"And We appointed for them companions [from among the jinn and mankind]," meaning: devils. "And they made fair-seeming to them what was before them and what was behind them." Al-Hasan said: "What was before them," meaning: the love of the polytheism and the rejection of the messengers that their forefathers were upon; "and what was behind them," meaning: their rejection of the resurrection. "And the word has come into effect upon them," meaning: the wrath has become binding upon them; according to the interpretation of Qatada, "among nations which had passed on before them," meaning: along with nations [that had passed on before them].
﴿وقيضنا لَهُم قرناء﴾ يَعْنِي: شياطين ﴿فَزَيَّنُوا لَهُمْ مَا بَين أَيْديهم وَمَا خَلفهم﴾ قَالَ الْحَسَن: مَا بَين أَيْديهم , يَعْنِي: حب مَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ آباؤهم من الشّرك وتكذيبهم الرُّسُل، وَمَا خَلفهم: تكذيبهم بِالْبَعْثِ ﴿وَحَقَّ عَلَيْهِم القَوْل﴾ أَي: وَجب عَلَيْهِم الْغَضَب؛ فِي تَفْسِير قَتَادَة ﴿فِي أُمَمٍ قَدْ خلت من قبلهم﴾ أَي: مَعَ أُمَم.
