to you a revelation by Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor what faith was, but We made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, you guide to a straight path.”
“The path of Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Surely, to Allah all matters return.”
As for examining a particular question or proposition in order to determine the judgment concerning it and affirm the truth about it, when the servant does not know what would guide him to either conclusion, such examination alone brings no benefit. He may arrive at convictions that he considers true, although they are false; these come from Satan’s suggestions. He may also arrive at convictions that are true; these come from an angel’s suggestions.
Likewise, when examining the evidence that guides—namely, the Quran—he may understand the words in their proper context and grasp the intended meaning of the evidence, and thus be guided by the Quran. Or he may fail to understand it, or distort the words by taking them out of their proper contexts, and thus go astray through it; this comes from Satan. As Allah Most High says:
“We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it increases the wrongdoers only in loss.”
And He says:
“By it He leads many astray and guides many, but He leads none astray by it except the defiantly disobedient.”
And He says:
“As for those who believe, it has increased them in faith, and they rejoice.”
“But as for those in whose hearts is disease, it has added impurity to their impurity.”
And He says:
“Say: It is guidance and healing for those who believe. But those who do not believe have deafness in their ears, and it is blindness for them.”
And He says:
“This is a clear explanation for mankind, and guidance and admonition for the God-fearing.”
Thus, one who examines evidence is like someone looking for the crescent moon: he may see it, or he may fail to see it because his eyesight is impaired. The same is true of one whose heart is blind.