A Comparative Study of the Occasion of the Revelation of Verse 56 of Chapter al-Qasas (Surely you cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He pleases, and He knows best the followers of the right way.)

The occasion in which verse 56 of chapter al-Qasas was revealed is one of contested issues because different exegetes have different opinions about it. Allah¡ the Exalted¡ says in this verse: “Surely you cannot guide whom you love¡ but Allah guides whom He pleases¡ and He knows best the followers of the right way.” Most of the Sunni exegetes relying on their traditions¡ maintain that this verse was revealed about Abu Talib since he¡ as they say¡ did not embrace Islam nor did he recite the Shahadatayn (Two Testimonies) in spite of the Prophet (S) urging him to do so. So he died a disbeliever. Shiite exegetes¡ however¡ relying on traditions narrated from the Infallible Imams (AS) as well as on historical evidence¡ prove that Abu Talib did embrace Islam. When it comes to the above verse¡ they believe that the Prophet (S) loved his clansmen especially his close relatives to submit to the will of Allah and accept Islam. In this study¡ the hypothesis that the Prophet (S) made tremendous efforts to convince Abu Lahab to embrace Islam but he died a disbeliever has been investigated and discussed. The fabricators of hadiths¡ who were affiliated to the Amavid dynasty¡ have tampered with the occasion of the revelation of this verse mentioning Abu Talib instead of Abu Lahab to diminish the virtue and merits of the Commander of the Faithful¡ Ali¡ peace be upon him.