لِمَن شاءَ مِنكُم أَن يَستَقيمَ

For those of you who wish to be steadfast.

EXPOSITION

Verses 27 and 28 state that the revealed guidance is an open general grace, accessible to all;^{‎[1]Tabrisi, 10/678.} however, the benefit derived from it is dependent on the will, resolve, and interest of the recipients of the revelations. This feature is common to all the graces, blessings, and bounties of God; they are general in terms of accessibility but specific in terms of benefit gained and enjoyed. Moreover, it demands steadfastness.^{‎[2]Amthal, 19/469.}

This verse also hints at human free will while the previous several verses display the manner in which God has decided to operate with His human creatures. He takes it upon Himself to guide His human creatures, which is by means of revealed books, divinely appointed messengers, by means of the grace of the intellect, and an innate instinct which pulls towards divinity, yet He leaves it to the human being himself to pay heed to these various reminders or to ignore them and consign them to the dark and hazy corners of his life and conscience.

It is reported that when this verse was revealed, Abū Jahl retorted: ‘Indeed the matter has been devolved upon us, we shall be steadfast if we wish and we shall not if we wish otherwise,’ whereupon the following verse descended.^{‎[3]Alusi, 10/354 and 30/26; Tabari, 30/53. Suyuti, 6/322, reports a similar tradition attributed to Abū Hurayrah. The difference is that in the report of Abū Hurayrah, instead of Abū Jahl, it is the polytheists who are identified as making this statement, and when the next verse was revealed it says that the Prophet was delighted.}

[1] Tabrisi, 10/678.
[2] Amthal, 19/469.
[3] Alusi, 10/354 and 30/26; Tabari, 30/53. Suyuti, 6/322, reports a similar tradition attributed to Abū Hurayrah. The difference is that in the report of Abū Hurayrah, instead of Abū Jahl, it is the polytheists who are identified as making this statement, and when the next verse was revealed it says that the Prophet was delighted.