug; a mosquito is called baʿūḍah as though it were part of the bug. “Or what is above it” means the fly and the spider. Abu ʿUbaydah said that it means what is below it, just as one may say, “So-and-so is ignorant,” and then say, “And beyond that”—meaning, even more ignorant.

“As for those who believe”—in Muhammad and the Quran—“they know that it,” that is, the example, “is the truth,” the true statement, “from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, ‘What does Allah intend by this as an example?’” That is, by this example. When the definite article was omitted, it was placed in the accusative as a circumstantial qualifier, detached from the preceding construction. Allah then answered them, saying: “By it He leads many astray”—that is, by this example—namely, the disbelievers, for they deny it and thereby increase in misguidance; “and by it He guides many”—that is, by this example—namely, the believers, who affirm it as true. Misguidance is to turn away from truth to falsehood. It is also said to mean destruction: one says, “The water is lost in the milk,” when it disappears. “Yet He leads astray by it only the defiantly disobedient”: that is, the disbelievers. The root meaning of defiantly disobeying is to depart or come out; one says that a fresh date has come out when it emerges from its skin. Allah, exalted is He, says: “But he defiantly disobeyed the command of his Lord” (al-Kahf 18:50)—that is, he departed. He then described them, saying:

“Those who break Allah’s covenant after it has been confirmed, sever what Allah has commanded to be joined, and spread corruption in the land: they are the losers. How can you disbelieve in Allah when you were lifeless and He gave you life? Then He will cause you to die, then bring you to life again, and then to Him you will be returned. He is the One Who created for you all that is on earth; then He turned to the heaven and formed them into seven heavens. And He is Knowing of all things.” (27–29)

“Those who break” means: who oppose and abandon. The root meaning of breaking is shattering. “Allah’s covenant” means Allah’s command, with which He charged them on the Day of the Covenant, when He said, “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes” (al-Aʿraf 173). It is also said that it means the covenant He took from the prophets and all other communities: that they should have faith in Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, as in His saying, “And when Allah took the covenant of the prophets” (Al ʿImran 81), and the rest of the verse. It is also said that it means the covenant which He charged them with in the Torah: that they should have faith in Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and make known his description. “After it has been confirmed” means: after it has been made binding. A covenant is an emphatically confirmed pledge.

“And sever what Allah has commanded to be joined” means faith in Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and in all the messengers, peace be upon them, for they said, “We believe in some and disbelieve in some.” But the believers said, “We make no distinction between any of His messengers” (al-Baqarah 285). It is also said that it means ties of kinship. “And spread corruption in the land” means through acts of disobedience and by hindering people from faith in Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and in the Quran. “They are the losers”: those who have made a losing bargain.

Then, by way of astonishment, He said to the Arab polytheists: “How can you disbelieve in Allah?” after the evidences have been set forth and the proofs made clear. He then mentioned the evidences, saying: “When you were lifeless,” as drops of fluid in your fathers’ loins, “He gave you life,” in the wombs and in this world. “Then He will cause you to die” when your appointed terms come to an end; “then bring you to life again” for the resurrection; “and then to Him you will be returned”—that is, you will be brought back in the Hereafter, and He will recompense you according to your deeds.