Will they not then reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon their hearts (24)Verily, those who have turned back as disbelievers after guidance had become clear to them – Shaytan has enticed them and filled them with false hopes (25)That is because they said to those who hate what Allah has sent down: "We will obey you in part of the matter." And Allah knows their secrets (26)Then how (will it be) when the angels will take their souls at death, striking their faces and their backs (27)That is because they followed that which angered Allah and hated what earns His pleasure, so He rendered their deeds worthless (28)

The Command to reflect upon the Qur'an

Commanding the people to reflect and ponder upon the Qur'an, and prohibiting them from turning away from it, Allah says,

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا

(Will they not then reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon their hearts?) means, there indeed are locks upon some hearts, firmly closing them so that none of its meanings can reach them. Ibn Jarir recorded from Hisham bin 'Urwah, from his father, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah's Messenger ﷺ once recited this Ayah,

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا

(Will they not then reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon their hearts?) and a young man from Yemen said, "Indeed, there are locks upon them – until Allah opens them totally or slightly." After that 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, always liked that young man, and kept that to himself until he became in charge, upon which he utilized him (as a consultant).

Condemning Apostasy

Allah then says,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ ارْتَدُّوا عَلَىٰ أَدْبَارِهِمْ

(Verily, those who have turned back) meaning, they departed from the faith and returned to disbelief.

مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْهُدَى ۙ الشَّيْطَانُ سَوَّلَ لَهُمْ

(...after guidance had become clear to them – Shaytan has enticed them) meaning he adorned and beautified that (apostasy) for them.

 وَأَمْلَىٰ لَهُمْ 

(and filled them with false hopes.) meaning, he tempted them, and deceived them.

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا لِلَّذِينَ كَرِهُوا مَا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ سَنُطِيعُكُمْ فِي بَعْضِ الْأَمْرِ ۖ 

(That is because they said to those who hate what Allah sent down: "We will obey your in part of the matter.") means, they plotted secretly with them and gave them evil advice – as is the common practice of the hypocrites who declare the opposite of what they conceal. Because of this, Allah says,

وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِسْرَارَهُمْ

(And Allah knows their secrets.) whatever they hide and conceal, Allah is well-acquainted with it and He knows it. This is similar to His saying,

وَاللَّهُ يَكْتُبُ مَا يُبَيِّتُونَ ۖ

(...And Allah records all that they plot by night.)(4:81) Allah then says,

فَكَيْفَ إِذَا تَوَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ 

(How (will it be) when the angels will take their souls at death, striking their faces and their backs?)

That is, how their situation will be when the angels come to take their lives, and their souls cling to their bodies, causing the angels to extract them by force, harshness, and beating. This is similar to Allah's saying,

وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۙ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ 

(If you could but see when the angels take away the lives of the disbelievers, striking their faces and their backs.)(8:50) And His saying,

وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَاسِطُو أَيْدِيهِمْ 

(If you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the agonies of death, while the angels extend their hands)(6:93). meaning, to beat them.

أَخْرِجُوا أَنْفُسَكُمُ ۖ الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَكُنْتُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

((saying): "Deliver your souls! This day you will be recompensed with the torment of degradation because of what you used to utter against Allah other than the truth, and because you used to arrogantly reject His signs.")(6:93) Because of the above, Allah says,

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ اتَّبَعُوا مَا أَسْخَطَ اللَّهَ وَكَرِهُوا رِضْوَانَهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ 

(That is because they pursued what angered Allah and disliked what earns His pleasure, so He rendered their deeds worthless.)