ﲾ ﲿ ﳀ ﳁ ﳂ ﳃ ﳄ ﳅ ﳆ ﳇ ﳈ ﳉ ﳊ ﳋ ﳌ ﳍ ﳎ
[The hypocrites are] like the example of Satan when he says to man, "Disbelieve." But when he disbelieves, he says, "Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds."
Tafsir
Verse range: 59:16
It is considered by more than one scholar as the predicate of an omitted subject, meaning: "Their likeness is the likeness of the Shaytan." This is based on the pronoun in "their likeness" (mathaluhum) referring here to the hypocrites, whereas the preceding instance refers to the Banu al-Nadir.
Some have stated: The implied pronoun in "their likeness" in both instances refers to both groups. Some verification scholars have made it a second predicate for the omitted subject in His saying: {ka-mathali alladhina}, based on the pronoun there referring to both groups. However, the first likeness pertains specifically to the Banu al-Nadir, and the second pertains to the hypocrites. Each of the two predicates is attributed to that implied subject [of the second likeness] which is annexed to the pronoun of both, without specifying to which each is attributed, relying upon the listener to return each to what is appropriate and similar to it. It is as if it were said: "The likeness of those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture regarding the descent of punishment upon them is like the likeness of those before them; and the likeness of the hypocrites regarding their inciting them to fight—as has been narrated about them—is like the likeness of the Shaytan."
{* إذ قال للإنسان اكفر *} Meaning: He incited him to disbelief, with the incitement of one who commands to what is commanded. It is, therefore, a figurative representation (tamthil and isti'arah).
{* فلما كفر قال إني بريء منك إني أخاف الله رب العالمين *} He dissociated himself from him for fear of participating in the punishment, yet that did not benefit him, as He—the Glorified—said: [The verse continues to describe the outcome].
