(40–42) “Indeed, those who deviate concerning Our signs are not hidden from Us. Is one who is cast into the Fire better, or one who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do as you wish; He truly sees all that you do. * Indeed, those who disbelieve in the Reminder when it comes to them—and indeed, it is an inviolable Book. * Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; it is a revelation from One All-Wise, Praiseworthy.”

Deviation concerning Allah’s signs means turning them away from what is right, in whatever form that may take: either by denying and rejecting them and declaring the one who brought them a liar, or by distorting them, diverting them from their true meaning, and assigning to them meanings that Allah did not intend.

Allah Most High therefore threatens anyone who deviates concerning them, stating that such a person is not hidden from Him. Rather, He is fully aware of his outward and inward states and will requite him for his deviation according to his deeds. Hence He says: “Is one who is cast into the Fire,” such as the one who deviates concerning Allah’s signs, “better, or one who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection,” safe from Allah’s punishment and deserving of His reward? It is well known that the latter is better.

Once truth had become clearly distinct from falsehood, and the path that saves from His punishment from the path leading to ruin, He said: “Do as you wish.” If you wish, follow the path of right guidance, which leads to your Lord’s pleasure and His Paradise; and if you wish, follow the path of error, which incurs your Lord’s displeasure and leads to the abode of misery.

“He truly sees all that you do,” and will requite you according to your conditions and deeds. This is like the saying of Allah Most High: “And say, ‘The truth is from your Lord. So whoever wills, let him believe, and whoever wills, let him disbelieve.’”

Then Allah Most High says: “Indeed, those who disbelieve in the Reminder”—that is, those who reject the Noble Quran, which reminds His servants of everything that serves their welfare in their religion, their worldly lives, and the Hereafter, and which elevates the rank of those who follow it—“when it comes to them” as a blessing from their Lord, conveyed through the best and most perfect of creation, even though “it is an inviolable Book,” encompassing every quality of perfection. It is inviolable—that is, protected against anyone who seeks to distort or harm it. Hence He says: “Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it.” That is, no devil, whether human or jinn, can come near it by stealing from it, inserting into it what does not belong to it, adding to it, or omitting from it. It is preserved in its revelation, and its words and meanings are preserved. The One who sent it down has guaranteed its preservation, as Allah Most High says: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will surely preserve it.”