[And halt them], meaning: detain them; and this is before they enter the Fire. [Indeed, they are to be questioned] regarding 'There is no god but Allah.'
Muhammad said: It is said: 'Waqaftu al-dabbata' (I brought the beast to a halt) [using the noun] 'waqfan' and 'wuqufan', and from this meaning is the saying: [And halt them]. And it is said: 'Awqaftu al-rajula 'ala al-amri' (I caused the man to stand upon/be appraised of the matter) using 'iqaftan'.
﴿وقفوهم﴾ أَي: احبسوهم، وَهَذَا قبل أَن يدخلُوا النَّار ﴿إِنَّهُم مَّسْئُولُونَ﴾ عَن لَا إِلَه إِلَّا اللَّه.
قَالَ محمدٌ: يُقَال: وقفت الدَّابَّة وَقْفًا ووقُوفًا، وَمن هَذَا الْمَعْنى قَوْله: ﴿وقفوهم﴾ وَيُقَال: أوقفتُ الرجل عَلَى الْأَمر إيقافاً.
