The Quran

Preface

وَما أَرسَلنا مِن قَبلِكَ مِن رَسولٍ وَلا نَبِيٍّ إِلّا إِذا تَمَنّىٰ أَلقَى الشَّيطانُ في أُمنِيَّتِهِ فَيَنسَخُ اللَّهُ ما يُلقِي الشَّيطانُ ثُمَّ يُحكِمُ اللَّهُ آياتِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَليمٌ حَكيمٌ

Yusuf Ali

Never did We send a messenger or a prophet before thee, but, when he framed a desire, Satan threw some (vanity)¹ into his desire: but God will cancel anything (vain) that Satan throws in, and God will confirm (and establish) His Signs: for God is full of Knowledge and Wisdom:²

Prophets and messengers (the distinction is explained in n. 2503 to 19:51) are but human. Their actions are righteous and their motives pure, but in judging things from a human point of view, the suggestion may come to their mind (from Satan) that it would be good to have power or wealth or influence for furthering God’s cause, or that it may be good to conciliate some faction which may be irreconcilable. In fact, in God’s Plan, it may be the opposite. God, in His mercy and inspiration, will cancel any false or vain suggestions of this kind, and confirm and strengthen His own Commands and make known His Will in His Signs or revelations.
This clause and the similar clause at the end of the next verse are parenthetical.