“Then the Exalted informs us that guiding all people rests upon Him—that is, acquainting them with all the ways and granting them understanding—as He says, ‘And upon Allah is the straight way.’ Each person then earns what has been decreed for him. This guidance does not mean leading people to faith; were that the case, no unbeliever would exist.”

I say:

This is what Ibn al-Jawzī mentioned, also attributing it to al-Zajjāj. Al-Zajjāj said: “It is for Us to distinguish the way of guidance from the way of misguidance.” This interpretation is reliably transmitted from Qatādah. ‘Abd ibn Humayd narrated it, saying: “Yūnus narrated to us, from Shaybān, from Qatādah, concerning ‘Indeed, upon Us is guidance’: ‘It is for Us to explain what He has made lawful and unlawful, and what constitutes obedience and disobedience to Him.’”

Ibn Abī Hātim likewise narrated it in Sa‘īd’s commentary, from Qatādah, concerning His words, “Indeed, upon Us is guidance.” He said: “It is for Allah to make things clear—to explain what He has made lawful and unlawful, and what constitutes obedience and disobedience to Him.” However, Qatādah explained that this is the clarification with which Allah sent His messengers and revealed His books, thereby making clear what He has made lawful and unlawful, and what constitutes obedience and disobedience to Him.

As for al-Tha‘labī, al-Wāhidī, al-Baghawī and others, they mentioned both interpretations and added others. They said—the wording is al-Baghawī’s: