Overview (Verses 109 - 111)

The passage concludes by mentioning those unbelievers who used to swear most solemnly that if only a miracle, like those given to earlier prophets and messengers, were shown them they would certainly believe. On hearing such assurances, some Muslims suggested to the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he should pray to Cod to show them such a miracle. Here they are given a clear answer, which shows the nature of those people and their obstinate rejection of the divine faith: “They swear by God most solemnly that if a miracle be shown to them they would believe in it. Say: ‘Miracles are in God’s power’. For all you know, even if one is shown to them, they may still not believe? We will turn their hearts and eyes away since they did not believe in it the first time. We shall leave them to blunder about in their overweening arrogance. Even if We were to send down angels to them, and if the dead were to speak to them, and even if We were to range all things before them, they would still not believe unless God so willed. Yet most of them are ignorant.” (Verses 109-111)
 
A person who does not believe when his attention has been drawn to the miraculous nature of creation and to all the pointers in the world around him directing him to faith adopts a very strange attitude. A person who looks at all the signs and indicators that he sees within himself and everywhere around him and still does not turn to his Lord and declare his belief in Him is one who follows a twisted logic. What hinders such people from believing in the truth in the first instance will certainly stop them from accepting the faith after a miracle has been shown to them. How could Muslims who suggested showing them a miracle tell that it could be otherwise? It is God alone who knows the nature of those people. He leaves them to blunder about in their arrogance, because He knows that they will not respond. They actually deserve the punishment their rejection of the faith incurs. God knows that they would not believe even if He did send down the angels or resurrect the dead to speak to them, in response to their suggestions. Nor would they believe even if He ranged everything in the universe in front of them to call on them to accept the faith. They do not believe unless God wills, and He does not will that because they do not strive to find guidance. This fact describes in a nutshell the nature of their hearts and minds. What those who stubbornly follow error and turn away from faith lack is not a proof or a sign. They are simply sick at heart, having shut down their natural responses and stifled their consciences. Guidance is a reward deserved only by those who strive for it.
 
Basic Facts on Faith and God’s Power
 
Moreover, these verses outline certain basic facts that we must consider. The first of these facts is that to accept the faith or to deny it, to follow the right guidance or to remain in error, does not depend on the provision of proofs and evidence of the truth. The truth is its own proof and it can easily prevail over the human mind to accept it and submit to it with reassurance. There are impediments that may prevent a person from accepting the truth. Indeed, God refers to these as He addresses the believers: “For all you know, even if one [i.e. a miracle] is shown to them, they may still not believe? We will turn their hearts and eyes away since they did not believe in it the first time. We shall leave them to blunder about in their overweening arrogance.” (Verses 109-110) What prevented them the first time round from accepting divine guidance could happen again even after a miracle is shown them, and they could, thus, continue to go astray and reject guidance.
 
The pointers to faith are latent within man himself and are inherent within the truth itself. They do not relate to any external factor. It is imperative, therefore, that man’s heart is purged of all external factors impeding its acceptance of the faith.
 
The second fact is that God’s will is the ultimate factor which determines who follows guidance and who goes astray. God has willed that human beings be tested, allowing us the freedom of choice to determine which course we follow. Anyone who utilizes this freedom in order to seek guidance with the intention of following it once it is received, though he may not know at that moment where he stands, will find that God, by His will, is helping him and showing him the right way. Conversely, a person who uses this freedom of choice to turn away from guidance and the pointers to faith, will find himself further away from the truth, because God’s will has determined that he should drift further astray and continue to grope in the dark. God’s will prevails over human beings in all situations. It is He who determines everything in the end.
 
