"Then they said: 'Shall we follow a single human from among ourselves?'" meaning: Shall we follow a single human from among ourselves? "'In that case, we would surely be in error'"—meaning (we would not be guided)—"'and madness [su'r]'"—meaning: and wretchedness, according to the tafsir of Mujahid.

Muhammad said: His saying "'and madness'"—the root of the word is from "sa'arat" (the fire flared up), when it becomes inflamed.