Some careless commentators mention here the false story relating to what the
Christian critics call “the Lapse” of the Prophet. The Prophet, they say, on this occasion
recognized that the idols worshipped by the Arabs could intercede with God on their
behalf. That such a thing never happened is shown in 53:21a. This story has been rejected
by all sound and reliable commentators. Thus Ibn Kathßr says: “Many commentators
relate here the story of the Gharånßq ... but it is from sources not traceable to any
companion”. According to Rz, commentators who aim at accuracy and truth say that
this story is false and a forgery. Bd makes similar remarks.
The words do not, and cannot, mean that when a prophet recites a revelation, the
devil introduces his own words into his recitation. It is absurd on the face of it, and the
Holy Qur’ån belies it when it says: “He makes His secrets known to none, except a messenger
whom He chooses. For surely He makes a guard to go before him and after him,
that He may know that they have truly delivered the messages of their Lord” (72:26–28).
Moreover, it is absolutely inconceivable that such an important incident as the Prophet’s
having accepted the intercession of idols should have been mentioned in the Qur’ån eight
years after it happened. The 53rd chapter, in which the change is said to have taken place,
was revealed before the fifth year of the Prophet’s call, while this chapter was revealed on
the eve of the Prophet’s departure from Makkah. That more than half the Qur’ån should
have been revealed during this long period without a single reference to the alleged story,
and that it should then have been quite unnecessarily referred to in a chapter where it is
quite out of place, is alone sufficient to give the lie to this story.
Now take the words. Tamannå, according to all lexicologists, signifies he desired,
and according to T, tamannß signifies the desire to attain to that which is liked by one.
Now, what every prophet desires is the establishing of the Truth that is revealed to him,
and it is with this desire of every prophet that the devil interferes, instigating men, making
suggestions to them, as stated here, to oppose the Truth. That this is the true meaning
is also shown by the context, which deals with the establishing of the Truth and the
desire of the opponents of Truth to annihilate it. See the previous verse, which condemns
those who fight and contest with the Prophet to render him unable to establish the
Truth in the world. And here we are told that the plans of the enemies will be frustrated
and Truth will be established in the world.