It is to this fact that the passage we are discussing refers: “We will turn their hearts and eyes away since they did not believe in it the first time. We shall leave them to blunder about in their overweening arrogance. Even if We were to send down angels to them, and if the dead were to speak to them, and even if We were to range all things before them, they would still not believe unless God so willed. Yet most of them are ignorant.” (Verses 110-111) 
 
A further reference to this fact is provided in the verse that begins the next passage: “Thus We have set up against every prophet enemies: the evil ones among human beings and the jinn, who inspire each other with varnished and deluding falsehood. Had your Lord willed otherwise, they would not have done it. Therefore, leave them to their own inventions.” (Verse 112)
 
Everything is thus left to God’s will. It is He who has willed not to guide them, because they did not take the necessary measures to seek and follow His guidance. He has also willed to allow them this measure of freedom to test them. It is He who guides them if they strive for guidance and leaves them to go astray if they choose to do so. According to the Islamic concept, there is no contradiction between the fact that God’s will is absolutely free and that He has allowed human beings this measure of freedom to test them.
 
The third fact is that those who obey God and those who disobey Him are equally subject to His power; He controls everyone’s destiny. They cannot do anything except in accordance with God’s will which has determined the laws that govern human life. In the area of choice left for man, a believer achieves harmony between the fact that he is inevitably subject to God’s authority in the way he is made, his physical and spiritual constitution, the function of every part of his body, etc. and his willing submission to God as the natural result of choosing to follow God’s guidance. Thus, a believer lives at peace with himself because what is inevitable and what is the result of free choice in his life follow the same law and submit to the same authority. The unbelievers cannot break away from God’s law which governs their constitution and their natural needs. They have to submit to God’s law. However, where they have freedom of choice, they rebel against God’s authority and refuse to implement His law and constitution. This conflict leaves them miserable. Ultimately, they remain within God’s power and He controls their destinies. They indeed cannot do anything Without His will.
 
This last fact is particularly relevant to the issues which will be presented in the remaining part of this sūrah. Hence, it is going to be repeated in different forms. The rest of the sūrah tackles the question of God’s authority over people’s lives and the law they implement. Hence, the sūrah repeatedly emphasizes that all authority belongs to God who continues to govern the destiny of those who disobey Him and turn away from His constitution. These people cannot do any harm to believers, unless God so wills. Indeed, they are too weak to have any authority over themselves, let alone over believers. What takes place in life is simply the fulfilment of God’s will as it relates to both those who obey Him and those who refuse to do so.
 
“Even if We were to send down angels to them, and if the dead were to speak to them, and even if We were to range all things before them, they would still not believe unless God so willed. Yet most of them are ignorant.” (Verse 111) Al-Ţabarī, a famous scholar and commentator on the Qur’ān says of this verse: “God says to His Messenger (peace be upon him): Muĥammad, you should give up any hope of success for those who equate idols with their Lord and who claim that they would believe if they are given a sign. Even though We would send the angels down to them so that they may see them with their own eyes, and if we cause the dead to come back to life and speak to them supporting you and confirming your prophethood and assuring them that your message is the truth, and even if we would range everything in front of them testifying to your message, they would still refuse to believe in you and would continue to deny your message, unless God wills otherwise. Most of those unbelievers are ignorant of this fact. They think that accepting the faith or denying it is their prerogative. This is not true. It is all within My power. Only those I guide to success accept the faith, and those I turn away deny it.”
 
What al-Ţabarī says here is true, but it requires the clarification that we have given, taking into account the import of all Qur’ānic statements relevant to guidance, error, God’s will and man’s endeavour. To accept the faith is an event, and so is rejecting it. No event takes place in the universe except by God’s will: “Indeed, We have created everything in due measure and proportion.” (54: 49)
 
The law which operates God’s will, so that one person becomes a believer and one rejects the faith, is explained by the total sum of the relevant Qur’ānic statements. Every man is tested with a measure of free choice which determines his direction. If he sets himself on the route to guidance and strives to achieve it, he will certainly be guided by God’s will. If he chooses the other way and turns away from guidance, God will send him further astray. In this respect, both following God’s guidance and turning away from it are accomplished by God’s will. Man remains within God’s power and his life continues according to God’s will, which is free, absolute and unrestrained.