Tafsir of Al-Ahqaf 46:18

"Those" refers to those who say that; it is also said that it refers to this specific category mentioned, based on the assumption of specificity. The interpretation "Those upon whom the word has become due" — which is the saying of Allah the Exalted to Iblis: "I will surely fill Hell with you and those who follow you among them, all together" — is the more valid one. The complete discussion on this has already passed, and in it is a refutation of those who claimed that the verse refers to Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr, for he — may Allah be pleased with him — accepted Islam, and what was said about him was nullified, as he was among the most excellent of the Companions. He upon whom the word has become due is the one whom Allah the Exalted knew would never accept Islam.

It is also said that the judgment here is on the category as a whole, so it does not contradict the exclusion of some individuals from its eschatological rulings. Other things have also been said which are not worth considering.

"Among nations that have passed away before them" corresponds to "the companions of Paradise"; it is similar to it in syntax, emphasis, and meaning. His saying the Exalted: "of the jinn and mankind" is an explanation of the nations.

"Indeed, they" — all of them — "were losers." They have squandered their original primordial nature (fitra), which functions like their capital, by following Satan. The sentence serves as a justification for the judgment by way of continuation (isti'naf). Al-Abbas narrated from Abu 'Amr the reading "annahum" (indeed they) with a fatha on the hamza, on the assumption of "li-annahum" (because they).

His saying the Almighty: "Among nations that have passed away" and so on is used as evidence that the jinn die generation after generation, just like humans. In al-Bahr, it is stated that al-Hasan said in some of his gatherings: "The jinn do not die," and Qatadah countered him with this verse, so he remained silent.