An-Nahl • EN-TAFISR-IBN-KATHIR
﴿ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَعْمَٰلَهُمْ فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ ﴾
“By God, [O Prophet,] even before thy time have We sent apostles unto [various] communities: but [those who were bent on denying the truth have always refused to listen to Our messages because] Satan has made all their own doings seem goodly to them: and he is [as] close to them today [as he was to the sinners of yore]; hence, grievous suffering awaits them.”
Finding Consolation in the Reminder of Those Who came before Allah says, `He sent Messengers to the nations of the past, and they were rejected. You, O Muhammad, have an example in your brothers among the Messengers, so do not be distressed by your people's rejection. As for the idolators' rejection of the Messengers, the reason for this is that the Shaytan made their deeds attractive to them.' فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ الْيَوْمَ (So today he (Shaytan) is their helper,) meaning they will be suffering punishment while Shaytan is their only helper, and he cannot save them, so they have no one to answer their calls for help, and theirs is a painful punishment. The Reason why the Qur'an was revealed Then Allah says to His Messenger that He has revealed the Book to him to explain the truth to mankind in matters which they dispute over. So the Qur'an is a decisive arbitrator for every issue that they argue about. وَهَدَى (and (as) a guidance) meaning, for their hearts. وَرَحْمَةً (and a mercy) meaning, for the one who adheres to it. لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ (for a people who believe.) Just as Allah causes the Qur'an to bring life to hearts that were dead from disbelief, so He brings the earth to life after it has died, by sending down water from the sky. إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لآيَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ (Surely that is a sign for people who listen.) meaning those who understand the words and their meanings.