وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً وَلَـٰكِن يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَلَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ 93
Translations
And if Allāh had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion, but He sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do.
Transliteration
Wa law shaa'a Allahu laja'alakum ummatan wahidatan wa lakin yudillu man yashaa wa yahdee man yashaa wa latus'alunna 'amma kuntum ta'malun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah's will encompasses all things: He could have made humanity a single unified community in belief and practice, but His wisdom decreed otherwise, allowing people to diverge in their choices. Ibn Kathir notes that Allah permits misguidance for those who turn away from guidance and grants guidance to those who sincerely seek it, thereby establishing human accountability. The ayah concludes with a solemn reminder that all humans will be questioned about their deeds on the Day of Judgment, emphasizing that despite the diversity of paths, each soul bears responsibility for its choices.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan chapter addressing theological fundamentals during early Islamic preaching. The broader context discusses Allah's signs in creation and His mercy, while this particular verse responds to the reality of human disagreement and differing religions, reassuring believers that such diversity is permitted by divine will while maintaining that humans remain accountable for their choices.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (6594): The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your full compensation on the Day of Resurrection.' This hadith reinforces the accountability mentioned in the ayah's conclusion. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah relates that the Prophet ﷺ emphasized that guidance is from Allah alone, connecting to the themes of hidayah (guidance) in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
While Allah has the absolute power to unite humanity in belief, He has given humans the capacity to choose, making each person responsible for their spiritual path and deeds. This teaches us humility in recognizing divine sovereignty while maintaining personal accountability—we should neither despair at the world's divisions nor become complacent about our own choices, knowing we will answer for them before Allah.