Chapter: The words of Allah Most High: “Indeed, you cannot guide whom you love.”
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The remainder of the verse states: “but Allah guides whomever He wills, and He is most knowing of those who will be guided.” [al-Qasas: 56]

Relevance of this chapter to the Book of Monotheism: It is a rebuttal to the grave-worshippers who believe that prophets and the righteous can bring benefit or cause harm. For if the Prophet ﷺ strove to secure guidance for his uncle during his lifetime yet was not granted success, and if he prayed for him after death but was forbidden to do so, and if the Almighty has declared that the Messenger cannot guide whom he loves, this proves that he ﷺ possesses no power to confer benefit or avert harm; relying upon him for such matters is therefore invalid, and relying upon anyone else is even more so.

“Innāka” – the address is to the Prophet ﷺ.

“Lā tahdī” – i.e., you do not bestow the guidance of enabling grace that leads a person to embrace Islam. As for the guidance of preaching and clarification, the Messenger does possess that, as in His saying: “and indeed you guide to a straight path.”

“Man aḥbabt” – the one whose guidance you desire.

“But Allah guides whom He wills” – He grants success to enter Islam.

“And He is most knowing of the guided” – He knows best who deserves guidance and who merits misguidance.

Overall meaning of the verse: Allah says to His Messenger ﷺ that you have no power to grant the enabling guidance for those you love to enter Islam; rather, that lies solely in the hand—