Chapter: Allah the Exalted says, “Did they then feel secure from Allah’s plan? None feel secure from Allah’s plan except the losers” (Al-Aʿrāf 99); and His saying, “And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?” (Al-Ḥijr 56).

Connection of the chapter to the Book of Tawḥīd: The author—may Allah have mercy on him—seeks to show that feeling safe from Allah’s plan and despairing of His mercy are two of the gravest sins. Each negates the perfection of tawḥīd, and the believer must therefore balance fear with hope.

Makr Allāh (Allah’s plan): His drawing the servant on when he sins and granting him respite until He seizes him with irresistible might.

Al-khāsirūn (the losers): those who are doomed to ruin.

Yaqnaṭu (he despairs): al-qunūṭ is to deem relief impossible and to lose hope of it.

Al-ḍāllūn (the astray): those who have missed the right path.

Overall meaning of the two verses: Allah, glorified be He, recounts the condition of the townspeople who rejected the messengers. What drove them to denial was their sense of security from Allah’s gradual scheme and their lack of fear of Him. They persisted in sin and disobedience, ruling out the possibility that Allah was luring them on. Such is the state of those headed for destruction.