Tafsir of Az-Zukhruf 43:37

(And indeed, they) — meaning the devils who have been assigned and destined, each one of them, to every one of those who turns away — (avert them) — meaning they avert their disbelieving companions, referred to by the phrase "who turns away." The pronoun for "the devil" is made plural because the intent is the generic category; the pronoun for "who" is made plural in consideration of its meaning, just as it was made singular initially in consideration of its wording.

It is stated in al-Intisaf that this verse contains two subtle, ingenious points. The first is the indication that an indefinite noun occurring in the context of a conditional clause implies generality. This is a matter over which the legal theorists (usuliyyun) have differed. The Imam al-Haramayn is among those who hold that it implies generality, to the extent that he corrected the scholars who stated categorically that an indefinite noun in an affirmative context specifies [its object], arguing that a condition generalizes and an indefinite noun within its context also generalizes. The jurist Abu al-Hasan Ali al-Abyari, commentator on his book, refuted him harshly. Yet, this verse—and the opinion of the Imam and those who hold his view—is sufficient evidence. This is because the word "devil" is mentioned there as an indefinite noun within the context of a condition, and we know that the intent is the generality of devils, not just one, for two reasons: First, it is established that everyone has a devil, so how much more so for one who turns away from the remembrance of the Most Merciful? Second, the evidence from the verse itself is that the pronoun is returned to it in the plural form in His saying: "(And indeed, they)." It refers back to "the devil" by unanimous agreement; if it did not denote total generality, the return of the plural pronoun would not be permissible without ambiguity. This is a subtlety that causes those who oppose this view to pause in silence.

The second point is that it contains a refutation of those who claim that reverting to the meaning of "who" (man) forbids a subsequent reversion to its wording, arguing that this would be an ambiguous summary following an explanation, which is contrary to the custom of eloquence. Al-Kindi and others have refuted this with other verses, and my grandfather extracted a refutation of this from this very verse as well, because the pronoun is returned to the wording in ("turns away" and "he will have"), then to the meaning in ("avert them"), and then again to the wording in ("until when he comes to Us"). I have previously stated that those who forbade it might have limited their prohibition to its occurrence within a single sentence, but where the sentences are multiple and each is independent, they might not forbid it. End quote.

The claim that the pronoun in "indeed, they" (innahum) refers to "the devil" by unanimous agreement is questionable. Abu Hayyan stated: The apparent meaning is that the accusative pronoun in "indeed, they avert them" returns to "who" (man) according to its meaning, which is more appropriate than the return of the pronoun in "indeed, they" to "the devil," as Ibn Atiyyah held, for the sake of consistency among the pronouns in "indeed, they" and what follows it—so do not be heedless.

(From the way) — the manifest path that calls toward the remembrance of the Most Merciful.

(And they suppose) — meaning those who turn away — (that they are) — meaning the devils — (guided) — meaning toward that true path, for otherwise, they would not have followed them. Or, "the ones who turn away suppose that they themselves are guided," for the belief that the devils are guided necessitates the belief that they themselves are likewise, due to the unity of their path. The apparent view is that Abu Hayyan prefers this interpretation for the sake of consistency as well. The clause is a circumstantial qualifier (hal) from the object of "avert," with an implied subject, or from its agent, or from both, as it contains both of their pronouns. That is: "And they avert them from the true path while they suppose that they are guided to it." The present tense form in these four verbs is used to indicate continuous, recurring action.