"And they followed the command of every obstinate tyrant" (Qur'an 11:59) — meaning, they followed one another in disbelief. Al-'anid (the obstinate) is one who avoids guidance and opposes it.
Muhammad said: The root of al-'anid in the language is al-ja'ir (the one who deviates). Al-'ind, to the Arabs, means the side or flank. Thus, one who deviates is called 'anid (obstinate) because he has moved to the side of what is intended and correct.
﴿وَاتَّبَعُوا أَمْرَ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ﴾ أَيْ: وَاتَّبَعَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا عَلَى الْكُفْرِ، وَالْعَنِيدُ: الْمُجْتَنِبُ لِلْهُدَى الْمُعَانِدُ لَهُ.
قَالَ محمدٌ: الْعَنِيدُ أَصْلُهُ فِي اللُّغَةِ: الْجَائِرُ، وَالْعِنْدُ عِنْدَ الْعَرَبِ: الْجَانِبُ، فَقِيلَ لِلْجَائِرِ: عنيدٌ مِنْ هَذَا؛ لأَنَّهُ مجانبٌ لِلْقَصْدِ.
