And do not incline towards the wrongdoers, lest the Fire should catch you, and you shall have no supporters other than Allah, then you shall not be helped. [Surah Hood: 113]
The word: (la tarkanu) used in this verse comes from the verbal noun : Rukun which means a slight tilt towards one side having confidence in and approval of it.
Therefore, the sense of the verse is: 'Whoever indulges in injustice and oppression ruins his or her life, worldly and spiritual both - this is a fact every one knows. But, the slightest of tilt or inclination towards the unjust, placing confidence in them, being pleased with them, could also push man to the edges of the same abyss.'
What is the meaning of this 'tilt' and 'inclination'?
There are some statements of Sahabah (Companions) and Tabi'in (Successors) about it in which there is no contradiction or difference. They are all correct in their respective places.
Sayyidna Qatadah said, it means, 'do not have friendship with the unjust and do not follow what they say.' Ibn Jurayj said, 'do not nurse a leaning of any kind towards the unjust.' Abu al-'Aliyah said, 'do not like everything they do.' (Qurtubi)
Al-Suddiyy said, 'do not court the favour of the unjust through servile flattery (mudahanah), that is, do not observe silence or show your approval at their evil deeds.'
'Ikrimah said, 'do not sit in the company of the unjust.'
Qadi al-Baidawi said, 'following them in personal looks, fashion, and ways of living are all included under this very prohibition.'
Qadi al-Baidawi also said that this verse exudes the highest imaginable degree of severity in the matter of prohibition and unlawfulness of injustice and oppression. The reason is that it not only prohibits friendship, and all other cordial relationships, with the unjust but, going farther ahead, it also prohibits the least possible inclination towards them, or even sitting with them.
-From Tafseer Ma'ariful Qur'an.
