be delivered over to destruction—a soul because of what it has earned. This was said by Mujahid, Ikrimah, and al-Suddi. Ibn Abbas said: that it perish. Qatadah said: that it be detained. Al-Dahhak said: that it be burned. Ibn Zayd said: that it be seized. Its meaning is: remind them, so that they may believe, lest a soul perish because of what it has earned. Al-Akhfash said: tubsala means “be recompensed.” It was also said: “be exposed to disgrace.” Al-Farra said: “be held in pledge.” The original meaning of ibsāl is prohibition, and basl means “that which is forbidden.” It was then used as a description for every hardship that is feared and avoided.
“It will have no protector apart from Allah”—that is, that soul will have no close relative—“nor any intercessor” to intercede on its behalf in the Hereafter. “And even if it offers every ransom”—that is, if it offers every possible ransom—“it will not be accepted from it.” “Those are the ones given over to destruction”: they have been delivered over to destruction “because of what they have earned. For them there will be a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment because they used to disbelieve.”
“Say: ‘Shall we invoke, apart from Allah, that which can neither benefit us’ if we worship it, ‘nor harm us’ if we abandon it?” This refers to idols, which possess neither benefit nor harm. “And be turned back on our heels” to polytheism, as apostates, “after Allah has guided us—like one whom the devils have lured away upon the earth.” That is, our likeness would be that of one whom the devils have led astray. “Leaving him bewildered.” Ibn Abbas said: like one whom the ghouls have lured away in the wilderness and led astray, leaving him confused and ruined. A bewildered person is one who wavers in a matter and cannot find a way out of it. “While he has companions calling him to guidance: ‘Come to us.’”
This is a parable that Allah, exalted is He, has set forth for one who calls to false deities and one who calls to Allah, exalted is He. It is like a man travelling with a group, whom a ghoul causes to lose the road. His fellow travellers call to him, “Come to the road,” while the ghoul calls to him, “Come!” He remains bewildered, not knowing where to go. If he answers the ghoul, it takes him away until it casts him into destruction; but if he answers the one calling him to the road, he is rightly guided.
“Say: ‘Indeed, Allah’s guidance is the only true guidance.’” This rebukes the worship of idols, as though He were saying: Do not do that, for guidance is Allah’s guidance; there is no guidance other than His. “And we have been commanded to submit”—that is, to surrender—“to the Lord of all worlds.” The Arabs say: “I commanded you to do,” “I commanded that you do,” and “I commanded you to do.”
“And establish prayer and fear Him. He is the One to whom you will be gathered. (72) He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in truth. On the Day He says, ‘Be,’ and it is, His word is the truth. His is the dominion on the Day the Trumpet is blown. He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He is the All-Wise, All-Aware. (73)”
“And establish prayer and fear Him”—that is, we have been commanded to establish prayer and to fear Allah—“and He is the One to whom you will be gathered.”