The first is a negation, and the second is a lightened form of the heavy. And the 'lam' is what distinguishes between them. And he took it as mockery: in the meaning of mocking him, and the origin is: he took it as a place of mockery, or mocked by it. Is this what is reported after the implied saying? This is belittlement. And Allah sent a Messenger and brought him forth in the context of submission and acknowledgment, while they were in utmost denial and rejection, mockery and ridicule. If they had not mocked, they would have said: Is this the one who claimed or asserted that he was sent by Allah as a Messenger? And their saying, 'Indeed, he almost leads us astray,' is evidence of the intense struggle of the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, in calling them, and his exertion of utmost effort and ability in winning them over, while presenting the signs and miracles to them until they almost, in their claim, left their religion for the religion of Islam, were it not for their extreme stubbornness and clinging to the worship of their idols. And in such speech, there is a meaning that runs parallel to the restriction of the absolute ruling, 'And they will surely know,' is a threat and indication that they will not escape it, even if the period of respite is prolonged, and the threat must reach them, so let not the delay deceive them. And his saying, 'Who is more astray than one,' is like a response to their saying, 'Indeed, he almost leads us astray,' because it attributes to the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, the misguidance from which no one goes astray except one who is misguided in himself. It is narrated that this was said by Abu Jahl, may Allah curse him.