Quran is Protected from Devils

 

Quran is Protected from Devils

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Here are 10 concise lessons derived from Surah Fussilat, Ayah 42, based on a synthesis of major tafsir works.

The Verse:

لَّا يَأْتِيهِ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ ۖ تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ

"Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; [it is] a revelation from One who is All-Wise, Praiseworthy." (Surah Fussilat, 41:42)

---

10 Lessons from Ayah 41:42

1. The Qur'an's Absolute Inerrancy: The verse declares the Qur'an's total immunity from 'al-bāṭil' (ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ - falsehood). As explained by al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, this means it is free from any internal contradictions, scientific inaccuracies, or historical errors. Its teachings, laws, and narratives are the absolute truth.

2. Eternal and Unalterable Protection: The expression "from before it or from behind it" (مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ) is a powerful statement of its timeless preservation. The mufassireen, including al-Qurtubi, interpret this to mean that no falsehood can be inserted into it, nor can any of its truths be removed or invalidated. It is protected from corruption for all time.

3. The Final and Ultimate Revelation: "From behind it" signifies that no future revelation will come to abrogate or supersede the Qur'an. It is the final, definitive divine message to humanity, as its laws and guidance are meant to last until the Day of Judgment. This establishes the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ).

4. Its Divine Origin is its Shield: The verse directly links the Qur'an's perfection to its source: "a revelation from One who is All-Wise, Praiseworthy" (تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ). Fakhr al-Din al-Razi emphasizes that because its author is All-Wise (Hakeem), the book is inherently perfect in wisdom. Because He is All-Praiseworthy (Hameed), His words and actions (including this revelation) are themselves praiseworthy and flawless.

5. A Source of Unshakeable Certainty (Yaqeen): This verse provides believers with ultimate confidence in their scripture. As Tafsir al-Sa'di highlights, it allows a Muslim to engage with the Qur'an knowing with full certainty that they are interacting with the pure, unadulterated word of God, providing a firm and stable foundation for their faith and life.

6. A Standing Miracle and Permanent Challenge: The declaration is a perpetual challenge to humanity. Maududi in Tafheem-ul-Quran notes that despite fourteen centuries of scrutiny and attempts by critics to find fault, the Qur'an remains vindicated. Its miraculous preservation and the failure of any 'falsehood' to discredit it serve as a testament to its divine origin.

7. The Ultimate Criterion for Truth: Since falsehood cannot approach the Qur'an, it stands as the ultimate benchmark—al-Furqan—to judge all other ideologies, philosophies, and beliefs. As Sayyid Qutb explains in Fi Zilal al-Qur'an, the Qur'an does not wait to be validated by external sources; it is the validator of all else.

8. Coherence is Key to its Divinity: The impossibility of falsehood entering the Qur'an points to its perfect internal consistency. Tadabbur-e-Qur'an by Amin Ahsan Islahi highlights its thematic and structural coherence. Any attempt to insert a foreign element would be immediately rejected by the text itself, just as a healthy body rejects a foreign pathogen.

9. Protection of Both Letter and Spirit: The divine promise of protection is comprehensive. As mentioned in works like Ma'ariful Qur'an, this guardianship covers not just the meanings and teachings (the spirit) but the very words and letters of the text, which have been preserved through mass memorization (tawātur) and meticulous scribal traditions.

10. Praise is the Natural Response to Divine Wisdom: The connection between Hakeem (All-Wise) and Hameed (Praiseworthy) is profound. The perfect wisdom embedded in the Qur'an—in its laws, its understanding of human nature, and its vision of reality—naturally leads a reflective person to praise and thank its Revealer. The wisdom in the message compels praise for the One who sent it.