(18–22) “Who is more unjust than one who fabricates lies against Allah? Such people will be brought before their Lord, and the witnesses will say, ‘These are the ones who lied against their Lord.’ Surely Allah’s curse is upon the wrongdoers—those who turn others away from Allah’s path, seek to make it crooked, and disbelieve in the Hereafter.”

Allah Most High states that no one is “more unjust than one who fabricates lies against Allah.” This includes everyone who lies about Allah by ascribing a partner to Him, describing Him in a manner unbefitting His majesty, attributing to Him something He did not say, claiming prophethood, or committing any other form of lying about Allah. Such people are the most unjust of all.

“Such people will be brought before their Lord” so that He may requite them for their wrongdoing. When He sentences them to severe punishment, “the witnesses will say”—that is, those who testified against them concerning their fabrications and lies—“These are the ones who lied against their Lord. Surely Allah’s curse is upon the wrongdoers.” This is a curse that never ceases, for wrongdoing has become their inseparable trait and admits of no mitigation.

He then describes their wrongdoing: “Those who turn others away from Allah’s path.” They themselves turned away from Allah’s path—the path of the messengers to which they called people—and they turned others away from it as well. Thus, they became leaders who call to the Fire.

“And seek to make it”—that is, Allah’s path—“crooked”: they strive to distort, deface, and disparage it so that people will regard it as anything but straight. They make falsehood appear attractive and the truth appear repellent. May Allah disgrace them! “And they disbelieve in the Hereafter.”