Concerning Allah's statement,

[أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا الشَّيَـطِينَ عَلَى الْكَـفِرِينَ تَؤُزُّهُمْ أَزّاً ]

(See you not that We have sent the Shayatin against the disbelievers to push them to do evil.) `Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn `Abbas said, "They will lead them astray with temptation.'' Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said, "They will incite them against Muhammad and his Companions.'' Qatadah said, "They will harass them and disturb them until they disobey Allah.'' `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd said, "This is similar to Allah's statement,

[وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَـنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَاناً فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ ]

(And whosoever turns away blindly from the remembrance of the Most Gracious, We appoint for him a Shaytan to be a companion for him.)'' [43:36] Concerning Allah's statement,

[فَلاَ تَعْجَلْ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّمَا نَعُدُّ لَهُمْ عَدّاً ]

(So make no haste against them; We only count out to them a (limited) number.) This means, "Do not be hasty with the punishment that is going to befall them, O Muhammad.''

[إِنَّمَا نَعُدُّ لَهُمْ عَدّاً]

(We only count out to them a number. ) This means, "We are only delaying them for a fixed appointment whose time is numbered. They are destined for that and there is no escaping the torment of Allah and His exemplary punishment.'' Allah says,

[وَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ غَـفِلاً عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ الظَّـلِمُونَ]

(And consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the wrongdoers do.) [14:42] And He says,

[فَمَهِّلِ الْكَـفِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْداً ]

(So give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.) [86:17] And Allah says,

[إِنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُواْ إِثْمَاً]

(We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness.) [3:178]

[نُمَتِّعُهُمْ قَلِيلاً ثُمَّ نَضْطَرُّهُمْ إِلَى عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ ]

(We let them enjoy for a little while, then in the end We shall oblige them to (enter) a great torment.) [31:24]

[قُلْ تَمَتَّعُواْ فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى النَّارِ]

(Say: "Enjoy! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire.'') [14:30] As-Suddi said,

[إِنَّمَا نَعُدُّ لَهُمْ عَدّاً]

(We only count out to them a (limited) number. ) means years, months, days and hours.''

[يَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ الْمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى الرَّحْمَـنِ وَفْداً ]

[وَنَسُوقُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ وِرْداً ]

[لاَّ يَمْلِكُونَ الشَّفَـعَةَ إِلاَّ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّحْمَـنِ عَهْداً ]

(85. The Day We shall gather those with Taqwa unto the Most Gracious (Allah), like a delegation.) (86. And We shall drive the criminals to Hell, in a thirsty state.) (87. None shall have the power of intercession, but such a one as has received permission (or promise) from the Most Gracious (Allah).)