Tafseer Ibn Kathir of YUNUS [99]

99. And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together. So, will you then compel mankind, until they become believers. 100. It is not for any person to believe, except by the leave of Allah, and He will put the Rijs on those who do not reason. Allah said:

(And had your Lord willed) meaning `O Muhammad, if it had been the will of your Lord, He would make all the people of the earth believe in what you have brought to them. But Allah has wisdom in what He does.' Similarly, Allah said:

(And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely have made mankind one Ummah, but they will not cease to disagree. Except him on whom your Lord has bestowed His mercy and for that did He create them. And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled (His saying): ”Surely, I shall fill Hell with Jinn and men all together.'') (11:118-119) He also said,

(Have not then those who believed yet known that had Allah willed, He could have guided all mankind) (13:31) Therefore, Allah said:

(So, will you then compel mankind) and force them to believe.

(until they become believers.) meaning, it is not for you to do that. You are not commanded to do that either. It is Allah Who

(sends astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills.)(35:8).

(So do not destroy yourself in sorrow for them.)

(It is not up to you to guide them, but Allah guides whom He wills.)ï´¿2:272ï´¾.

(It may be that you would kill yourself with grief because they are not believers.) ï´¿26:3ï´¾

(you guide not who you like..) ï´¿28:56ï´¾

(Your duty is only to convey, and it is up to Us to reckon. ) ï´¿13:40ï´¾

(So remind, you are only one who reminds. You are not a dictator over them.) ï´¿88:21-22ï´¾ There are other Ayat besides these which prove that Allah is the doer of what He wants, guiding whom He wills, leading whom He wills to stray, all out of His knowledge, wisdom, and justice. Similarly, He said,

(It is not for any person to believe, except by the leave of Allah, and He will put the Rijs) That is, disorder and misguidance

(upon those who do not reason) meaning, Allah's proofs and evidences, and He is the Just in all matters, guiding whom He wills to guide, and leading whom He wills astray.