Say 'there is no god but Allah', and I will testify for you by it on the Day of Judgment

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) asked his uncle Abu Tālib, while in the throes of death, to utter the testimony of faith, so that he could intercede for him with it on the Day of Judgment and testify that he was a Muslim. But he refused to utter it, fearing that the Quraysh would revile him and say that he embraced Islam out of fear of death and weakness! He said to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him): Were it not for that, I would have made you joyful by saying the testimony, fulfilling your wish and making you pleased. So, Allah Almighty revealed a verse indicating that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) cannot guide people in the sense of inspiring them to accept Islam, but it is Allah Almighty alone Who grants such guidance to whomever He wills; and that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) guided them by clarifying, showing, and calling them to the straight path.

Benefits

• The truth should not be renounced out of fear of what people say.
• The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) can only guide people by leading and showing them the right way, not by inspiring them to accept guidance.
• It is permissible to visit a sick disbeliever to invite him to Islam.
• The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was keen on calling people to Allah Almighty in all circumstances.

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