Page 16 - Communication and Argument in the Qur'an

14 COMMUNICATION AND ARGUMENT IN THE QUR’AN

by Allah’s choosing, a secret set out in the verse:
When Allah wills to guide someone, He expands his
breast to Islam. When He wills to misguide someone,
He makes his breast narrow and constricted as if he
were climbing up into the sky. That is how Allah defiles
those who have no faith. (Surat al-An‘am: 125)
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According to the verse “Many of humanity are devia- -
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t tors” (Surat al-Ma’ida: 49), many people will not believe.
Such a reality must not be allowed to affect the believers
in any way. Allah only expects them to observe the
Qur’anic morality and convey His message; He alone will
determine their ultimate fate. Believers who understand
this will never pursue other people to “persuade” them to
convert. In addition, those being addressed must be
reminded that they will only benefit by embracing Islam.
Those who think that they will be doing the believers a
great “favor” by abiding by religious virtues must be disa-
bused of this mistaken idea, for their supposedly “superi-
or” attributes play no role in attracting the believers’ atten-
tion to them:
They think they have done you a favor by becoming
Muslims. Say: “Do not consider your Islam a favor to
me. No indeed! It is Allah Who has favored you by guid-
ing you to faith, if you are telling the truth.” (Surat al-
Hujurat: 17)
Faith benefits only the person concerned. Each person
needs to understand that he or she needs faith, for Allah,
Who is perfect, has no need for anyone to believe in Him.
However, everyone needs to believe in Him and obtain His