[He thinks it to be water] - the thirsty one. [Until when he comes to it, he finds it nothing.] The thirsty one is like the disbeliever, and the mirage is like his deed; he thinks it will avail him anything until death comes to him. When death comes to him, he finds that his deed did not avail him anything, just as the mirage does not benefit the thirsty person.

Muhammad said: The qīʿah and the qāʿ, according to the linguists, are what is level from the earth and has no vegetation in it, and that is what Mujahid intended. So the one who travels in it at midday sees as if there is water flowing in it, and that is the mirage.

His saying: [And he found Allah before him, and He paid him his account] - meaning: the recompense for his deed, which is the Fire on the Day of Resurrection. [And Allah is swift in account] - meaning: the account has arrived.