Tafsir of Al-A'raf 7:200

{ And if there should come to you an incitement from Satan }—Nazgh, Nasgh, and Nakhas share the same meaning: the insertion of a needle, the tip of a stick, or anything similar into the skin. Ibn Zayd said: "You have nazaghta between people" means you have caused corruption between them. Al-Zajjaj said: "It is the slightest of movements." In relation to Satan, it refers to his whispering. The first meaning is the most well-known; its application to the whispering of Satan is metaphorical, as his whispering—in inciting people to commit sins and disturbing them—is likened to the goading of a driver to that which he is driving. The attribution of the verb to the verbal noun is metaphorical, as in the phrase "his grandfather’s grandfather exerted himself" (jadda jadduhu). It is said that nazgh here means nazigh (the inciter), thus the metaphor is in the terminal element, but the first interpretation is more eloquent and preferable.

The meaning is: If there should bear upon you, from the direction of Satan, any whispering contrary to what you have been commanded—such as the onset of anger or similar—{ then seek refuge in Allah }. That is, seek His protection and turn to Him—Glorified and Exalted is He—in repelling it from you. { Indeed, He is Hearing }—hearing your seeking of refuge in speech in the most perfect manner { Knowing }—knowing likewise your supplication to Him in your heart, within your speech or without it, and He will therefore protect you from his evil. Or, [He is] Hearing, meaning responsive to your supplication by seeking refuge, and Knowing of what contains the welfare of your affair, and will therefore lead you to it. Or [it means] He is hearing the words of those who harmed you and knowing of their actions, so He will recompense them for it.

The verse, according to what some verifiers have stipulated, is of the category of: "If you were to associate [others with Allah], your work would surely become worthless." Thus, there is no argument in it for those who claim the lack of immunity (‘isma) of the Prophets—upon them be peace—from the whispering of Satan and the committing of sins. In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated from Ibn Mas‘ud that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt and grant him peace, said: "There is not one among you but has been assigned a companion from the Jinn and a companion from the Angels." They asked: "Even you, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Even me, but Allah has helped me against him, so he has submitted (aslama), and he does not command me except with good."

Others have said: The nazgh of Satan, in relation to the Prophet—may Allah exalt and grant him peace—is a metaphor for the onset of anger that disturbs the soul. In this case, the verse contains an increased repulsion from anger and an extreme warning against acting upon its dictates. This is why the Prophet—may Allah exalt and grant him peace—repeated the prohibition against it, as has come in the Hadith. The command to seek refuge in Allah, Exalted is He, emphasizes the gravity of this matter and serves as a warning that it is among the calamities whose harm cannot be escaped except by taking refuge in the sanctuary of His immunity—Mighty and Majestic is He.