Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 74

(Ayah 74){وَ لَوْ لَاۤ اَنْ ثَبَّتْنٰكَ …:} From this verse, it is understood that due to Allah Almighty keeping you steadfast, you did not even come close to inclining towards them, and it is also understood that your nature was so pure that even if Allah Almighty had not especially kept you steadfast, then at most you would have only come a little close to inclining towards them, and not fully inclined, nor even come fully close to inclining. Despite this, you never relied on yourself; it is narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to frequently make this supplication: [ يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوْبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِيْ عَلٰی دِيْنِكَ ] [ ترمذی، القدر، باب ما جاء أن القلوب بین أصبعي الرحمان : ۲۱۴۰، صححہ الألباني ] "O Turner of hearts! Keep my heart steadfast on Your religion." From this verse, it is also understood that Allah Almighty does not even approve of the believers coming close to inclining towards the disbelievers.

74. 1. This contains the mention of that infallibility which is granted by Allah to the Prophets (peace be upon them). From this, it is understood that although the polytheists wanted to incline the Prophet ﷺ towards themselves, Allah protected him from them and he did not incline towards them in the least.

And had We not made you steadfast, you would have almost inclined to them a little [93].

[93]
The Attempts of the Disbelievers of Makkah to Compromise with You:

When the disbelievers of Makkah saw that, despite all their efforts, Islam continued to spread, they tried several times to reach a mutual compromise with you. On one occasion, they offered that if you would stop reciting the verses related to our idols, we are ready to become obedient to you. But how could you accept their proposal? And on another occasion, they offered that if you desire rulership, we are prepared to make you our ruler. If you desire wealth, we will heap piles of wealth at your feet, and if you love a woman, we will marry you to her, provided that you desist from the message you are presenting. In their view, it was as if these three things could be the ultimate goal of any ordinary person, which they presented to you. And this offer was made in the presence of your sympathetic, caring, and guardian uncle, Abu Talib. Since all the chiefs of Quraysh came together, even Abu Talib’s resolve wavered, and he too began to advise you. Seeing this situation, you wept and said to your uncle, “Dear uncle! If these people had the power to place the sun in one of my hands and the moon in the other, even then I could not desist from this mission. Either this mission will be completed, or my life will be sacrificed in this path.” Seeing his nephew’s steadfastness, the uncle’s courage was renewed, and he said, “Nephew, do whatever you wish to do. As long as I am alive, I will remain steadfast in your support.” Thus, the delegation of the Quraysh left unsuccessful. In these verses, such incidents are alluded to, and it is explained that the steadfastness you were granted was only from Allah, and if such divine enablement had not been granted, you might have inclined a little towards them. Had such a situation arisen, the disbelievers of Makkah would certainly have been pleased with you and would have made you their friend, but because of your prophethood, Allah could have inflicted upon you a double punishment in this world and the Hereafter. Allah, by His enablement and mercy, protected His Prophet from such a mixture of truth and falsehood. Now, all this reproach is for those Muslims who, for the sake of a few coins, compromise between truth and falsehood. In this way, they themselves go astray and lead others astray as well.