And when the meaning was that they did not believe in what they witnessed, it was as if it was said: What is it that drives them to this confirmed speech and the lies that are extremely vile, especially among the Arabs? He explained it by saying, naming their testimony as faith, because testimony is akin to an oath in the intention of affirmation. Therefore, it is received in the same way that an oath is received: ﴿They took﴾ meaning they took with their utmost effort ﴿their oaths﴾ meaning all of them from this testimony of theirs, which they strive to affirm, and every other oath besides it ﴿as a shield﴾ meaning a protection that shields them from worldly misfortunes, and they cover themselves with it, thus preserving their blood and their wealth. They illuminated themselves with the light of acceptance, but the rays of the light of happiness did not extend to them, so their light was extinguished by the overpowering of deprivation. They remained in the darkness of the previous division by the decree of abandonment. ﴿So they turned away﴾ meaning the cause of their taking this was that they turned away with their own selves, along with the evil of their inner states and the heat of their chests. They led others to turn away due to what they saw of the bad conditions of their outward appearances, while they remained upon what they had become accustomed to from the disbelief that Satan beautifies for them. ﴿From the path of Allah﴾ meaning from the way of the Greatest King, which He has legislated for His servants to reach by it the place of His pleasure. They reached that through their deceit and their cunning, with their boldness in the false oaths by which they walk, for what Allah has legislated in this easy monotheism of being content with the oath of the one who swears in matters that only He knows.

And when what he informed about their state was extremely vile, it produced his saying: ﴿Indeed, they﴾ and he confirmed it because their state is astonishing, and many were astonished by those who approached them. ﴿Evil is what they were﴾ meaning their nature and disposition ﴿doing﴾ meaning they renew their actions, continuing in them with what is like their nature from their boldness against Allah and His Messenger, blessings and peace be upon him, and they have harmed His servants with the false oaths.