Tafsir of Al-Ahqaf 46:5

{And who is more astray} The meaning of the interrogation here is a denial that there could be anyone among all those who are astray who is more extreme in their straying than the worshippers of idols. This is because they abandon the supplication of the All-Hearing, the Responsive, the One capable of attaining every desire and goal, and instead call upon inanimate objects that do not respond to them, nor do they possess the power to respond to any of them as long as the world exists and until the Day of Resurrection.

{And when the people are gathered, they will be enemies to them} When the Resurrection occurs and people are gathered, these idols will be their enemies and adversaries. Thus, they are of no benefit in either abode; rather, they bring only hardship and harm. They do not aid them in this world by responding, and in the Hereafter, they show them enmity and deny their worship.

{Why "who" (man) and "they" (hum)?} The use of "who" (man) and "they" (hum)—which are pronouns for rational beings—is used because the text attributes to these idols actions associated with those who possess intellect, such as responding and being heedless. This is also because the idolaters, in their ignorance and stupidity, used to describe these idols as having discernment.

{Alternative Interpretation} It is possible that the meaning includes every object of worship other than God—whether jinn, humans, or idols—with the term for idols being used to encompass the others.

{Recitations and Rhetoric} It has been recited as: “ma la yastajib” (that which does not respond). It has also been recited as: “yad’u ghayr Allah man la yastajib” (he calls upon other than God, one who does not respond). Describing them as lacking response and being heedless is a method of mockery toward them and their worshippers. Similar to this is the Almighty’s saying: “If you call upon them, they do not hear your supplication; and if they were to hear, they could not respond to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will deny your association” (Fatir: 14).

{And when the people are gathered, they will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship. And when Our clear verses are recited to them, those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, "This is clear magic."}