16. [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَوْ شَاء
اللّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ
أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً...
16: 93. If Allah so willed, He could make you all one people:
... وَلكِن يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء...
but He leaves straying whom He pleases, and He guides whom He pleases:
Allah's Will and Plan, in allowing limited free-will to man, is, not to force man's will, but to give all guidance, and leave alone those who reject that guidance, in case they should repent and come back into Grace.
But in all cases, in so far as we are given the choice, we shall be called to account for all our actions. "Leaving to stray" does not mean that we can do what we please. Our personal responsibility remains.
... وَلَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٣﴾
but ye shall certainly be called to account for all your actions.
16: 93
Pickthall Had Allah willed He could have made you (all) one nation, but He sendeth whom He will astray and guideth whom He will, and ye will indeed be asked of what ye used to do.
Yuksel Had God wished, He would have made you one nation, but He misguides whom He wishes, and He guides whom He wishes. You will be asked about what you used to do.*
Transliteration Wa lau sya_'alla_hu laja'alakum ummataw wa_hidataw wa la_kiy yudillu may yasya_'u wa yahdi may yasya_'(u), wa latus'alunna 'amma_ kuntum ta'malu_n(a).
[[ Yuksel 016:093 The middle statement could be understood as "He misleads those who wish so" or "He misleads those He wishes." In fact, both fit the paradox emerging from having freedom and God's knowledge and control. God guides those who seek the truth with honesty through reason, and misleads those who do not demonstrate honesty and pure intention, by depriving them from witnessing His great signs in the scripture and in nature (6:110; 7:146; 21:51; 37:84). See 57:22. ]]