Thou canst but admonish(3951) such a one as follows the Message and fears the (Lord) Most Gracious, unseen:(3952) give such a one, therefore,(3953) good tidings, of Forgiveness and a Reward most generous.
3951 Cf. 35:18. As far as those are concerned, who have obstinately delivered themselves to evil, the preaching of Allah's Message has no appeal, because their own will shuts them out. But there are others who are anxious to hear Allah's Message and receive Allah's grace. They love Allah and fear to offend against His Holy Law, and their fear is not merely superficial but deep-seated: for while they do not yet see Allah, nor do other people see them, they have the same sense of Allah's presence as if they saw Him, and their religion is not a mere pose, 'to be seen of men'. 3952 See n. 3902 to 35:18. Unseen is here adverbial: their reverence for Allah is unaffected by the fact that they do not see him, or that other people do not observe them, because their attitude arises out of a genuine love for Allah. 3953 To such persons the Messenger of Allah comes as a gospel or good news: because it shows them the way of forgiveness for anything wrong in their past, and it gives them the promise of a full reward in the future-generous beyond any deserts of their own, but arising out of Allah's unbounded Bounty.