بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Allah says in the Quran:
“Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.” [28:56]
We all know people that are close to us who we wish we can guide. We try everything we can and nothing works. This issue effected our beloved prophet (ﷺ) even more than it will effect any of us. Muhammad (ﷺ) is Allah’s best creation and yet even he (ﷺ) did not have the power to change people’s hearts, as mentioned in another ayah:
“You, [O Muhammad], are not but a warner.” [35:23]
He (ﷺ) watched his uncle – the man who raised him – die as a disbeliever. He was the best prophet (ﷺ), teacher and reminder to mankind, yet many people around him (ﷺ) passed away as disbelievers. This is to remind us that we are not in charge of people’s hearts. We do not decide who is to be guided and who isn’t, nothing can be forced. Our role as parents, siblings, family members and friends is to remind each other and ourselves, and make dua that Allah guides us all as we call to Allah everyday in every salah in Surat Al Fatiha.
Most importantly, never give up on people, no matter how far astray we may see they have gone. Allah is the turner of hearts and he turns the hearts of whomever He wills and all is with justice, as He says:
..”Indeed, Allah leaves astray whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him]” [13:27]
Let us remind ourselves that nobody is left astray unjustly, Allah knows what is in the hearts of the people that we do not see. May Allah turn all our hearts towards His guidance and His light.
Allah knows best.