Overview (Verse 8)

The Key to Evil
 
This is followed by an explanation of what makes people go astray, the nature of Satan’s work, the door through which all evil flows. It shows the route that takes people astray and why, when a person goes far along it, he cannot turn back: How about the one whose evil deeds seem alluring to him so as to regard them as good? God lets go astray him that wills [to go astray], just as He guides him that wills [to be guided]. Therefore, do not waste yourself sorrowing for them. God has full knowledge of all that they do. (Verse 8)
 
“How about the one whose evil deeds seem alluring to him so as to regard them as good?” This is the key to all evil: Satan makes evil deeds seem fair to people, and they will then admire themselves for what they do. Such a person will not review his work to identify what is right or where he has gone wrong, because he feels he cannot go wrong. He is so preoccupied with self-admiration that he does not give a thought to self-criticism. Needless to say, he likes accountability to others much less. He does not permit anyone to question him about anything he does, because he feels it is good and, therefore, above criticism. This is the worst curse Satan invokes on man, and can be likened to a yoke he puts around his neck taking him far into error and its inevitable results.
 
A person who follows God’s guidance is one who is careful, wary and alert. He knows that feelings change, that weakness may creep into one’s heart, and that a short fall may occur. He is, therefore, always looking at his own work, wary of yielding to Satan’s temptation and praying for God’s help. This is indeed the point of difference between right and wrong, success and failure. It is a fine psychological point which the Qur’ān describes in a few succinct words: “How about the one whose evil deeds seem alluring to him so as to regard them as good?” (Verse 8)
 
No answer is given in the sūrah, so as to allow every answer, such as: His is a hopeless case; How can such a person be on the same level as one who is always taking stock of his actions to ensure that he is on the right track; Can he compared with a humble, God-fearing person. This sort of style is often used in the Qur’ān.
 
The Qur’ānic verse adds a statement that can be taken as implying a reply: “God lets go astray him that wills [to go astray], just as He guides him that wills [to be guided]. Therefore, do not waste yourself sorrowing for them.” (Verse 8) It is as if we are told that such a person is doomed to be in error as a result of Satan making his evil deeds seem fair to him. It is in the nature of error and guidance that the former makes an evil action seem fair and that the latter keeps a person on the alert ensuring good work.
 
Therefore, “do not waste yourself sorrowing for them. God has full knowledge of all that they do.” (Verse 8) This question of going astray or following guidance does not belong to any human being, not even God’s Messenger. It belongs to God alone. It is He who changes hearts as He pleases. As He states this fact, God comforts His Messenger so that his tender heart does not sorrow too much for the unbelievers. The Prophet always grieved when he saw his people’s persistence in going astray, knowing where that would lead them. Therefore, God tells him not to let his desire to make them follow guidance and recognize the truth overburden him with sorrow. God wanted him to know that this is none of his concern.
 
The same desire is felt by advocates of Islam. The more sincere they are in their advocacy, and the more they appreciate the goodness and beauty of their way, the keener they are that other people should see the truth for what it is and follow it. These advocates, however, would be better advised to understand what God says here to His Messenger and to act on the same. They should do their best to present their message, but they must not grieve for those who remain blind to it.
 
“God has full knowledge of all that they do.” (Verse 8) He sets them on the road to His guidance or lets them go astray according to what He knows of their work. He knows the truth about all their deeds and what they involve even before they do them. He determines their lot in accordance with His absolute knowledge, but he does not hold people to account until they have actually done their deeds.