He, Glorified is He, says:

43:36–37 “Whoever turns a blind eye to the Reminder of the Most Merciful, We appoint for him a devil who becomes his companion. They surely turn them away from the path, while they think they are rightly guided.”

Allah, Glorified is He, thus declares that when He afflicts someone with a devil as his companion and allows him to be led astray through him, this is only because that person has turned away from, and closed his eyes to, His Reminder, which He sent down to His Messenger. The punishment for this turning away is that He appoints a devil to accompany him and turn him away from his Lord’s path and the way to his own success.

He thinks himself rightly guided until, when he comes before his Lord on the Day of Resurrection with his companion and sees his own ruin and utter loss, he says:

43:38 “If only there were between me and you the distance between east and west! What an evil companion!”

Everyone who turns away from seeking guidance through revelation, which is Allah’s Reminder, will inevitably say this on the Day of Resurrection.

If it is asked, “Does this person have an excuse for his misguidance, since he thought he was rightly guided, as Allah, Most High, says, 7:30 ‘And they think they are rightly guided’?”

The answer is: Neither this person nor others like him have an excuse when their misguidance stems from turning away from the revelation brought by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—even if he thinks himself rightly guided. He is negligent in turning away from following the one who calls to guidance. If he goes astray, it is because of his own negligence and aversion.

This is unlike someone whose misguidance results from the message not having reached him and his inability to gain access to it. Such a person comes under a different ruling. The warnings of punishment in the Quran apply only to the former.

As for the latter, Allah does not punish anyone until He has established the proof against him, as He, Most High, says:

17:15 “We never punish until We have sent a messenger.”

And He, Most High, says:

4:165 “Messengers bringing good tidings and warnings, so that people would have no argument against Allah after the messengers.”

And He, Most High, says concerning the people of the Fire:

43:76 “We did not wrong them, but it was they who were the wrongdoers.”

And He, Most High, says:

39:56–59 “Lest a soul should say, ‘Oh, how I regret having neglected my duty towards Allah, and having been among those who mocked!’ Or say, ‘If only Allah had guided me, I would have been among the God-fearing!’ Or say, when it sees the punishment, ‘If only I could have another chance, I would be among those who do good!’ Yes indeed! My signs came to you, but you denied them, were arrogant, and were among