Overview (Verses 35 - 37)

Two Ways for Mankind

Now the sūrah reports yet another argument advanced by the unbelievers, to explain the reasons for their disbelief. Those who associate partners with God say, Had God so willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have worshipped any other than Him, nor would we have declared anything forbidden without a commandment from Him.’ Those before them said the same. Are the messengers bound to do anything other than to clearly deliver the message? Indeed, We have raised a messenger in every community, [who said to them]: ‘Worship God and shun the Evil One.’ Among them were some whom God graced with His guidance, while others were inevitably doomed by their error. Go, then, about the earth and observe what was the end of those who denied the truth. (Verses 35-36) They lay on God’s will the blame for all their own and their forefathers’ deviant beliefs, their worship of false deities, as also for their misguided concepts leading them to prohibit what God had made lawful without any clear authority from Him. They allege that none of them would have done anything of the sort, had God willed to prevent it. This is a grossly mistaken view of God’s will and how it operates. Furthermore, it deprives man of the most important quality which God has given him in this life.

God’s will is never directed so as to make His servants associate partners with Him. Nor is He ever pleased when they prohibit what He has made lawful. This is clearly stated in His law contained in His messages to mankind. The messengers were only assigned the task of delivering His message, and they were up to the task, exerting their best efforts to fulfil it: “We have raised a messenger in every community, [who said to them]: ‘Worship God and shun the Evil One.’” (Verse 36) This is the command He issued, outlining what He wishes His servants to do. God Almighty does not order His servants to do something which He knows them to be, by nature, unable to do, or to do what He has compelled them to avoid. The clear evidence proving His displeasure with those who disobey His orders is the punishment which He inflicted in former times on those who denied His messages and messengers. Hence He draws attention here to the fate of those disobedient communities: “Go, then, about the earth and observe what was the end of those who denied the truth.” (Verse 36)

God, the Creator, the Wise, has willed that human beings should have an equal propensity either to follow His guidance or to go astray, and that their choice of which way to follow should be completely free. He has also given them reason and intellect in order to be able to determine which way to choose. He has placed in the universe numerous pointers to guidance, and these signs are there for them to see, hear, sense and feel wherever they turn at any moment of the night or day, leading their minds to the right conclusion.

Out of His grace, which He gives in abundance, God has not left His servants to make their choice only on the basis of their reasoning. He has given in His laws, which were outlined by His messengers, a clear and constant standard for people to follow when they need guidance. By using this standard, which is not subject to people’s wishes and desires, they are able to determine right and wrong on any matter. He did not make His messengers overbearing tyrants who used brute force to compel people to believe in Him. These messengers were only carriers of His messages, assigned only the task of delivering them. They called on people to worship God alone, to steer away from every type of belief that associates partners with Him, and to shun submission to any power other than God’s: “We have raised a messenger in every community, (who said to them]: ‘Worship God and shun the Evil One.” (Verse 36)

Some people respond positively to God’s message: “Among them were some whom God graced with His guidance.” (Verse 36) Another group chose error: “Others were inevitably doomed by their error.” (Verse 36) Neither party has broken away from God’s will for He did not compel them to follow one way or the other. Each chose the way for himself after having been given sufficient guidance to distinguish between truth and error. Such guidance is placed within man himself and is also made available everywhere in the universe around him.

This statement also refutes the false argument advanced by the idolaters and repeated by many of those who commit every kind of disobedience of God. Islam is very clear on this point. God orders His servants to do only what is right and good, and He forbids them only what is evil. He may sometimes choose to inflict clear punishments which plainly reflect His displeasure. But this does not mean that He intervenes to compel them to go astray and then punishes them for something over which they claim to have no choice. This is absolutely false. They are completely free to follow the way they choose, and that freedom is given them by God’s will. Whatever good or evil they do, then, takes place by God’s will in this sense only.

This explains the comment given in the form of an address to the Prophet outlining the law determining what people may follow of guidance or error: “However eager you may be to show them the right way, [know that] God does not bestow His guidance upon any whom He judges to have gone astray. They shall have none to support them.” (Verse 37) People’s acceptance of divine guidance is not the result of the Prophet’s deliberations and efforts. This is not his task. His mission is only to deliver the message God gave him. Guidance and error are subject to God’s law which never fails, bringing the same results every time. Whoever deserves to remain in error according to God’s law shall not receive His guidance. That is because of the operation of the laws God has set in nature. This is His will which is always done. Hence, “they shall have none to support them.” Besides, who can support them against God?