سورة الكهف

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): This verse refers to the Christians, their scholars, and their ascetics, as well as those Muslims who follow doubts and their own desires, and also the Haruriyya and the people of innovation.

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): This verse was revealed concerning the Jews, and it applied to the Kharijites.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Asbagh ibn Nubata said: Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) was asked: 'O Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him), inform me about the word of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُکُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِینَ أَعْمالًا [Say: Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in (their) deeds?]!' Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (peace be upon him) said: 'It refers to the disbelievers among the People of the Book: the Jews and the Christians. They were at first upon the truth, then they introduced innovations into their religion, and despite that they think they are doing good work! (Kahf/104).' Then that noble one came down from the pulpit, placed his blessed hand on the shoulder of Ibn al-Kawwa' and said: 'O Ibn al-Kawwa'! You are not far from the people of Nahrawan and the Khawarij.'

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Abu al-Tufayl said: Ibn al-Kawwa' asked Imam Ali (peace be upon him) about the verse: قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُکُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِینَ أَعْمالًا [Say: Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in (their) deeds?]. The Imam (peace be upon him) said: '[The verse is directed at] you, the people of Harura'.'

Imam Kazim (peace be upon him): Imam Kazim (peace be upon him) said regarding the word of Allah the Exalted: قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُکُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِینَ أَعْمالًا [Say: Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in (their) deeds?]: 'They are those who persist [in delaying] the Hajj of Islam and put it off.'

Imam Askari (peace be upon him): A man came to the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) and said: 'O Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him)! Today Bilal was debating with so-and-so, but since Bilal could not pronounce the words correctly, [so-and-so] was laughing at him.' The Imam said: 'O servant of Allah! The purpose of pronouncing speech correctly is that a person's deeds and actions become correct and pure. Therefore, one whose deeds are bad, what benefit will good speech bring him? And Bilal, whose deeds are good and beautiful, what harm does a stammering tongue do him?' The man said: 'O Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), and how is that?' He said: 'For the soundness and purity of his deeds, it is enough for Bilal that he does not see anyone equal or comparable to Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family). Then he does not see anyone after him equal or comparable to Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), and he believes that whoever shows enmity to Ali (peace be upon him) has shown enmity to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him and his family), and whoever obeys him has obeyed Allah and His Messenger. And for so-and-so, of the bad character and wrongness in his actions — such that despite them he gains no benefit from pronouncing his speech correctly in Arabic or from speaking properly — it is enough that he places the lower parts of the body above the chests and the backs above the faces, and prefers vinegar over honey in sweetness, and the colocynth [handhal — bitter apple] over milk in pleasantness and palatability, and gives precedence to the enemy of Allah over the friend of Allah, while the enemy of Allah does not resemble the virtues of the friend of Allah in any trait. Is he not like one who has given precedence to Musaylima over Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) in prophethood and virtue? He is none other than one of those about whom Allah the Exalted said: قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُکُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِینَ أَعْمالًا * الَّذِینَ ضَلَّ سَعْیُهُمْ فِی الحَیاةِ الدُّنْیا وَ هُمْ یَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ یُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعاً [Say: Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in (their) deeds? Those whose effort has gone astray in the life of this world, while they think they are doing good work]. Is he anything but one of the brothers of the Khawarij?'