Ja'far, from his father, from al-Rabi' b. Anas: {And when they are alone with their devils}, he said: Their brothers from the polytheists, {they say: "Indeed, we are with you; we were only mocking"}.

357- al-Qasim b. al-Hasan narrated to us, he said: al-Husayn b. Dawud narrated to us, he said: Hajjaj narrated to me, he said: Ibn Jurayj said regarding his statement: {And when they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe"}, he said: When prosperity befalls the believers, they say: "We are with you, we are only your brothers," and when they are alone with their devils, they mock the believers.

358- al-Qasim narrated to us, he said: al-Husayn narrated to us, he said: Hajjaj narrated to me, from Ibn Jurayj, he said: And Mujahid said: Their devils: their companions from the hypocrites and polytheists (1).

If a questioner were to say to us: Have you considered His statement {And when they are alone with their devils}? Why was it said: {are alone to (khalaw ila) their devils}, and it was not said "are alone with (khalaw bi) their devils"? For you know that what is current among people in their speech is: "I was alone with (khalawtu bi) so-and-so," which is more common and widespread than: "I was alone to (khalawtu ila) so-and-so"; and it is your statement: Indeed, the Quran is the most eloquent of expression!

It is said: The scholars of the Arabic language have differed regarding this. Some of the grammarians of Basra used to say: It is said "I was alone to (khalawtu ila) so-and-so" if what is intended by it is: I was alone to him for a specific need. It does not bear—when said like that—except being alone to him to fulfill a need. As for when it is said: "I was alone with him (khalawtu bihi)," it bears two meanings: one of them is being alone with him for a need, and the other is in mocking him. So according to this view, {And when they are alone to (khalaw ila) their devils} is undoubtedly more eloquent than if it were said "And when they are alone with (khalaw bi) their devils," because in the speaker's statement: "when they are alone with (khalaw bi) their devils" there is an ambiguity of meaning for its listeners, which is negated from his statement: "And when they are alone to (khalaw ila) their devils." This is one of the views.

The other view: is that you direct the meaning (2) of His statement {And when they are alone to (khalaw ila) their devils} to "And when they