As for those among the metamorphosed creatures (al-masukh) that are eaten, they are of the people of Iblis upon whom retribution (al-qisas) was mandated for the sake of the children of Adam; they are the ones who were the foremost in denial, so their punishment was carried out by their [Adam's children's] hands. The metamorphosed creatures whose eating is forbidden are from the former Iblis who existed before the second Adam.

As for those whose eating was made lawful, they are the ones who were the foremost in denial alongside them [the opponents], so their punishment was carried out by their [the believers'] hands. But when an Adam other than theirs came, their metamorphosis was no longer lawful to be among the foods, and prohibition occurred because [that creature] did not harm you; and he who did not cause you pain, it is not permissible for you to harm him. For he who is forbidden to you, how could you not be forbidden to him? And he who disbelieves in your Lord, you know how to punish him.

The Learned One (al-'Alim) said: "Punishments did not occur except upon those by whom you were distressed and who were distressed by you—where you spoke the truth and they lied, and you believed and they disbelieved. Punishments were only inflicted upon those who deserved them. Therefore, lawfulness and prohibition occurred regarding the harmful metamorphosed creatures (al-masukhiyyah).