As for "takes away (dhahaba)," it is the consequence of the condition and therefore necessitated by [the first part of the conditional sentence] "it has illumined (adâ'at)," but as discussed above, this necessity is [not clear, it is] hidden and implies [these sentences]: they did not attend to and maintain the fire and did not know its value as a bounty, and the light made them get above themselves and their glee and cockiness made them forget to tend it, so Allâh took it from them.

The ascription of "takes away (dhahaba)" to Allâh indicates the frustration of two hopes: hope of rectifying [their situation] and hope of divine mercy. For it infers that the heavenly visitation does not allow their situation to be put to rights and suggests that it is the punishment for human faults. This is the reason Allâh the Most High chastises them. Thus what they were cleaving to was torn away from them when the causes were suspended, and this was the hope of mercy. For help cannot be sought from the truth in order to nullify it.

The [preposition] "bi" of "bi-nûrihim" ("their light") signifies [their] despairing of [the light] returning, for what Allâh has taken cannot be sought. For there is a clear difference between "dhahaba bih" which means "he laid claim to it and took it," and adhhabahu [IVth form], which means "he removed it or took it away," while dhahaba [1st form] means "he went on his way." In the latter two there is the possibility of return, but in the former there is none.

In "light (nâr)" is a slight hint about [the dissemblers'] situation on the Bridge of Sîrat. The possessive pronominal suffix "their (-him)," which denotes particularity, infers their terrible grief. For a person suffers greater sorrow if his fire goes out while other people's fires are burning brightly. See how the very subtlest pearls of eloquence are Allâh's in the Qur'an! Do you not see how all the parts [of the sentence] are turned towards the general aim; I mean, the [dissemblers'] alarm and despair is like a pool at the confluence of rivers?

Now consider carefully "and leaves them in utter darkness, wherein they cannot see (wa tarakahum fi zulumâtin lâ yubsirûn):" the [conjunction] "and (wa )" indicates that they combine two losses: they are stripped of the light and clothed in darkness.

The use of "left, abandoned (taraka)" instead of 'he made stay' (abqa) or something similar suggests that they have become like lifeless corpses and kernelless shells. It is fitting therefore that they should be abandoned as worthless and discarded.