{On that day, the wrongdoer} who ascribed partners to Allah and disbelieved and rejected the Messengers

{will bite on his hands} in sorrow, regret and anguish {and say: Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger} that is, by believing in him and following him.


{Alas for me! Would that I had not taken So-and-so} this refers
to devils, be they human or jinn
{as a friend} that is, as a dear and close friend; I took as enemies the most sincere and kindest of people to me and I took as friends the most hostile, from whose friendship I gained nothing but misery, loss, disgrace and doom.

{He led me astray from the Reminder [the Qur’an] after it had come to me} when he made fair-seeming to me, by means of tricks and insinuating thoughts, what he was following of misguidance.


{And Shaytan is ever treacherous to man} - he makes falsehood fair-seeming to him and makes the truth appear repulsive; he makes false promises, then he abandons him and disavows him, as he will say to all of his followers, when judgement is passed and Allah has completed humankind’s reckoning:

{And Shaytan will say, when the matter is decided: Verily, Allah gave you a true promise; I also gave you promises, but I betrayed you. I had no power over you, except that I called you and you responded to me. So do not blame me; blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I disavow your erstwhile association of me with Allah... }(Ibraheem 14: 22)

[TAFSEER AS SA'DI]

This World is transient and the One Whose concern is this World is not equal to the One Whose concern is the Hereafter

Allah tells:

And whatever you have been given is an enjoyment of the life of the world and its adornment, and that which is with Allah is better and will remain forever.

Allah tells us about the insignificance of this world and its contemptible adornments which are nothing in comparison to the great and lasting delights which Allah prepared for His righteous servants in the Hereafter.

As Allah says:

Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever is with Allah will remain. (16:96)

and that which is with Allah is the best for the most righteous. (3:198)

whereas the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter is but a brief passing enjoyment. (13:26)


Nay, you prefer the life of this world. Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting. (87:16-17)

The Messenger of Allah said:

By Allah, the life of this world in comparison to the Hereafter is as if one of you were to dip his finger in the sea; let him see what comes back to him.

Allah's saying:
Have you then no sense!

means, those who prefer this world to the Hereafter have no sense

[Tafseer Ibn Katheer, surah Qasas 28:60]