Delivery of the message and the limit of the Prophet's charge

Sha'rawi holds that the Prophet is a bringer of good news and a warner, charged with delivering the message; guidance is in God's hand, and no one is compelled to believe. ^{1 2}

Good news, he explains, is the report of something that will please when its time comes; warning is the report of something that will grieve, which one may still avert. Good news goes to the believer and warning to the disbeliever, and both presuppose a message that is delivered. ¹

Sha'rawi holds that the Prophet is not responsible for those who throw themselves into the Fire; his task is delivery. He says that had God wished to force belief He would have compelled all creation, and that He wants hearts that love Him, not hearts forced into belief. ^{1 2}

These are Sha'rawi's views alone, from these pages. The exegetes' readings of the statement that the Prophet will not be asked about the people of the Fire, the academic view and other views are not yet entered.