(7–9) “By the heaven with its pathways, * surely you are engrossed in conflicting claims, * and whoever is turned away is turned away from it.”

That is: By the heaven with its beautiful pathways, which resemble the rippled patterns in sand and in the waters of pools when stirred by a breeze.

“Surely you”—who deny Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him—“are engrossed in conflicting claims.” Some of you call him a magician, others a soothsayer, and still others a madman, besides other conflicting claims that reveal your bewilderment and doubt and show that your position is false.

“And whoever is turned away is turned away from it.” That is, whoever has been turned away from faith is diverted from it, and his heart turns away from Allah’s conclusive evidence and proofs. The inconsistency of their claims is itself evidence of their corruption and falsehood. By contrast, the truth brought by Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is entirely consistent [each part confirming the others], containing neither contradiction nor discrepancy. This is evidence of its soundness and that it is from Allah: “Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would have found in it many inconsistencies.”