175 Preface وَاتلُ عَلَيهِم نَبَأَ الَّذي آتَيناهُ آياتِنا فَانسَلَخَ مِنها فَأَتبَعَهُ الشَّيطانُ فَكانَ مِنَ الغاوينَYusuf AliRelate to them the story1 of the man to whom We sent Our signs, but he passed them by: so Satan followed him up, and he went astray.Commentators differ whether this story or parable refers to a particular individual, and if so, to whom. The story of Balaam, the seer, who was called out by Israel’s enemies to curse Israel, but who blessed Israel instead. (Num. 22, 23, 24) is quite different. It is better to take the parable in general sense. These are men, of talents and position, to whom great opportunities of spiritual insight come, but they perversely pass them by. Satan sees his opportunity and catches them up. Instead of rising higher in the spiritual world, their selfish and worldly desires and ambitions pull them down, and they are lost.