people did not pay attention to his words and did not try to
understand them, he was admonished in this way:
If Allah willed, all who are on the earth would have believed (in Him).
Would thou (Muhammad) compel men until they are believers? ( 10 : 99 ).
To understand the Qur'an or, for that matter, any other revealed
book, it is not enough to have mastered its language. A man may be
proficient in the Arabic language and yet the meaning of the Qur'an
may elude him. He should approach the Book with a receptive mind
free from preconceived ideas and notions, prejudice and bias. He
should be serious about human life and the universe in which we
live, and should have an intense consciousness of participation in a
purposeful cosmic process. He should also be anxious to guard
against pitfalls in the way of life and to steer clear of the obstacles
which hinder his progress. These are, according to the Qur'an, the
essential prerequisites for understanding the Book. To those who
do not approach it in this way, it remains a sealed book. In the stories
of the Anbiya – prophets recounted in the Qur'an – we are told how
those who were not perceptive and alive were only bewildered when
they listened to their (Anbiya's) passionate exhortations. Some of
them frankly confessed that they found their words unintelligible:
O Shu'aib! We understand not much what you say (11:91).
The Nabi Muhammad (PBUH) too, often came across people who
were completely unresponsive to his words, while others were
stirred, who believed and were prepared to listen. In dealing with the
former, he occasionally grew impatient and felt frustrated. The
Qur'an counsels him to be patient, forgiving and tolerant. It warns
him against the temptation to impose his views on them
Haply you will kill yourself with grief – if they believe not in this
message (18:6).
The Nabi is assured that if he has placed the true view, in simple
terms, before the people, he has fulfilled his mission. More than this
is not expected of him. It is not his duty to see that the view is
accepted by the people. His duty is only to tell them which is the
right path and which the wrong one and to acquaint them with the
consequences of following the one or the other. They are free to
choose for themselves. God does not want to force people to accept
His guidance. He has endowed man with the powers of
understanding, judgment and free choice. If man makes use of
Islam: A Challenge to Religion 116