Steadfastness in the Call of Truth, Allah’s Protection, and the Fate of Falsehood

وَ اللّٰهُ یَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یَهْدِی الْقَوْمَ الْكٰفِرِیْنَ(67)

The important lesson of this section of the Surah was encouragement towards تبلیغ: convey “ما انزل” with courage and bravery. The heavenly system and scheme that Allah Almighty has sent for the earth is a law from above, so that the people of the earth may operate according to this system and thereby reach perfection. In other words, the system of the people of the Throne should prevail upon the earth, and then the people of the earth will be mentioned among the people of the Throne. “ماانزل الیک من ربک” — this is your responsibility, so fulfill your responsibility.
“وان لم تفعل فما بلغت رسالتہ”
And do not worry; Allah Almighty Himself will protect you:
“والله یعصمک من الناس”

Meaning, Allah Almighty has promised protection upon speaking and conveying the truth. Allah Almighty has not promised protection upon concealing the truth.
“والله یعصمک من الناس”
Allah will protect you from the people.

Along with this, another consolation was given: do not worry and do not say that my دعوت did not bear fruit and that no result came from my effort. Guidance is in the control of Allah Almighty. Those who are stubborn and hostile are not granted guidance; this is their own loss, not your deficiency.
“ان الله لایھدی القوم الکفرین”
The stubborn and hostile are not granted guidance.

Secondly, there is also an indication towards this matter: a person says, “I strive and give دعوت, but some people run campaigns against me and against my mission. I am alone while they are many. Perhaps my mission and دعوت will never succeed.” The Qur’an says that any دعوت which goes against human nature can never truly succeed:
“ان الله لایھدی القوم الکفرین”

You continue inviting towards the truth, and falsehood will automatically vanish. Even if all people are upon falsehood and the داعی of truth stands alone, if he sincerely invites towards the truth, then according to the divine law falsehood will perish:
“جَآءَ الْحَقُّ وَ زَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُؕ-اِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوْقًا”
Likewise:
“جَآءَ الْحَقُّ وَ مَا یُبْدِئُ الْبَاطِلُ وَ مَا یُعِیْدُ”

In order to eliminate falsehood, one must remain firm upon the دعوت of truth. To defeat the mission of falsehood, steadfastness upon truth is necessary, because truth is natural while falsehood opposes human nature. When the people of truth remain firm upon truth and do not incline towards oppression and oppressors, then falsehood becomes dim and disappears. Thus in:
“ان الله لایھدی القوم الکفرین”
there are two consolations.

The commentators mentioned regarding this blessed verse that in it there was a command and encouragement for the Prophet ﷺ:
“بلغ ماانزل الیک”
Convey the matter courageously. Therefore, this is also the responsibility of the inheritors of the Prophets. The commentators mention that scholars should not conceal anything from “ماانزل”. Whatever Shari‘ah Allah Almighty has revealed should be conveyed to the people, and they should not fear, because Allah Almighty will protect them.

Secondly, whoever carries the دعوت of truth faces certain obstacles, because of which he becomes weak in speaking and standing for the truth. The Qur’an removed all these obstacles.

One reason a person does not convey the truth is because he does not recognize the value of his position. He is unaware of his rank and considers himself like ordinary people, and therefore lacks the feeling of responsibility. But once the feeling of responsibility awakens — meaning when a scholar realizes that he is an heir of the Prophet and is called the inheritor of the Prophets, and that he stands upon the position of approximately one hundred and twenty-four thousand Prophets عليهم السلام, and that he should do what they did — then he will not become lazy in conveying the message. However, when he does not recognize his rank, he lacks the sense of responsibility and thus becomes lazy in speaking the truth.

First, the Qur’an grants awareness of rank and responsibility. Up to:
“فما بلغت رسالته”
the Qur’an points out the position and creates the sense of responsibility.

Secondly, a person sometimes does not convey the دعوت because of fear. This fear is of two kinds. One type is fear of harm from people, because followers of desires are usually many. The Islamic program strikes against the monopolists of desires and those who have made paper gods for themselves. It refutes their false deities.

چیست قرآن؟ خواجه را پیغام مرگ۔
دستگیرِ بندهٔ بے ساز و برگ

What is the Qur’an? It is a message of death for the elites and chiefs. It is a support for the weak and helpless.

The Qur’anic system strikes at the Pharaohs of every age, raises the weak, and supports them. Therefore, kings and chiefs dislike it, and thus there is fear of harm from them.

The second fear is that every person has certain worldly interests and benefits. These worldly interests may sometimes be affected by speaking the truth. A person fears that perhaps his job and salary may be lost, his position as imam may end, the madrasa may close his place, or his nationality may be revoked and he may be expelled from the country. Thus there is fear of losing worldly benefits.

Regarding both these fears, the Qur’an says:
“والله یعصمک من الناس”
Do not care about people.

فَلا تَکترث بِالناسِ في الذَمِّ وَالثَناء
وَلا تَخشَ غَيرَ اللَهِ فَاللَهُ أَكبَرُ

Do not care whether people criticize or praise you, and do not fear anyone besides Allah, for Allah is the Greatest.

Do not care whether people praise you or not, and do not fear the harm people may cause, because Allah Almighty is the One who gives everything.

Thirdly, a person fears that people are stubborn and hostile. He says: “I speak and preach, but nobody is affected. Rather, they become more stubborn and hostile.” Then he says: “Why waste my time? Instead I will study, perform optional عبادات for my own benefit, engage in ذکر and recitation. What is the benefit of this preaching? Nobody accepts it. My دعوت bears no fruit.” Secondly, he says: “Campaigns are being run against me. In this darkness upon darkness, what benefit can this small light provide?”

The Qur’an removes this obstacle through:
“ان الله لایھدی القوم الکفرین”

Firstly, those who are stubborn and hostile not accepting faith is not in your control; it is in Allah’s control. Those who do not accept should be left to Allah. The stubborn and hostile will not believe. One should not think in his heart that once he speaks, everyone will accept him and place garlands around his neck. Rather, there will always be opponents who are stubborn and hostile.

Secondly, the verse means: remain firm upon speaking the truth. Do not think about how falsehood will end or what benefit your lesson will bring within such darkness. Continue your effort. Allah Almighty Himself will spread this light. Allah does not grant success to the mission of the disbelievers because it opposes human nature. For some time it may appear dominant and elevated, but it has only been raised high so that it may fall more severely.
“ان الله لایھدی القوم الکفرین”

One meaning is that Allah Almighty certainly does not guide those who remain firm upon disbelief:
“القائمين بالكفر”
The word “قوم” is used because they remain firmly established upon their way.

Another meaning of:
“ان الله لایھدی القوم الکفرین”
is that Allah Almighty does not grant success to the mission and program of the disbelievers. Their system does not truly reach success. Their temporary rise is not real success:
“فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَاءً ۖ”
This foam will eventually vanish, whether today or tomorrow.

And the truth should be conveyed properly and correctly.