وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ لَآمَنَ مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا أَفَأَنْتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿۹۹﴾ وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَيَجْعَلُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿۱۰۰﴾ قُلِ انْظُرُوا مَاذَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُغْنِي الْآيَاتُ وَالنُّذُرُ عَنْ قَوْمٍ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿۱۰۱﴾

﴾99﴿ Wa law shaaa'a Rabbuka la aamana man fil ardi kulluhum jamee'aa; afa anta tukrihun naasa hattaa yakoonoo mu'mineen
﴾100﴿ Wa maa kaana linafsin an tu'mina illaa bi iznil laah; wa yaj'alur rijsa 'alal lazeena laa ya'qiloon
﴾101﴿ Qulin zuroo maazaa fissamaawaati wal ard; wa maa tughnil Aayaatu wannuzuru 'an qawmil laa yu'minoon

﴾99﴿ And if desired, your Lord would certainly make everyone on Earth believe, all of them together. Can you force people to become believers
﴾100﴿ Say: See how the reasons for monotheism exist in the heavens and the earth, yet proofs and warnings are of no benefit to a people who do not believe
﴾101﴿ See how the signs of monotheism are in the heavens and the earth, yet warnings and signs do not benefit a people who do not believe

[99] This verse is a form of consolation for the Prophet, indicating that the faith of these people is dependent on the will of Allah, the Exalted, and not upon the Prophet’s own will or power.
“Shā’a Rabbuka” means that their belief is by the will of Allah, the Exalted.
The intended meaning of will here is the will of grace and mercy.
However, Allah, the Exalted, has not willed this for everyone—rather, He has decreed faith for specific individuals in His divine decree.
So only those people come to faith for whom it is written.
As for the Mu‘tazilah, they interpret this divine will as a compelled will, meaning that compulsion is not from Allah, but each person chooses by their own will.
They do not accept divine predestination (taqdeer).
[100] This verse is a detailed explanation of the previous one, meaning that Allah, the Exalted, has not willed faith for everyone.
Rather, some believe by the permission of Allah, and others are left in the filth of polytheism.
This verse also serves as a comfort to the Prophet, affirming that people’s faith comes only through the divine enablement (tawfiq) of Allah, the Exalted.
Those who do not recognize the truth are left in the impurity of shirk and disbelief.
Here, the meaning of “idhn” (permission) is divine decree and enablement.
And the meaning of “rijs” is either polytheism or punishment.
[101] This verse is an invitation to the deniers to reflect upon rational proofs, and it is also a warning regarding their failure to believe due to stubbornness.
The verse serves as evidence that the human being is not entirely compelled (i.e., not under absolute compulsion), but rather is responsible and accountable for using reason and reflection to attain guidance.
“Lā yu’minūn” (they do not believe) refers to those who reject out of hostility and obstinance.