"And when they are alone with their devils"—Qatadah said: meaning their leaders in polytheism—"they say, 'Indeed, we are with you; we were only mocking'" Muhammad and his companions.
﴿وَإِذا خلوا إِلَى شياطينهم﴾ قَالَ قَتَادَة: يَعْنِي: رؤساءهم فِي (الشّرك) ﴿قَالُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحن مستهزئون﴾ بِمُحَمد (وَأَصْحَابه)