Tafsir of Al-Mu'minoon 23:63

His saying, Exalted and Majestic is He: "Nay, their hearts are in a 'ghamrah' (daze/heedlessness) regarding this"—this is an interruption of what preceded it, and a return to explaining the state of the disbelievers. The pronoun refers to the disbelievers, meaning: Nay, the hearts of the disbelievers are in a state of heedlessness and ignorance regarding this which has been clarified in the Qur’an: that with Him, Exalted is He, is a record that speaks the truth and exposes their evil deeds before all witnesses, and thus they are recompensed for them, as indicated by what will come, if Allah Almighty wills, in His saying: "Were not My verses recited to you?" and so on.

It is said: The reference is to the Noble Qur’an and what is clarified therein absolutely; this is narrated from Mujahid. It is said: It refers to what those described with righteous deeds are upon; this is narrated from Qatada. It is said: It refers to the religion in its entirety. It is said: It refers to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The first is more evident.

"And they have evil deeds besides that"—that which was mentioned, namely that their hearts are in a daze regarding what was stated. These are the various kinds of their disbelief and sins, among which is their disparagement of the Noble Qur’an, indicated by the Almighty’s saying: "Being arrogant toward it, talking nonsense at night."

Ibn al-Mundhir and others narrated from Ibn Abbas that the intent of ghamrah is disbelief and doubt, and that "that" refers to this aforementioned [state], and the meaning is: they have deeds besides disbelief. Ibn Jarir and others narrated from Qatada that "that" refers to what the believers were described with in terms of righteous deeds, meaning: they have deeds contrary to what the believers were described with—that is, the opposites of what they were characterized with—which fell within the scope of the relative clauses. This is the ultimate condemnation for them.

"They are workers of them"—that is, they are persistent in them, accustomed to doing them, continuing in them, and are not weaned away from them. "Workers" (amilun) acts upon the pronoun preceding it, and the 'lam' is for strengthening.

Abu Muslim said: The pronoun in the Almighty’s saying "Nay, they..." and so on, returns to the believers described with the aforementioned attributes. It is as if He, Exalted is He, said after describing them: "And We task no soul except [within] its capacity," and its limit is what these fearful ones have brought forth, "and with Us is a record" that preserves their deeds, "which speaks the truth," so they are not wronged, but rather the reward for their deeds is fulfilled for them. Then He, Exalted is He, described them with perplexity in His saying, "Nay, their hearts are in a daze," as if He, Exalted is He, said: And they, out of that apprehension and fear, are like those who are perplexed regarding their deeds: are they accepted or rejected? "And they have deeds besides that," meaning: they also have, among the supererogatory acts and aspects of righteousness, things they are upon. End quote.

The Imam said: This is more appropriate, because if it is possible to refer the speech back to what the mention of the fearful ones is connected to, it is better than referring it to what is more distant from it—especially since one might be motivated to do good by being reminded that his deeds are preserved, just as one is warned against evil thereby. A person may be described, due to the intensity of his reflection on the matter of his Hereafter, as having a heart in a daze, meaning that reflection on the acceptance or rejection of his deed has overcome him, and whether he performed it as required or fell short. And "this" in this context refers to their apprehension and fear. End quote. It is not hidden to anyone whose heart is not in a daze what [flaws] are in that [interpretation].