[18]. I.e., overhear to what the angels on high may say of the revealed unseen and whisper it to their sinful human agents. This was before they were prevented, as described in Q 72:8-9.
[19]. I.e., the soothsayers and fortune tellers.
[20]. Islam encourages good wholesome poetry, which inspires one towards the fear of God, towards His awe and obedience, and towards anything that is good and made permissible by God and His messenger. What is forbidden is poetry and songs that does nothing but instigates and encourages indecency, illegal lusts and desires, and inspires one towards the transgression of the boundaries of Islam.
Muhammad, God's Messenger said, "It is better for anyone of you that the inside of his body be filled with pus which may consume his body, than it be filled with poetry."
The Messenger of God did not like poets and poetry, which sensationalized and encouraged the pursuit of the world and its alluring lusts. But he encouraged those poets whose poetry praised God, contained words of wisdom which related to the Guidance to God.
[22]. By associating others with Allāh, or committing other deadly sins.
[23]. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the orphans; plead the case of the widow. We must work for righteousness and justice if we are to be true to our Islamic faith.