36–37. “We certainly sent a messenger to every nation, proclaiming, ‘Worship Allah and shun all false objects of worship.’ Some of them Allah guided, while others were destined for misguidance. So travel through the land and see how the deniers met their end. Even if you are eager for their guidance, Allah does not guide those whom He leaves to stray, and they will have no helpers.”

Allah Most High states that His proof has been established against every nation. There has been no nation, past or later, to which Allah did not send a messenger. All the messengers agreed upon one call and one religion: to worship Allah alone, without any partner. “Worship Allah and shun all false objects of worship.” Nations therefore fell into two groups according to whether or not they answered the messengers’ call: “Some of them Allah guided,” and they followed the messengers in knowledge and deed; “while others were destined for misguidance,” and they followed the path of error.

“So travel through the land” with your bodies and hearts, “and see how the deniers met their end.” You will witness astonishing things, for you will find no denier whose ultimate end was not destruction.

“Even if you are eager for their guidance” and exert your utmost effort to achieve it, “Allah does not guide those whom He leaves to stray.” Even if every possible means were employed, none but Allah could guide such a person. “And they will have no helpers” to deliver them from Allah’s punishment or shield them from His might.