(16, 17) “He said, ‘Because You have caused me to go astray, I will surely lie in wait for them on Your straight path. * Then I will surely come at them from in front of them and from behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them grateful.’”

That is, when Iblīs had lost all hope and despaired of Allah’s mercy, he said: “Because You have caused me to go astray, I will surely lie in wait for them”—that is, for Your creatures—“on Your straight path.” In other words, I will remain stationed on the path and exert myself to the utmost to turn people away from it and prevent them from following it.

“Then I will surely come at them from in front of them and from behind them, from their right and from their left”—that is, from every direction and side, and by every route through which he can achieve any part of his objective against them.

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When the wicked one knew that they were weak and that heedlessness would prevail over many of them, and was resolved to expend every effort to lead them astray, he formed this expectation—and it proved correct—so he said: “And You will not find most of them grateful.” Showing gratitude is part of following the straight path, whereas he seeks to turn them away from it and prevent them from fulfilling that duty. Allah says: “He only calls his party so that they may become companions of the Blaze.”

Allah informed us of what he said and resolved to do only so that we might be on our guard against him, prepare ourselves to face our enemy, and protect ourselves from him by knowing the routes from which he approaches and the points of entry through which he gains access. Through this, Allah—Exalted is He—has conferred upon us the most perfect blessing.