«وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُ»
“And his companion said.” (Qāf 50:23, excerpt; compare “qāla qarīnuhu” in 50:27)
The noun “his companion” is used in different settings; its specific referent and function must be established each time from the complete passage. In Sūrat Qāf, one location forms part of the scene of presentation and testimony, while another records a companion’s defensive response.
Similarly, the “qarīn” of al-Zukhruf 43:36–38 belongs to an account of a devilish companion and misguidance. Shared dictionary meaning therefore does not guarantee identical identification across passages.
The lesson is contextual determination of referents, not arbitrary uniformity.