Ibrahim (Abraham)

4. “And We never sent a messenger except with the language of his people, so that he might explain (Our Message) to them clearly; then Allah leads astray whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.”

The object in mind as of /lis an-i-qaum/ in this verse is not confined only to the language of the people, for it sometimes happens that a speaker speaks in the language of a people though they might not understand him properly.

As Allah remarks in other verses:

“So We have made it (the Qur’an) easy in your tongue…”1

Hadrat-i-Mūsa also asks Allah to release his tongue in such a manner that the people understand his words:

“And loose a knot from my tongue,” “(That) they may understand my saying.”2

The verse under discussion says:

“And We never sent a messenger except with the language of his people, so that he might explain (Our Message) to them clearly…” In the meantime, the purpose of “Allah leads astray” is depriving of obstinate people from His grace. Otherwise if Allah wanted to mislead any one directly, He would neither send any Books, nor would He send any prophet.

In other verses we read that Allah misleads the unjust, transgressors, and the lavish persons. That is, man deprives himself from the divine guidance and paves the way for his own seduction by committing sins and acts of tyranny.

Some commentators have claimed that the subject of /yaš a’/ is the people and not Allah. That is, Allah misleads him who wishes himself to be misled and leads the one whom he wishes to be led. The verse says:

“…then Allah leads astray whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.”

He is Omnipotent under all circumstances and as a result of His Glory and Power though He will not mislead any one for no reason as a consequence of His wisdom. However, the first steps are voluntarily taken with their utmost freedom by the servants on the path of Allah (s.w.t.) and then the enlightening rays of guidance are cast and the grace of Allah covers them in their hearts.

Those who have alienated themselves from eligibility of meriting Allah’s approbation because of their obstinacy and fanaticism, and their hostility against the truth and as a consequence of being immersed in the abyss of their passion or tyranny, are deprived from the favour of guidance and are lost in utter darkness.

As it can be seen, the origin and the source of guidance and seduction lay in our own hands.

Incidentally, one must keep in mind that the propagation of the truth by the Prophet (S), which has been done in the language of his local people, is not incompatible with the cosmopolitan and universal nature of the religion.

For, the content of the text or message does not have any particular medium of expression, and, on the recommendation of the Qur’an, some groups must learn religious matters, whether by going on exodus or by giving up their special favours so as they can teach others.