The sin is lying. [Mahran said: "The sin is lying ... etc."] Ahmad said: And His saying: (About their saying, 'The sin') indicates that the first sin is mentioned, and it is possible that what is meant is lying in general. It is also possible that the word of shirk is meant. Al-Zamakhshari's argument that what is meant is lying does not hold, as it only indicates that it is mentioned and both meanings are possible, and Allah knows best. This is supported by His saying: (About their saying, 'The sin'). And 'the aggression' is oppression. It was said: The sin is the word of shirk. And their saying, 'The Mighty son of Allah.' It was said: The sin is what is specific to them. And the aggression is what extends beyond them to others.

And to hasten in something is to begin it quickly. 'So evil was what they were doing' as if they made the sinner among those who commit abominations. [He returned to his words. He said: "They made the sinner among those who commit abominations, because every doer ... etc."] Ahmad said: This means that when he described the blameworthy reality of those who commit abominations by the action in His saying: (So evil was what they were doing) and described the neglect of enjoining them by calling it a craft in His saying: (So evil was what they were making), this blame was more severe, because he made the blameworthy act a craft for them and for the leaders, and a necessary profession for them, more than those who commit abominations in their actions. This is what he meant, and Allah knows best.

For every doer is not called a maker, nor is every action called a craft until he is proficient in it and trained in it and it is attributed to him. And the meaning in that is that the places of disobedience are accompanied by the desire that calls him to it and drives him to commit it. As for the one who forbids, there is no desire with him in the action of others. So if he neglects enjoining, he is in a worse state than the places. By my life, this verse is something that strikes the listener [The saying 'something that strikes the listener' means it lightens him and energizes him. This is if it is intensified with a 'dhal' from 'qadh.' Or it strikes him until he relaxes and approaches death. This is if it is lightened from 'waqad.'] and reproaches the scholars for their delay. And from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: It is the most severe verse in the Qur'an. And from Al-Dahhak: There is no verse in the Qur'an that frightens me more than it.