Allah says,

﴿إِنَّا هَدَيْنَـهُ السَّبِيلَ﴾

(Verily, We guided to him the way,) meaning, `We explained it to him, made it clear to him and showed it to him.' This is as Allah says,

﴿وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْنَـهُمْ فَاسْتَحَبُّواْ الْعَمَى عَلَى الْهُدَى﴾

(And as for Thamud, We guided them but they preferred blindness to guidance.) (41:17) Allah also said,

﴿وَهَدَيْنَـهُ النَّجْدَينِ ﴾

(And We guided him to the two ways.) (90:10) meaning, `We explained to him the path of good and the path of evil.' This is the statement of `Ikrimah, `Atiyah, Ibn Zayd and Mujahid from what is well-known from him and the majority. Allah then says,

﴿إِمَّا شَاكِراً وَإِمَّا كَفُوراً﴾

(Whether he be grateful or ungrateful.) This is his decree. Thus, with this he is either wretched or happy. This is like what has been recorded by Muslim in a Hadith from Abu Malik Al-Ash`ari. He said that the Messenger of Allah said,

«كُلُّ النَّاسِ يَغْدُو فَبَائِعٌ نَفْسَهُ، فَمُوبِقُهَا أَوْ مُعْتِقُهَا»

(All of mankind wakes up in the morning the merchant of his own soul. So he either imprisons it or sets it free. )

﴿إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـفِرِينَ سَلَـسِلَ وَأَغْلَـلاً وَسَعِيراً - إِنَّ الاٌّبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِن كَأْسٍ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَـفُوراً - عَيْناً يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ اللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيراً - يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَـفُونَ يَوْماً كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيراً - وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَيَتِيماً وَأَسِيراً - إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لاَ نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَآءً وَلاَ شُكُوراً - إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْماً عَبُوساً قَمْطَرِيراً - فَوَقَـهُمُ اللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَلِكَ الْيَومِ وَلَقَّـهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُوراً - وَجَزَاهُمْ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ جَنَّةً وَحَرِيراً ﴾

(4. Verily, We have prepared for the disbelievers iron chains, iron collars, and Sa`ir.) (5. Verily, the Abrar (righteous believers) shall drink of a cup mixed with Kafur.) (6. A spring wherefrom the servants of Allah will drink, causing it to gush forth abundantly.) (7. They fulfill (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading.) (8. And they give food, inspite of their love for it, to the poor, the orphan and the captive,) (9. (Saying): "We feed you seeking Allah's Face only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you.'') (10. "Verily, We fear from our Lord a Day that is `Abus and Qamtarir.'') (11. So, Allah saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them Nadrah (a light of beauty) and joy.) (12. And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient.)