❖ The Objection
The verse:"Whomever Allah leads astray, none can guide."
This statement often raises a question: If Allah Himself misguides, how can humans be held accountable? Isn't this against justice?
❖ The Response
The simplest answer to this objection is that such verses speak of Allah’s absolute power and authority, not His law (Sunnah) or system. It means that when Allah wills, no one can override His decision or interfere with His will.This principle is illustrated in another verse from Surah Al-Baqarah:
"مَا هُم بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ"
(Translation: "But they do not harm anyone through it except by Allah’s permission.")
This verse clarifies that even the effects of magic and spells cannot manifest without Allah’s permission. In other words, their efficacy is not independent of divine will nor dependent on the power of another deity. This cause-and-effect chain, like all others in the universe, remains under Allah’s command. Nothing operates outside His dominion.
Likewise, verses that mention Allah giving guidance or leading astray serve to express His unrivaled sovereignty and power: If He chooses to guide or misguide someone, no force can override His decision.
❖ Allah’s System (Sunnah) Regarding Guidance and Misguidance
As for the method Allah follows in the matter of guidance and misguidance, this has been described clearly in other parts of the Qur’an, such as in the following verse:"وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ"
(Translation: "And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good." – Surah Al-‘Ankabut, Verse 69)
This indicates that striving in Allah’s cause is a condition for receiving His guidance. Allah’s guidance comes to those who sincerely seek it, while misguidance is for those who reject the truth knowingly or choose corruption over righteousness.
