“And thus We have placed within every city the greatest of its criminals.”
Muhammad said: The meaning is: We have placed in every city its criminals as the greatest ones. Qatada said: The meaning of (akabir - the greatest ones) is: tyrants.
“To plot therein, but they plot not except against themselves, and they perceive [it] not” — that they are only plotting against themselves.
Muhammad said: The meaning is: that the recompense for their plotting returns upon them.
﴿وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَا فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ أكَابِر مجرميها﴾.
قَالَ محمدٌ: الْمَعْنَى: جَعَلْنَا فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ مُجْرِمِيهَا أَكَابِرَ. قَالَ قَتَادَة: وَمعنى (أكَابِر): جَبَابِرَةٌ.
﴿لِيَمْكُرُوا فِيهَا وَمَا يَمْكُرُونَ إِلَّا بِأَنْفسِهِم وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ﴾ أَنَّهُمْ إِنَّمَا يَمْكُرُونَ بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ.
قَالَ محمدٌ: الْمَعْنَى: أَنَّ جَزَاءَ مَكْرِهِمْ راجعٌ عَلَيْهِم.
