( الَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ… ) (Who averted [people] from the way of Allah …): They are the disbelievers. They did not only disbelieve in Allah (swt), His signs and His Messenger; but they further wanted to lead others astray. Thus, they go far in their crime; in addition to transgressing themselves, they enticed others to commit the crime as well.

(…وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا… ) (…and sought to make it [seem] deviant …): The reason behind hindering others from the Path of Allah (swt) is that they want to led them to twisted course, and they want to alienate people from faith in order to ensure for themselves enjoyments and interests in this world and can spread corruption on earth.