—has other people write down for him the tales of the ancients; they read them aloud to him at the two ends of the day, and from them he learns what he later repeats. They even pictured him as a man who is under a spell.

Likewise, the Exalted says:

“When you recite the Qur’an, We place between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter an invisible barrier; We lay coverings over their hearts so that they cannot grasp it, and heaviness in their ears. When you mention your Lord alone in the Qur’an they turn their backs in aversion. We know best what they are listening for when they listen to you and when they confer in secret, when the wrongdoers say, ‘You are following only a man who is bewitched.’ See how they coin parables about you and thereby go astray, unable to find any way.” (al-Furqan 45–49)

And He, exalted is He, also says:

“We have certainly given you the seven oft-repeated verses and the Magnificent Qur’an. Do not strain your eyes toward what We have provided as enjoyment to pairs of them, and do not grieve over them; lower your wing to the believers. Say, ‘I am indeed the clear warner.’ Just as We sent down (punishment) upon the dividers—those who tore the Qur’an into pieces. By your Lord, We will surely question them all about what they used to do. So proclaim what you are commanded and turn away from the idolaters; We are indeed sufficient for you against those who mock—those who set up another god beside Allah; soon they will know.” (al-Hijr 87–96)

Many of the early scholars said: Those who “tore the Qur’an into pieces” are the ones who