whom the devils impart messages; they mix lies with those messages and tell the people, who then suppose them to be truthful.
﴾So where are you going? It is only a reminder to all the worlds.﴿ Here, in carries the meaning of mā. There is a grammatical rule that whenever illā follows in, in carries the meaning of mā; that is, it expresses negation. This is because in may be negative or conditional, or it may be the lightened form of the emphatic inna. The context determines which of these meanings is intended. When in is followed by illā, it is negative. Thus, the Quran brought by Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—and brought down upon his heart by Gabriel ﴾is only a reminder to all the worlds.﴿
The word “reminder” encompasses both reminding and remembering: it reminds all the worlds and enables them to remember, meaning that through it they remember and take heed. (By “the worlds” is meant those to whom the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—was sent.) Allah the Exalted says:
﴾We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.﴿ [al-Anbiyā’: 107]
He also says:
﴾Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His servant so that he might be a warner to the worlds.﴿ [al-Furqān: 1]
Thus, “the worlds” here means those to whom Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—was sent.
﴾For whoever among you wishes to follow a straight course.﴿ The phrase ﴾for whoever wishes﴿ is an appositional substitute for what precedes it, with the governing particle—namely, illā—repeated. It is as though He said: “It is only a reminder for whoever among you wishes to follow a straight course.” The general statement is thus followed by specification. As for one who does not wish to follow a straight course, he will neither take heed through this Quran nor benefit from it. Allah the Exalted says:
﴾Indeed, in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or listens attentively while fully present.﴿ [Qāf: 37]
A person who does not desire uprightness cannot benefit from this Quran. Someone might ask: “Does a person exercise his will by his own choice?”
We reply: Yes, a person exercises his will by his own choice. Allah—Mighty and Majestic is He—has granted human beings choice and will: if a person wishes, he acts, and if he wishes, he refrains. Were this not so, sending the messengers would not have established the proof against the creatures to whom they were sent. Our actions are therefore performed through our own choice and will. Were it not so, the sending of—