Surah 22. Al-Hajj, Ayah 19

Lit., "these two adversaries" or "antagonists", i.e., those who believe in God's oneness and uniqueness, and those who ascribe divine qualities to beings other than Him, or even deny His existence altogether.

I.e., in distinction from those who err out of ignorance.

For this rendering of hamim, see note [62] on the concluding sentence of 6:70 , as well as note [65] on 14:50 and note [7] on {73:12-13}, which mention Razi’s interpretations of similar allegorical descriptions of the suffering that will befall the sinners in the hereafter.

Two antagonists: i.e., parties of antagonists, viz., Men of Faith, who confess their Lord and seek to carry out His Will, and Men who deny their Lord and defy His Will.