The Order to eat the Lawful Things, and the Prohibition of following the Footsteps of Shaytan

O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, and follow not the footsteps of Shaytan (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy. He (Satan) commands you only what is evil and Fahsha’ (sinful), and that you should say about Allah what you know not. (2:168-169)

Tafsir (Ibn Kathir)

The Order to eat the Lawful Things, and the Prohibition of following the Footsteps of Shaytan

After Allah stated that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him and that He Alone created the creation, He stated that He is the Sustainer for all His creation, and He mentioned a favor that He granted them; He has allowed them to eat any of the pure lawful things on the earth that do not cause harm to the body or the mind. He also forbade them from following the footsteps of Shaytan, meaning his ways and methods with which he misguides his followers.

Allah said:

(…he is to you an open enemy.)

warning against Satan. Allah said in another instance:

Surely, Shaytan is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire. (35:6), and:

Will you then take him (Iblis) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you. What an evil is the exchange for the Zalimin (polytheists, and wrongdoers, etc). (18:50)

Qatadah and As-Suddi commented on what Allah said:

(…and follow not the footsteps of Shaytan (Satan)): Every act of disobedience to Allah is among the footsteps of Satan.

`Abd bin Humayd reported that Ibn `Abbas said: “Any vow or oath that one makes while angry, is among the footsteps of Shaytan and its expiation is that of the vow. ‘ Allah’s statement:

(He (Satan) commands you only what is evil and Fahsha (sinful), and that you should say about Allah what you know not.)

The verse means: `Your enemy, Satan, commands you to commit evil acts and what is worse than that, such as adultery and so forth. He commands you to commit what is even worse, that is, saying about Allah without knowledge.’ So this includes every innovator and disbeliever.