إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَٰٓئِفٌ مِّنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ تَذَكَّرُوا۟ فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ
3:136.
Important Words:
طائف (suggestion) is derived from طاف (with the letter ی as the central letter of the infinitive). They say طاف به الخیال i.e. the apparition, etc. came to him or visited him in sleep. طیف or طائف means, an apparition or phantom or imaginary form; anything that obscures the sight, arising from a suggestion of Satan or a human being (generally in sleep); a thing that comes to one or visits one; Satan’s visitation by touch or suggestion or vain prompting; anger, etc. (Lane).
Commentary:
The expression, when a suggestion from Satan assails them, means: (1) when righteous people are incited to anger by Satan; or (2) when some mischief is stirred up against them by wicked men. The words, they remember God, mean: (1) they pray to God; or (2) they call to mind the commandment of God to control their anger. The verse means that, if in a fit of anger, a Muslim should become, as it were, blind and lose self-control, or if some mischief be stirred up against him by his enemies and he becomes involved in a difficulty, he should pray to God so that with His help he may regain self-control and begin to see his way out of the difficulty.
3:136.
These words signify that when righteous people are incited to anger by Satan; or when some mischief is stirred up against them by wicked men, they remember Allah.