(36–39) “Whoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Compassionate, We assign to him a devil who becomes his constant companion. * They surely turn them away from the path, while they suppose that they are guided. * Then, when he comes to Us, he will say, ‘If only there were between you and me the distance between east and west! What an evil companion!’ * It will not benefit you today, since you committed wrongdoing, that you share in the punishment.”
Allah Most High informs us of the severe punishment awaiting anyone who turns away from His remembrance. He says, “Whoever turns away”—that is, recoils and turns aside—“from the remembrance of the Most Compassionate,” namely, the glorious Quran. It is the greatest mercy that the Most Compassionate has bestowed upon His servants. Whoever accepts it has accepted the finest of gifts and attained the greatest aims and desires. But whoever turns away from it and rejects it has failed and suffered a loss after which he will never prosper. The Most Compassionate assigns to him a rebellious devil who remains constantly at his side, makes promises to him, fills him with false hopes, and relentlessly incites him to commit sins.
“They surely turn them away from the path”—that is, the straight path and the upright religion—“while they suppose that they are guided,” because Satan makes falsehood appear attractive and pleasing to them, while they themselves turn away from the truth. Thus, both factors combine.
It may be asked: Does such a person have an excuse because he supposes that he is guided when in fact he is not?
The answer is that neither he nor others like him have any excuse, for their ignorance stems from turning away from the remembrance of Allah even though they were able to attain guidance. They showed no desire for guidance despite being capable of attaining it and instead desired falsehood. The sin is therefore their own sin, and the crime their own crime.
This is the condition in this world of the one who turns away from the remembrance of Allah, together with his companion: misguidance, error, and the inversion of realities.
As for his condition when he comes before his Lord in the Hereafter, it will be the worst of conditions: he will express regret and bitter remorse, experience sorrow over a loss that can never be made good, and disavow his companion. Allah Most High therefore says: “Then, when he comes to Us, he will say, ‘If only there were between you and me the distance between east and west! What an evil companion!’”
This is like the statement of Allah Most High: “On that Day the wrongdoer will bite his hands and say, ‘If only I had followed the path with the Messenger! Woe to me! If only I had not taken so-and-so as a close friend! He led me away from the Reminder after it had come to me. Satan has always forsaken man.’”
Regarding His statement, “It will not benefit you today, since you committed wrongdoing, that you share in the punishment,” it means that on the Day of Resurrection, it will not benefit you to share the punishment with your companions and close friends. Because you shared in wrongdoing, you will share in its penalty and punishment.
Nor will you gain the solace that ordinarily comes from sharing a calamity. When a calamity occurs in this world and several people undergo the punishment together, it becomes somewhat easier for them to bear, and they console one another. The calamity of the Hereafter, however, encompasses every form of punishment and contains not the slightest comfort—not even this consolation. We ask You, our Lord, for well-being and to grant us relief through Your mercy.