Surah Ha-Mim as-Sajdah, Footnote 29

It is God’s permanent and unchanging way that He never grants good companions to people who harbor evil intentions and evil desires; rather, He grants them companions who match their own inclinations. Then, the deeper they sink into the depths of wickedness, the worse and worse are the men and devils who become their close associates, advisers, and partners in action. When some people say, “So-and-so is himself a very good person, but he simply fell in with bad company,” this is completely contrary to reality. The law of nature is that everyone finds friends like himself. Even if bad people happen to attach themselves to a good man, they cannot remain attached to him for long. Likewise, if righteous and decent people happen by chance to associate with a person of evil intent and bad character, that association cannot last long either. A bad person naturally draws bad people toward himself, and bad people are naturally drawn toward him—just as filth attracts flies and flies are drawn to filth.

As for the statement that these companions made everything, before them and behind them, appear attractive to them—this means that they would assure them that their past had been quite splendid and their future would be equally brilliant. They would fit such spectacles over their eyes that everywhere they looked appeared green and pleasant. They would tell them that those who criticized them were fools, that they were doing nothing unusual, that everyone who achieves success in the world does exactly what they were doing; and that, in the first place, there is no Hereafter at all in which they would have to answer for their deeds—but even if it should come to pass, as a few foolish people claim, then the God who is showering them with blessings here will shower gifts and favors upon them there as well; Hell was not made for them, but for those whom God has deprived of His blessings in this world.