The following was revealed regarding Abū Jahl and others Is he the evil of whose deeds is made to seem fair to him by distortion so that he deems it good …? a-fa-man ‘is he whose’ constitutes the subject the predicate of which is an omitted ‘like one whom God has guided?’ No! And this predicate is indicated by what follows. Indeed God leads astray whomever He will and guides whomever He will. So do not let your soul expire for their sake for those to whom it has made to seem fair out of sighings by becoming anguished lest they do not believe. Indeed God is Knower of what they do and He will requite them for it.
- 35:88
أَفَمَنْ زُيِّنَ لَهُ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسَنًا ۖ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۖ فَلَا تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَرَاتٍ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
So will one whose misdeeds are made seeming good to him – so he deems them good – be ever equal to the one who is upon guidance? Therefore indeed Allah sends astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills; so may not your life be lost in despairing after them; Allah knows their deeds very well.
- common.revelation-Meccan
- common.hizb : 174