Tafsir of Al-Mu'minoon 23:89

(They will say, "To Allah belongs the dominion of all things"), and the description [follows] that He is the One who grants protection and against Whom there is no protection.

(Say [to them, by way of rebuke and reprimand]: "Then how are you deluded?")

Meaning: How, or from where, are you deceived and turned away from guidance—despite your knowledge of it—toward the insolence you currently maintain? For one who is not bewitched or mentally deficient would not act in such a manner.

These three verses—from "Say, 'To whom belongs...'" up to this point—are, as established in al-Kashshaf, a conclusion to what preceded and a preparation for what follows. In the questioning within them, a progression [in hierarchy] has been observed:

First, it was asked who possesses the earth and all that is within it. The pronoun "man" (who) was used, giving preference to rational beings, and because it follows, a fortiori, that the owner of rational beings must also own everything else.

Then, it was asked who possesses the heavens and the Mighty Throne, given that the earth in relation to Him is [but] a small thing.

Then, it was asked in whose hand is the malakut (dominion/sovereignty) of all things. Thus, the most general of the general terms was brought forth, along with the word indicating encompassing [all]. The term malakut was preferred, which signifies vast, absolute sovereignty. The phrase "in His hand" was used for the purpose of imagery and representation.

This same subtlety was also observed in the concluding phrases [of the verses]: they were first rebuked for their lack of mindfulness—since the simplest act of contemplation suffices to untie their knots of ignorance—then for their lack of God-consciousness, which contains a threat, and finally with astonishment at the deception of their intellects, which imagine falsehood as truth and truth as falsehood. And how could they attain mindfulness and fear [after such corruption]?