(167–169) “Indeed, those who disbelieve and turn others away from the way of Allah have strayed far astray. Those who disbelieve and commit wrongdoing—Allah will neither forgive them nor guide them to any path except the path of Hell, where they will remain forever. And that is easy for Allah.”

After informing us of the messengership of the messengers—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them—and of the messengership of the last of them, Muhammad, and after He and His angels bore witness to it, the truth of what had been affirmed and attested to was necessarily established. It therefore became obligatory to believe them, have faith in them, and follow them.

He then threatened those who disbelieved in them, saying: “Indeed, those who disbelieve and turn others away from the way of Allah”—that is, they combine disbelief on their own part with turning others away from the way of Allah. These are the leaders of disbelief and the callers to misguidance. They “have strayed far astray.” What misguidance could be greater than that of one who goes astray himself and leads others astray, thereby incurring both sins, returning with both losses, and forfeiting both forms of guidance? He therefore says: “Those who disbelieve and commit wrongdoing.” This wrongdoing is in addition to their disbelief, although disbelief is included within wrongdoing when the latter is mentioned without qualification.

What is meant by wrongdoing here is committing deeds of disbelief and becoming utterly immersed in it. Such people are far removed from forgiveness and from guidance to the straight path. He therefore says: “Allah will neither forgive them nor guide them to any path except the path of Hell.”

Forgiveness and guidance are denied them only because they persisted in their transgression and increased in their disbelief. Their hearts were therefore sealed, and the paths of guidance were closed to them because of what they had earned: “Your Lord is never unjust to His servants.”

“And that is easy for Allah”—that is, Allah pays them no heed and attaches no weight to them, for they are unfit for goodness, and nothing befits them except the condition they chose for themselves.