Surah Al An'aam Notes (23-25)

Then there will be no [excuse upon] examination except they will say, "By Allah , our Lord, we were not those who associated."

See how they will lie about themselves. And lost from them will be what they used to invent.

And among them are those who listen to you, but We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. Even when they come to you arguing with you, those who disbelieve say, "This is not but legends of the former peoples."

(6:23 & 24) Fitnah has various meanings:

• a trial or temptation
• trouble, tumult (loud confused noise especially caused by large group of people)
• oppression, persecution
• discord
• deceit used in order to achieve ones goal
• excuse founded on falsehood.

Those who disbelieved in Allah in imagining false gods will now see the vanity of their imaginations for themselves. They will have no other choice but to deny that they ever entertained the notion of false gods.

(6:25) The miserables do not benefit from the Quran

There are those who, when they hear the Quran being recited, they will not believe in any of the aayat, proofs, clear evidences and signs they witness because they do not have sound comprehension or fair judgement. They even go to the extent where they argue using falsehood against the truth. 

The disbelievers say, what you (O Muhammad) brought us was taken from the books of those who were before us.