His saying - glorified and exalted is He -: "And when you see those who engage in discussions about Our verses, turn away from them until they engage in a different conversation. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not sit with the wrongdoing people after the reminder." "And there is no blame upon those who are conscious of Allah for anything of their account, but a reminder, perhaps they will be conscious of Allah."

The wording of this address is solely for the Prophet - blessings and peace be upon him -; and there is a difference of opinion regarding its meaning; it has been said that the believers are included in the address with him.

Qadi Abu Muhammad - may Allah have mercy on him - said: This is the correct view; because the reason for the prohibition - which is listening to the discussions about the verses of Allah, the Exalted - includes them and him - blessings and peace be upon him -; and it has been said that the meaning was also intended for the Prophet - blessings and peace be upon him - alone; because his standing away from the polytheists was difficult for them; and his separation from them was in anger; even if the believers were not with them in that way; so the Prophet - blessings and peace be upon him - was commanded to distance himself from them by standing away when they mocked and engaged in discussions; so that they may learn good manners by that; and leave off the discussions and mockery; and this interpretation is based on the words of Ibn Jarir - may Allah have mercy on him.

And the term "engage" originally refers to water; then it is used later in the context of the overwhelming matters which are obscured; likening them to the depths of water.

"And if" is a conditional phrase; and it usually requires a heavy noon; and it may not require it; as has been said:

If an enemy should strike you in opposition...

and other similar examples.

And Ibn Amer read alone "will cause you to forget"; with the emphasis on the 's' and the opening of the 'n'; and the meaning is the same; except that the emphasis is more emphatic.

And "reminder" and "mention" are one in meaning; and it is merely a feminine form in wording; and their description here as "the wrongdoing ones" is established; because they placed something in the wrong place; and "turn away" in this verse means to separate; in the true sense of turning away; and the most complete of its forms; and that is indicated by: "So do not sit."

And His saying - the Exalted - "And there is no blame upon those who are conscious of Allah for anything of their account"; the verse; the intended meaning of "those" is the believers; and the pronoun in "their account" refers back to "those who engage"; and whoever said that the believers are included in His saying: "So turn away"; said that the Prophet - blessings and peace be upon him - is included in this intent of "those who are conscious of Allah"; and the meaning among them - according to what has been narrated - is that the believers said - when it was revealed: "So do not sit with them": "If we do not approach the polytheists; nor listen to their words; then it is not possible for us to perform Tawaf; nor fulfill acts of worship in the Sacred House"; so this was revealed for that: "And there is no blame upon those who are conscious of Allah."

The judge Abu Muhammad - may Allah have mercy on him - said: The permissibility in this is to the extent that is needed for interaction with the polytheists; in worship and similar matters. Some who say, "Indeed, the Prophet - blessings and peace be upon him - is included in: ﴿Those who are conscious of Allah﴾; and the believers are included in the first address": This last verse is not a permissibility in any way; rather its meaning is: "Do not sit with them; nor approach them; so that you do not hear their mockery and their discussions; and your prohibition from sitting is not because you have any obligation towards them; rather it is a reminder for you"; and the meaning may be that it is for them: "Perhaps if you avoid them, they will be conscious of Allah by refraining from mockery." As for the one who said: "The first address is solely for the Prophet - blessings and peace be upon him - due to the heaviness of his separation while angry at the disbelievers"; he said regarding this second verse: It is specific to the believers; and its meaning is permissibility; as if he said: "So do not sit with them, O Muhammad; and as for the believers, there is nothing upon them from their account; if they sit, let them remind them, perhaps they will be conscious of Allah, the Exalted, in leaving what they are in."

The judge Abu Muhammad - may Allah have mercy on him - said: And this statement was alluded to by the commentator; and he did not clarify it; and I have a consideration regarding it; and the one who made this statement said: This permissibility for the believers has been abrogated by the verse of "the women"; His saying - blessed and exalted is He -: ﴿And indeed, We have revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah being disbelieved in and mocked at, do not sit with them until they engage in another discussion﴾ [An-Nisa: 140]; and likewise, the one who said initially: "The permissibility was according to the acts of worship"; he says: This verse in "the women" abrogates that; as it is Medinan; and the reference in His saying: "And indeed, We have revealed"; is to it itself; so contemplate it; otherwise, the abrogator must be something other than it; and "reminder"; according to this statement; it is possible that it means: "Remind them as a reminder"; and it is possible: "But avoid them whenever you avoid in a time other than the time of worship as a reminder"; and "reminder"; in every statement; it is possible that it is in the position of an accusative; by implying a verb; or a nominative by implying a subject.

And it is necessary for the believer to adhere to the ruling of this verse with the atheists; and the people of debate and discussion in it; and Al-Tabari narrated from Abu Ja'far that he said: "Do not sit with the people of disputes, for they are the ones who delve into the verses of Allah, the Exalted."