❖ Does Allāh Misguide People by Force? Qurʾānic Clarification
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Bayān ʿAqāʾid, Vol. 1, p. 46
The Qurʾān says: “Whomever I will, I guide; and whomever I will, I misguide.”
The question is: if Allāh Himself misguides people, then how is man at fault?
This question often arises in discussions, so a detailed answer is needed for personal understanding and for explaining to others.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
People often confuse the two, but they are different:
﴿وَلَا يَرۡضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ ٱلۡكُفۡرَۖ﴾ (az-Zumar: 7)
“And He is not pleased with disbelief for His servants.”
Whoever sincerely seeks guidance, strives for it, and turns to Allāh, Allāh grants them guidance:
﴿ٱللَّهُ يَجۡتَبِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهۡدِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يُنِيبُ﴾ (ash-Shūrā: 13)
“Allāh chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns to Him.”
﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَاۚ﴾ (al-ʿAnkabūt: 69)
“And those who strive for Us — We will surely guide them to Our ways.”
Thus, “يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ” does not mean Allāh forces guidance upon someone against their will.
Whoever chooses the path of misguidance, persists in sin and wrongdoing, and makes evil their way of life — Allāh leaves them to it:
﴿وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ﴾ (al-Baqarah: 26)
“And He does not misguide with it except the defiantly disobedient.”
﴿وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ﴾ (al-Baqarah: 258)
“And Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.”
So “يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ” means that Allāh allows those who desire misguidance to remain upon it — not that He forces them into it.
﴿لَآ إِكۡرَاهَ فِي ٱلدِّينِۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشۡدُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيِّۚ﴾ (al-Baqarah: 256)
“There is no compulsion in religion; the right way has become distinct from error.”
The same principle applies to provision:
﴿ٱللَّهُ يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقۡدِرُۚ﴾ (ar-Raʿd: 26)
“Allāh extends provision for whom He wills and restricts it.”
It does not mean:
Rather, provision is given according to effort, means, and Allāh’s wisdom — though at times He grants beyond the means to show His absolute power.
﴿إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظۡلِمُ ٱلنَّاسَ شَيۡٔٗا وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ أَنفُسَهُمۡ يَظۡلِمُونَ﴾ (Yūnus: 44)
“Indeed, Allāh does not wrong the people at all, but it is the people who wrong themselves.”
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Bayān ʿAqāʾid, Vol. 1, p. 46
Question:
The Qurʾān says: “Whomever I will, I guide; and whomever I will, I misguide.”
The question is: if Allāh Himself misguides people, then how is man at fault?
This question often arises in discussions, so a detailed answer is needed for personal understanding and for explaining to others.
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
1. The Difference Between Allāh’s Will (Mashīʾah) and Pleasure (Riḍā)
- Mashīʾah means Allāh’s will or decree.
- Riḍā means Allāh’s approval or pleasure.
People often confuse the two, but they are different:
- The faith of Abū Bakr (رضي الله عنه) included both Allāh’s will (mashīʾah) and pleasure (riḍā).
- The disbelief of Abū Jahl included Allāh’s will (since nothing occurs without His will) but not His pleasure.
﴿وَلَا يَرۡضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ ٱلۡكُفۡرَۖ﴾ (az-Zumar: 7)
“And He is not pleased with disbelief for His servants.”
2. Guidance for Those Who Seek It
Whoever sincerely seeks guidance, strives for it, and turns to Allāh, Allāh grants them guidance:
﴿ٱللَّهُ يَجۡتَبِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهۡدِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يُنِيبُ﴾ (ash-Shūrā: 13)
“Allāh chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns to Him.”
﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَاۚ﴾ (al-ʿAnkabūt: 69)
“And those who strive for Us — We will surely guide them to Our ways.”
Thus, “يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ” does not mean Allāh forces guidance upon someone against their will.
3. Misguidance for Those Who Choose It
Whoever chooses the path of misguidance, persists in sin and wrongdoing, and makes evil their way of life — Allāh leaves them to it:
﴿وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ﴾ (al-Baqarah: 26)
“And He does not misguide with it except the defiantly disobedient.”
﴿وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ﴾ (al-Baqarah: 258)
“And Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.”
So “يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ” means that Allāh allows those who desire misguidance to remain upon it — not that He forces them into it.
4. No Compulsion in Religion
﴿لَآ إِكۡرَاهَ فِي ٱلدِّينِۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشۡدُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيِّۚ﴾ (al-Baqarah: 256)
“There is no compulsion in religion; the right way has become distinct from error.”
5. Example of Provision (Rizq)
The same principle applies to provision:
﴿ٱللَّهُ يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقۡدِرُۚ﴾ (ar-Raʿd: 26)
“Allāh extends provision for whom He wills and restricts it.”
It does not mean:
- An idle person who makes no effort gets wealth forcibly from Allāh.
- A hardworking person has his wealth forcibly withheld.
Rather, provision is given according to effort, means, and Allāh’s wisdom — though at times He grants beyond the means to show His absolute power.
6. Allāh Never Commits Injustice
﴿إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظۡلِمُ ٱلنَّاسَ شَيۡٔٗا وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ أَنفُسَهُمۡ يَظۡلِمُونَ﴾ (Yūnus: 44)
“Indeed, Allāh does not wrong the people at all, but it is the people who wrong themselves.”
Conclusion:
- Whoever seeks guidance, Allāh opens the doors of guidance for them.
- Whoever chooses misguidance, Allāh leaves them to it according to their choice.
- Allāh’s guiding or leaving someone astray is never by compulsion but in accordance with the person’s intention, effort, and deeds.
- This is the clear message of the Qurʾān.
