We have revealed to you.”

“If you associate others with Allah, your deeds will surely come to nothing.”

“So when you have finished, strive diligently.”

“Say: If I go astray, I go astray only to my own detriment.”

There are other examples of this kind. The basic principle is that whatever is addressed to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, concerning commands, prohibitions, and permissions also applies to his community, just as his community shares with him in legal rulings and other matters, unless evidence establishes that something is exclusive to him. Thus, whatever ruling applies to him also applies to his community unless it is specifically restricted to him. This is the position of the early Muslims and the jurists, and the evidence for it is abundant. For example, Allah says:

“So when Zayd had no further need of her, We gave her to you in marriage,”

to the end of the verse. And when He permitted him to marry a woman who offered herself to him in marriage, He said:

“Exclusively for you, rather than the other believers,”

to the end of the verse.

If this holds even when the wording specifically addresses him, how can wording that applies generally to both him and the believers be restricted to him alone? The word man (“whoever”) is among the strongest expressions of generality, particularly when used conditionally or interrogatively, as in His words:

“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it,
and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”

And His words:

“Is one whose evil deeds have been made appealing to him, so that he regards them as good…?”

And His words:

“Is one who was dead, whom We then brought to life…?”

And His words:

“Is one who stands upon clear evidence from his Lord like one whose evil deeds have been made appealing to him?”

Furthermore, He subsequently says:

“Those believe in it. But whoever among the factions disbelieves in it, the Fire will be his appointed destination.”

After this, He mentions:

“The likeness of the two groups.”

The two groups have already been mentioned before this. And His words, “Those