فَٱتَّخَذْتُمُوهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا حَتَّىٰٓ أَنسَوْكُمْ ذِكْرِى وَكُنتُم مِّنْهُمْ تَضْحَكُونَ
Important Words:
سخریا (laughing stock) is derived from سخر. They say سخر منه i.e. he mocked at, laughed at, derided or ridiculed him, سخرت السفینة means, the ship had a good wind and voyage; it obeyed and ran its course. سخرہ (sakhkhara) means, he compelled him to do what he did not like; or to work without recompense, hire or wages. سخری or سخری (sikhriyyun) means mockery; scoff; derision; ridicule; one who is mocked at, scoffed at, derided or ridiculed; one who is compelled to work against his will, without wages or compensation (Lane & Aqrab). See also 2:165; 2:213.
Commentary:
The verse means to say that the believers were weak and the disbelievers strong and powerful. In the pride of their power and wealth the latter mocked at the poor believers and indulged so much in this unseemly business of scoffing and mocking at them that they lost all sense of propriety and dignity and even forgot their responsibilities and duties to God. Thus the poverty of the believers became the cause of the disbelievers indulging in mockery and consigning God to oblivion.
The verse also means that the believers being poor and weak, the disbelievers employed them against their will or desire, exploited them and exacted compulsory service from them without paying them any wages or compensation for the work they did.
Sakhkhara-hu means, he compelled him to do what he did not like or to work without recompense (Lane). The verse, therefore, may also mean that believers being poor and weak, the disbelievers employed them against their will or desire, exploited them and exacted compulsory service from them without paying them any wages or compensation for the work they did.