Dalāl is interpreted in eight ways:
1. By dalāl, kufr (disbelief) is intended; as in the following verses:
{Iblis said}: "I will surely lead them into dalāl" {that is, I will turn them away from hudā (guidance) so that they will commit kufr}. (al-Nisāʾ 4:119)
Indeed, he {i.e., Iblis} led many of your kind into dalāl (that is, he led many of your people astray, causing them to commit kufr). (Yā Sīn 36:62)
And certainly, most of the former peoples before them were in dalāl (that is, they had committed kufr). (al-Ṣāffāt 37:71)
There are many similar statements.
2. Dalāl is used in the sense of turning away or separating from something—without kufr; as in the following verses:
(O Prophet!) A group among them plotted to lead you into dalāl (that is, to separate you from the truth, to turn you away). (al-Nisāʾ 4:113)
({O Dāwūd!} Do not follow desire! Otherwise, it will lead you into dalāl from the path of Allah (that is, desire will separate you from obedience to Allah in judgment—without kufr). (Ṣād 38:26)
3. Dalāl is used in the sense of loss or damage; as in the following verses:
The plot of the disbelievers is nothing but dalāl (that is, loss). (al-Muʾmin 40:25)
Indeed, at that time I am in manifest dalāl (that is, ruin/loss). (Yā Sīn 36:24)
({The sons of Yaʿqūb said:} "Indeed, our father is in manifest dalāl (that is, in ruin/loss because of his love for Yūsuf)." (Yūsuf 12:8)
By Allah, you are certainly persisting in your old dalāl (that is, in ruin/loss because of your love for Yūsuf). (Yūsuf 12:95)
({The women in the city said about the wife of the ʿAzīz:} "Indeed, we see her in manifest dalāl (that is, in manifest ruin/loss because of her love for Yūsuf)." (Yūsuf 12:30)
4. Dalāl is used in the sense of shaqāʾ (wretchedness); as in the following verses:
You are in nothing but great dalāl (that is, persistent wretchedness). (al-Mulk 67:9)
In dalāl (that is, wretchedness) and madness... (al-Qamar 54:24)
Indeed, the criminals are in dalāl (that is, wretchedness and hardship) and madness. (al-Qamar 54:47)
No! Those who do not believe in the Hereafter are in punishment and distant dalāl (that is, persistent wretchedness). (Sabaʾ 34:8)
5. Dalāl is used in the sense of ibṭāl (nullification); as in the following verses:
As for those who disbelieve and hinder from the path of Allah, (Allah) will render their deeds dalāl (that is, Allah will nullify their deeds). (Muḥammad 47:1)
As for those who are killed in the way of Allah, (Allah) will not render their deeds dalāl (that is, He will not nullify their deeds). (Muḥammad 47:4)
Those whose efforts in the life of this world are dalāl (that is, whose deeds in this life are nullified). (al-Kahf 18:104)
6. By dalāl, error [mistake, inaccuracy] is intended; as in the following verses:
They are nothing but like cattle; rather, they are even more dalāl in way (that is, more mistaken in path). (al-Furqān 25:44)
A similar statement is found in Sūrat al-Aʿrāf.
Later, when they see the punishment, they will know who is more dalāl in way (that is, who is more mistaken in path). (al-Furqān 25:42)
Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly fallen into manifest dalāl (that is, into a great error). (al-Aḥzāb 33:36)
Allah makes clear to you, lest you fall into dalāl (that is, lest you make a mistake in distributing inheritance to heirs). (al-Nisāʾ 4:176)
7. By dalāl, ignorance is intended; as in the following statement from the mouth of Mūsā:
{Mūsā} said: "At that time I did it while I was of the dāllīn (that is, at that time I was among the ignorant)." (al-Shuʿarāʾ 26:20)
8. Dalāl is used in the sense of nisiyān (forgetfulness); as in the following verse:
If one of the two falls into dalāl (that is, if one of the two women forgets the matter of testimony), then let the other remind her. (al-Baqara 2:282)