the Quran; rather, it was through it that they became God-fearing.

This is like someone saying, “Only the blessed, the successful, or those with whom Allah is pleased listen to this,” or, “Only those whom Allah has guided embrace Islam,” and similar statements—even though these virtues and blessings come after embracing Islam and hearing the Quran.

Likewise, He says:

“This is enlightenment for mankind, and guidance and mercy for people who have certainty.”

In the corresponding passage, He says:

“But the most wretched will avoid it.”

Yet it is by avoiding it that a person becomes wretched.

This is like saying, “Only those who accept a warning are warned,” and, “Only those who act upon knowledge benefit from it.” Whoever listens to the Quran, believes in it, and acts upon it becomes one of the God-fearing for whom it is guidance. Whoever neither believes in it nor acts upon it is not among the God-fearing, nor among those guided by it.

Rather, it is as Allah Most High says:

“Say, ‘It is guidance and healing for those who believe. As for those who do not believe, there is deafness in their ears, and it is blindness for them.’”

He did not mean that they were already believers and that, when they heard it, it became guidance and healing. Rather, when a disbeliever hears it and believes in it, it becomes guidance and healing for him, and he becomes one of those who believe in it after hearing it.