إِن تَحْرِصْ عَلَىٰ هُدَىٰهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَن يُضِلُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّٰصِرِينَ
12:104; 28:57.
Commentary:
In this verse the Holy Prophet and the Faithful are told that in spite of their intense desire all disbelievers would never believe because man is a free agent and because God does not compel anyone to adopt a definite course. Since He does not force anyone to disbelieve, He does not force anyone to believe either. Such compulsion would frustrate the very purpose of religion, viz. the attainment of inner purity. God has therefore decreed that He would not grant guidance to those who are engaged in misguiding others. Not only would He not force them to the true path but on the contrary He would deprive them of all sources of assistance.
The expression من یضل (who lead others astray) has been taken by some to mean "whom God adjudges as erring". Such a meaning would be in clear conflict with the sense of the preceding verse. The correct meaning is, "he who is engaged in misleading others". The subject of the verb یضل is not اللّٰه (Allah) but the word من (who) immediately preceding it.
12:104; 28:57.