These are two examples which Allah sets forth of two kinds of disbelievers. Similarly He sets forth two parables of the hypocrites at the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah: one involving fire and the other involving water. Similarly, in Surat Ar-Ra‘d He gives two parables of the guidance and knowledge that are instilled in the heart, again involving fire and water; we have discussed each of them in the appropriate place and there is no need to repeat it here, praise be to Allah. The first of these two examples is that of the disbelievers who call others to their disbelief, thinking that they have good actions and beliefs, when this is not in fact the case. Their likeness is that of a mirage which is seen in a desert plain, looking from a distance as if it is a deep sea. The word Qi'ah refers to a vast, flat, level area of land in which the mirage may appear. There are different kinds of mirage, one which appears after midday, and another which appears in the morning and looks like water between heaven and earth. If a person who is in need of water sees the mirage, he thinks that it is water so he heads towards it in order to drink from it, but when he reaches it,

{he finds it to be nothing.}; Similarly the disbeliever thinks that he is doing something good and that he has achieved something, but when Allah judges him on the Day of Resurrection, and brings him to account and examines his deeds, he will find that nothing has been accepted at all, either because of a lack of sincere belief or because he did not follow the proper ways of the Shari'ah. As Allah says:

{And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust.} 25:23.
And He says here:

A similar view was also narrated from Ubayy bin Ka'b, Ibn ‘Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah and others.

In the Two Sahihs, it is reported that on the Day of Resurrection it will be said to the Jews, “What did you used to worship?” They will say, “We used to worship ‘Uzayr the son of Allah.” It will be said to them, “You have lied. Allah has not begotten a son. What do you want?” They will say, “O Lord, we are thirsty, give us something to drink.” It will be said to them, “Do you not see?” Then Hell will be shown to them as if it were a mirage, and they will go and fall into it.

This is the parable of the leaders of disbelief; the second example is of their ignorant followers. Allah says:

meaning, an ocean.

meaning, he can hardly see it because it is so dark. This is the parable of the heart of the ignorant disbeliever who merely imitates others, who does not know where he is going or who is leading him. As the proverb says about the ignorant person: “Like the one who is led astray, he does not know where he is going.”

means, whoever Allah does not guide will remain doomed in darkness and will not be able to find his way. This is like the Ayah:

{Whomsoever Allah sends astray, none can guide him} 7:186
This is in contrast to what Allah says about the believers:

{Allah guides to His Light whom He wills.} 24:35

We ask Allah the Almighty to put light in our hearts and give us light on our right and on our left, and to increase us in light.