"And He prolongs them in their transgression, wandering blindly." Al-Suddi said: Meaning, they wander to and fro.
Muhammad said: The meaning of "He prolongs them (yumidduhum)" is that He extends [the time] for them. You say: I prolonged (madadtu) so-and-so in his error, and I prolonged for him. If it is in evil, you say: I prolonged him (madadtuhu), and if it is in good, you say: I extended him (amdadtuhu). Al-Tughyan (transgression) is arrogance and haughtiness. Al-'amah (wandering blindly) in the speech of the Arabs is confusion and straying. It is said: A man is 'amiha in a matter, he is 'amuhan, if he is lost in it and confused; so he is 'amih and 'amih [in a state of blind wandering]. [Verse 16-18]
﴿ويمدهم فِي طغيانهم يعمهون﴾ قَالَ السُّدِّيُّ: يَعْنِي: يَتَرَدَّدُونَ.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: معنى: ((يمدهُمْ)): يُطِيل لَهُم؛ تَقُولُ: مددت فلَانا فِي غيه ومددت لَهُ؛ فَإِذا كَانَ فِي الشَّرّ قُلْت: مددته، وَإِذا كَانَ فِي الْخَيْر قُلْت أمددته والطغيان: العتو والتكبر. وَالْعَمَهُ فِي كَلَام الْعَرَب: الْحيرَة والضلال [يُقَال] عَمه الرجل فِي الْأَمر يعمه عُمُوها؛ إِذا تاه فِيهِ وتحير؛ فَهُوَ عَمه، وعامه. [آيَة ١٦ - ١٨]
