(112, 113) “Thus We have made for every prophet enemies—devils from among humankind and jinn—who inspire one another with alluring words of deception. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done so. Therefore leave them to their fabrications, so that the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter may incline toward it, be pleased with it, and commit whatever they are committing.”
The Exalted says, consoling His Messenger Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him: Just as We have appointed for you enemies who reject your call, wage war against you, and envy you, so it is Our established way to appoint enemies for every prophet We send to creation. These enemies are devils from among humankind and jinn, who act in opposition to what the messengers brought.
“Who inspire one another with alluring words of deception.” That is, they make the falsehood to which they call appear attractive to one another and embellish its wording until they present it in the finest guise, so that the foolish may be deceived by it and the witless may submit to it. Such people neither comprehend realities nor understand meanings; rather, they are impressed by embellished words and specious expressions, and thus regard truth ⦗270⦘ as falsehood and falsehood as truth. Hence the Exalted says, “so that the hearts may incline toward it”—that is, toward such embellished speech—“of those who do not believe in the Hereafter.” Their lack of faith in the Last Day and their lack of sound, beneficial reason lead them to this. “And be pleased with it”: after inclining toward it, they become pleased with it. They first incline toward it; then, once they have been drawn to it and have seen those appealing expressions, they approve of it. It is made attractive within their hearts and becomes a firmly rooted belief and an abiding disposition. This then leads them to “commit whatever they are committing”; that is, to engage in lies through word and deed—the inevitable consequences of those vile beliefs.
Such is the condition of those deceived by the devils of humankind and jinn who answer their call. As for those who believe in the Hereafter and possess sound minds and sober understanding, they are neither deceived by such expressions nor beguiled by such deceptions. Rather, their concern is directed toward discerning realities. They examine the meanings advocated by those who call others to them: if they are true, they accept and submit to them, even if clothed in poor expressions and inadequate words; but if they are false, they reject them, regardless of who uttered them, even if they are clothed in expressions finer than silk.
Part of Allah the Exalted’s wisdom in appointing enemies for the prophets and supporters for falsehood who actively call others to it is that His servants may be tried and tested, so that the truthful may be distinguished from the liar, the intelligent from the ignorant, and the discerning from the blind.
Another aspect of His wisdom is that this elucidates the truth and makes it clear. Truth shines forth and becomes manifest when falsehood rises to contend with and oppose it. At that point, the proofs and evidence demonstrating the truth’s veracity and reality—and the corruption and invalidity of falsehood—become clear. This is among the greatest ends for which people vie with one another.