2.38. SILENCE AND REFLECTION (continued)

God says

And never have We sent forth any apostle otherwise than [with a message] in his own people’s tongue, so that he might make [the truth] clear unto them; but God lets go astray him that wills [to go astray], and guides him that wills [to be guided] – for He alone is almighty, truly wise.* -- Q.14:4
*Or: “God lets go astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills”. All Quranic references to God’s “letting man go astray” must be understood against the background of 2 : 26-27 – “none does He cause to go astray save the iniquitous, who break their bond with God”: that is to say man’s “going astray” is a consequence of his own attitudes and inclinations and not a result of an arbitrary “predestination”. In his commentary on the above verse, Zamakhshari stresses this aspect of free choice on the part of man and points out “[God] forsakes him who, as He knows will (consciously) choose to deny the truth and will persevere in this (denial); and… He bestows His favour upon him who, as He knows, will choose faith: which means that He makes the issue dependent on (man’s) free choice (al-ikhtiyar), and thus deserving either [God’s] favour or the withdrawal of [His] aid … and does not make it dependant on compulsion [i.e., predestination], which would rule out [man’s] deserving anything of the above.”


This [message] is no less than a reminder to all mankind – to everyone of you who wants to walk a straight way. -- Q.81: 27

Prophet said

How to step out of the house in God’s care? :--
“He who on coming out of the house prays: BISMILLAHI TAWAKKALTO ‘ALAL-LAH, WALA HOWLA WA LA QOOWATA ILLA BILLAH [I go out in the name of God, with my trust in Him. None has strength except Him (to save me from evil) or has the power except Him (to enable me to do good)], then he is shown the right path and is protected, and the Satan withdraws from him.” – H: Abu Daud, Tirmizi and Nisai. N: Anas-bin-Malik.