( أُولَٰئِكَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا مُعْجِزِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ… ) (Those were not causing failure [to Allah] on earth…): (causing failure) means abstention. For example, saying ‘I caused failure to a person’ means, I proved that he is uncapable from doing a matter. The failure is manifested through the Quran denials’ incapability to bring a similar verse. In this verse, Allah (swt) confirms that these unbelievers cannot cause failure to Allah (swt) on earth. There are plenty of examples of the previous disbelieving nations, who were blown away by the wind, swallowed by the earth and among them are those who were drowned.

( …وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءَ… ) (…nor did they have besides Allah any protectors …): In the Hereafter, they will neither have protectors, nor helpers to protect them from Allah’s punishment. As known “protector’ is the closest friend, whom you love and seek his benefits. He is the supporter as well, because when you call out in times of distress, he is the first to respond as he is the closest to you. Those who turned others away from Allah’s Path will have neither protector nor helper in the Hereafter, because ever one will be busy by his own affairs.

( …يُضَاعَفُ لَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ… ) (…For them the punishment will be multiplied …): The disbelievers deserve multi punishment because they sought to make it deviant, and wanted to lead others astray. So His (swt) saying:

 …يُضَاعَفُ لَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ …

(…For them the punishment will be multiplied…) (Hud:20)

does not contradict His (swt) saying:

 وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ…

(And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.) (Al-an’aam:164)

Because those who tried to lead others astray from the Path of Allah (swt), have not committed one sin, but two; that of going astray and that of leading others astray.

( … مَا كَانُوا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ السَّمْعَ وَمَا كَانُوا يُبْصِرُونَ ) (…They were not able to hear, nor did they see): That is, they were unable to benefit from hearing despite the presence of its tool, they did not listen to the teachings of the Messenger of Allah (saws). They were unable to make use of their vision to see the signs of Allah in the universe. So, as if they were deaf and blind.