"When those who were followed disown those who followed them," Qatada said: They are the leaders in polytheism. "Those who followed them," who are the weak ones; they followed them in the worship of idols. "And they see the punishment," meaning: they have entered into it. "And all relationships between them will be severed," meaning: the connections they maintained with one another in the world.
﴿إِذْ تَبرأ الَّذين اتبعُوا﴾ قَالَ قَتَادَة: وهم الرؤساء فِي الشّرك ﴿من الَّذين اتبعُوا﴾ وهم الضُّعَفَاء؛ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ على عبَادَة الْأَوْثَان ﴿وَرَأَوا الْعَذَاب﴾ أَي: دخلُوا فِيهِ ﴿وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الأَسْبَابُ﴾ يَعْنِي: مَا كَانُوا يتواصلون بِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا
