And the second interpretation:

5699 - Abu Yazid al-Qaratisi reported to us in what he wrote to me, Asbagh ibn al-Faraj informed us, he said: I heard 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd ibn Aslam, from his father, regarding Allah the Exalted's saying: "and His mercy," he said: Islam.

His saying, the Exalted: "you would have followed the Shaytan (Satan)." [5700]

My father narrated to us, Abu Salih narrated to us, Mu'awiyah ibn Salih narrated to me, from 'Ali ibn Abi Talhah, from Ibn 'Abbas regarding His saying: "And if it were not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed the Shaytan" - the speech is interrupted. He said: It is in the beginning of the verse, informing the hypocrites of it.

5701 - al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Rabi' narrated to us, 'Abd al-Razzaq informed us, Ma'mar informed us, from Qatadah regarding His saying: "And if it were not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed the Shaytan, except for a few," he says: All of you would have followed the Shaytan.

His saying, the Exalted: "except for a few." [5702]

My father narrated to us, Abu Salih narrated to us, Mu'awiyah ibn Salih narrated to me, from 'Ali ibn Abi Talhah, from Ibn 'Abbas regarding His saying: "except for a few," he means by the few: The believers.

5703 - Ahmad ibn al-Azhar reported to us in what he wrote to me, Wahb ibn Jarir narrated to us, my father narrated to us, from 'Ali ibn al-Hakam, from al-Dahhak regarding His saying: "except for a few," they are the companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who had suggested to themselves an affair from the affairs of the Shaytan.

His saying, the Exalted: "So fight in the cause of Allah; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers."

5704 - My father narrated to us, Muhammad ibn 'Amr Zunayj narrated to us, Hakkan narrated to us, al-Jarrah al-Kindi narrated to us, from Abu Ishaq, he said: I asked al-Bara' ibn 'Azib about a man who encounters a hundred of the enemy and fights, is he among those whom Allah the Exalted said regarding: "And do not throw [yourselves] with your own hands into destruction" (1)? He said: Allah has indeed said to His Prophet: "So fight in the cause of Allah; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers."