“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.