Surah Fussilat Notes (25-26)

Source: Ibn Kathir

The intimate Companions of the Idolators make Evil Actions attractive to Them Allah tells us that He is the One Who sends the idolators astray and that this happens by His will and decree. He is the All-Wise in His actions when He appoints for them close companions from among the devils of men and Jinn.

(25) And We have assigned them (devils) intimate companions (in this world), who have made fair-seeming to them, what was before them (evil deeds which they were doing in the present worldly life and disbelief in the Reckoning and the Resurrection, etc.) and what was behind them (denial of the matters in the coming life of the Hereafter as regards punishment or reward, etc.). And the Word (i.e. the torment) is justified against them as it was justified against those who were among the previous generations of jinns and men that had passed away before them. Indeed they (all) were the losers.

(who have made fair seeming to them, what was before them and what was behind them.) means, they made their deeds attractive to them in the past. As far as the future is concerned, they only see themselves as doing good, as Allah says:

(And whosoever turns away blindly from the remembrance of the Most Gracious, We appoint for him a Shaytan to be a companion for him. And verily, they hinder them from the Path, but they think that they are guided aright!) (43:36-37)

(And the Word is justified against them) means, the Word of torment, just as it was justified against the nations of the past who did what they did, men and Jinn alike.

(Indeed they (all) were the losers.) means, they are all equal in terms of loss and being doomed.

How the disbelievers advised One Another not to listen to the Qur'an, and the Recompense for that

(26) And those who disbelieve say: "Listen not to this Quran, and make noise in the midst of its (recitation) that you may overcome."

(And those who disbelieve say: "Listen not to this Qur'an...'') means, they advised one another not to pay heed to the Qur'an or obey its commands.

(and make noise in the midst of its) means, when it is recited, do not listen to it. This was the view of Mujahid. "And make noise in the midst of its (recitation)'' means whistling and trying to make the Messenger of Allah confused when he recited Qur'an, which is what the Quraysh did.

(that you may overcome.) means, this is the practice of these ignorant disbelievers and those who follow in their footsteps, when they hear the Qur'an. Allah commanded us to be different from that and said:

(So, when the Qur'an is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy.) (7:204).