"You took them in mockery," meaning: they used to mock the companions of the prophets and laugh at them.

Muhammad said: The most excellent way in the recitation of (ittakhadhtumuuhum) is to assimilate (idgham) the dhāl into the tā' because of the proximity of the points of articulation of the dhāl and the tā', though if you wish, you may express them separately (izhar). It is also recited as (sukhriyyan) with the damma (vowel sign).