He Expands His Breast for Islam

Then comes a beautiful verse, the verse of sharḥ, of inshirāḥ. Beside:

this one is the broader; and it is verse 125:

Whomever Allah wills, He guides, subḥān Allāh, and He expands his breast for Islam. He expands his breast for Islam. This is a gift of God. There was once a notion, while the evidences for the existence of God were being studied, of undertaking a piece of research — of devising a scientific study: to take some atheists, twenty of them, and put the various proofs to them, and see which were the most effective. Reading this verse makes it plain that while proofs may have some effect, up to a point, the matter rests at last with Allah. Hence there are atheists who know that it would be easier for them to believe, having had to disown their families or be disowned by them, and yet who simply cannot believe. Something is disordered. And often it is on account of something we have said or done, some blasphemy, which sets a veil upon the heart. May Allah protect us, and our children, and our progeny, and all. And then Allah says that whomever He wills to let stray, He straitens his breast, and it becomes very difficult; it is almost as though they were climbing uphill. It is very hard for them to believe. May Allah protect us from that. It is a verse of the first importance, and truly to be thought upon.

And then Allah reiterates:

This is the straight path of your Lord. We have made the signs plain for a people who take heed, and who think and reflect.

May Allah grant us dār al-salām. It is said that when they arrive there, the angels will say salāmun ʿalaykum:

That is in another place; but here, in verse 127, it is said: for them is dār al-salām, the abode of peace, the abode of well-being — the abode of well-being with their Lord. He is their — He cares for them; He is their friend; bimā kānū yaʿmalūn: because of what they used to do. It should be remembered that in Paradise there is no worship; there are no obligations in Paradise. In this world we are obliged to act, this being dār al-taklīf; and Paradise is dār al-ḍiyāfah: an abode of hospitality. Allah is the host; and when Allah is host — the good host, the generous host, the open-handed host — nothing will be wanting to you, no luxury, no comfort you might wish for, in shāʾ Allāh. May Allah make us of them.