Tafsir of Al-Balad 90:6

"I have wasted wealth in abundance" (lubada), meaning a great deal. It is derived from the term talabbada (to become matted or accumulated) when things gather together. He says this at a time of delusion, out of pride, boasting, and arrogance toward the believers. By this, he intends what he spent for the sake of showing off and seeking reputation. He expressed the spending as "wasting" (ihlak) to demonstrate his indifference toward it, and to show that he did not do so with the hope of any benefit; it is as if he regarded that abundant wealth as squandered.

It is said that this is an expression of the intensity of his enmity toward the Messenger of Allah (may Allah exalt his mention and grant him peace), intending by the wealth that which he spent in opposing the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).

It is also said that he says this to cause harm to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). According to Muqatil, al-Harith ibn Nawfal would seek counsel from the Messenger (may Allah exalt his mention and grant him peace) whenever he committed a sin, and the Messenger would command him to offer an expiation (kaffarah). He then said, "I have wasted wealth in abundance on expiations and consequences since I followed Muhammad (may Allah exalt his mention and grant him peace)."

It is also said that the intended meaning is what was mentioned first, except that this saying occurs at the time of his retribution—that is, on the Day of Resurrection—and the expression of spending as "wasting" is because it will be of no benefit to him on that day.

Abu Ja’far read lubada with a shaddah on the ba’. From him and from Zayd ibn Ali, it is read lubda with a sukun on the ba’. Mujahid and Ibn Abi al-Zinad read lubadan with a dammah on both the lam and the ba’.