Tafsir of Al-Anbiya' 21:98-100

It may refer to idols, Iblis, and his helpers, because by obeying them and following their footsteps, they are in the position of those who worship them. This is confirmed by what has been narrated:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered the Mosque while the leaders of Quraysh were in the Hatīm, with three hundred and sixty idols around the Kaaba. He sat with them, and al-Naḍr ibn al-Ḥārith confronted him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) spoke to him until he silenced him, then he recited to them: { Indeed, you and what you worship other than Allah... } (the verse).

Then ‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Ziba‘rā came and saw them whispering. He asked, "What are you discussing?" Al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah informed him of what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said. ‘Abd Allāh said, "By Allah, if I had found him, I would have defeated him in argument." They called him, and Ibn al-Ziba‘rā said, "Did you say that?" He replied, "Yes." He said, "I have defeated you, by the Lord of the Kaaba! Do not the Jews worship Ezra, the Christians worship the Messiah, and the Banū Malīḥ worship the angels?"

The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Rather, they worshipped the devils who commanded them to do so." Then Allah Almighty revealed: { Indeed, those for whom the best [reward] has preceded from Us... } (Al-Anbiyāʾ: 101), meaning Ezra, the Messiah, and the angels (peace be upon them).

If you ask: Why were they grouped with their deities? I say: Because they will remain in increased grief and regret due to their proximity, as what befell them was because of them. Looking at the face of an enemy is a form of torment. Also, because they assumed they would intercede for them in the Hereafter and benefit from their intercession; when they find the matter the opposite of what they assumed, nothing will be more hateful to them than those deities.

If you ask: If you mean by "what you worship" the idols, what is the meaning of { They will have therein a groaning }? I say: Since they and their idols are in one place, it is permissible to say "they have a groaning," even if the ones groaning are only the people and not the idols, by way of taghlīb (generalization) and because there is no confusion.

Al-Ḥaṣab (fuel): meaning they are thrown into the Fire. Al-Ḥaṣb is the act of throwing. It is also recited with a quiescent ṣād (as a verbal noun). It is also recited as ḥaṭab (firewood) and ḥaḍab (with a ḍād, both vocalized and quiescent).

From Ibn Mas‘ūd: They will be placed in coffins of fire, so they will not hear. It is also possible that Allah will make them deaf just as He makes them blind.