Such interpretations also occur frequently in the words of those who offer a general statement conveying a meaning indicated by the verse, without explaining it as fully as it deserves. Their statement, “They neglected Allah’s command,” means that they neglected to obey Him; the first is thus made identical to the second. Yet Allah, glorified is He, said:

“And do not be like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves.”

Here there are two things: their forgetting Allah, and then their forgetting themselves, which was their punishment.

If it is said, “The second is identical to the first, but merely elaborates on what was stated generally, as in His words, ‘How many towns We have destroyed! Our punishment came upon them by night or while they were taking their midday rest.’ Here, the two describe the same thing,” the answer is:

He did not say, “They forgot Allah, so they forgot their own best interests,” such that one could say that the two are identical. Rather, He said:

“They forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves.”

Thus, He caused them to forget themselves. If this were identical to the first, He would have mentioned something that excused them, rather than something by which He punished them.

If the second were identical to the first, then “They forgot Allah” would mean that they neglected to obey Him, and He was the One who made them forget to do so. The unsoundness of this interpretation, both in wording and in meaning, is evident.

If, however, it were said that “They forgot Allah” means that they forgot His command, and “so He made them forget” means that He made them forget to act in obedience to Him—that is, to call that obedience to mind—this would be closer to the meaning, and the first instance of forgetting would retain its literal sense. For whoever forgets Allah’s command itself does not obey Him.