Never Give Up on Someone’s Heart — Allah Can Still Guide Them | Surah Taha 20:44

Never Assume a Heart Is Beyond Guidance

Sometimes we look at someone—a brother, sister, child, relative, friend or colleague—and think:

“They have gone too far.”

Perhaps you have advised them many times.

Perhaps they continue making the same mistakes.

Perhaps they reject what you say.

Perhaps their behaviour has hurt you so deeply that you wonder whether speaking to them anymore has any purpose.

But the Qur’an teaches us something powerful about how we should look at another person's heart.

Allah sent Prophet Musa عليه السلام and Prophet Harun عليه السلام to Pharaoh, a ruler who had transgressed greatly.

Yet Allah instructed them:

The Qur’anic Verse

فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ

Transliteration:
Fa-qūlā lahu qawlan layyinan la‘allahu yatadhakkaru aw yakhshā.

Meaning:
“And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah].”

— Surah Ṭā-Hā, 20:44

Look at Who Allah Was Speaking About

This instruction becomes especially meaningful when we read it in context.

Immediately before this, Allah commanded Musa and Harun to go to Pharaoh because he had transgressed. Yet they were still instructed to speak gently to him.

Musa and Harun then expressed their fear that Pharaoh might act aggressively against them. Allah reassured them:

“Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.”

— Surah Ṭā-Hā, 20:46

This teaches us an important principle.

If Musa عليه السلام was commanded to approach even Pharaoh with gentle speech, we should think carefully before deciding that our own brother, sister, child, relative, friend or another person is “too far gone” to receive sincere advice.

This does not mean approving wrongdoing.

It means that when we call someone toward what is right, our purpose should be to help them return—not simply to condemn them.

You Do Not Know What Allah May Do With a Heart

A person may appear stubborn today.

Tomorrow may be different.

Someone may reject your advice repeatedly, yet remember one gentle sentence years later.

Someone may appear uninterested in Islam while privately questioning their life.

Someone committing sins may still have a heart that longs to return to Allah.

We cannot see inside another person's heart.

And most importantly, we do not control guidance.

Allah tells His Messenger ﷺ:

“Indeed, you do not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills.”

— Surah Al-Qasas, 28:56

There is a beautiful balance here.

We invite.
We advise.
We demonstrate good character.
We make du‘a.
But Allah gives guidance.

That means we should not become arrogant when someone changes because of something we said.

And we should not automatically fall into despair when someone does not change immediately.

Our responsibility is the sincere effort.

The heart belongs to Allah.

How Should We Invite Someone Back?

Allah gives another clear principle:

“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.”

— Surah An-Nahl, 16:125

Notice the Qur’anic approach:

Wisdom. Good instruction. The best manner.

Not humiliation.

Not unnecessarily exposing someone's sins.

Not constantly reminding them how terrible they are.

Not speaking as though we ourselves are guaranteed righteousness.

Sometimes correcting someone harshly may make that person defend the sin instead of reflecting upon it.

Gentleness does not mean changing the truth.

The truth remains the truth—but the Qur’an teaches us wisdom in how we communicate it.

What If It Is Someone You Love?

This can be much harder.

Maybe it is your son or daughter.

Maybe your brother or sister.

Maybe your spouse.

Maybe an old friend.

You see them moving in a direction that worries you, but every conversation seems to push them further away.

Surah Ṭā-Hā gives us a reason not to surrender to hopelessness.

Try your best to speak at the right moment.

Speak sincerely.

Listen as well as talk.

Do not make every interaction an argument.

Let them see Islam through your patience, honesty, mercy and character.

And after doing what you reasonably can, turn to Allah.

Because ultimately, you cannot enter someone's heart and change it.

Allah can.

Make Du‘a for Their Guidance—and Your Own

When someone is going astray, it can be easy to think only about what is wrong with their heart.

The Qur’an also teaches us to worry about our own.

Allah records the prayer of the believers:

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ

“Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.”

— Surah Āli ‘Imrān, 3:8

What a powerful reminder.

Instead of thinking:

“I am guided and they are lost,”

we can ask:

“Ya Allah, keep my heart firm, forgive my weaknesses, and guide the people I love.”

Guidance is a blessing that every one of us continually needs.

A Simple Approach When Someone Is Going Wrong

When you are worried about someone, remember these principles:

1. Do not immediately give up on them. Their present condition does not tell you what Allah may decree for their future.

2. Speak gently but truthfully. Gentleness should never require changing Allah's guidance.

3. Choose wisdom and the right moment. Not every correction needs to happen immediately.

4. Avoid humiliation. The purpose of sincere advice is reform, not winning an argument.

5. Show Islam through your character. Sometimes patience and good conduct reach places arguments cannot.

6. Keep making du‘a. You can deliver advice, but only Allah grants guidance.

7. Remember your own need for guidance. Ask Allah to keep your heart firm as well.

An Important Balance: Gentleness Does Not Mean Accepting Harm

Surah Ṭā-Hā 20:44 should not be understood to mean that a Muslim must tolerate abuse, danger or continuing serious harm simply because we hope another person will change.

Musa and Harun themselves feared Pharaoh's aggression, and Allah acknowledged the situation and reassured them.

You can hope for someone's guidance while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

You can forgive someone while still being careful.

You can make du‘a for someone while protecting yourself or others from harm.

You can disagree with wrongdoing without hating the possibility that the person may one day repent.

Mercy and wisdom can exist together.

Reflection: What If Allah Changes the Person You Almost Gave Up On?

Think of one person whom you have almost stopped hoping for.

Perhaps you have silently decided:

“They will never change.”

We should be careful with such certainty.

We don't know what Allah has written for another person's future.

Your responsibility is not to control their heart.

Your responsibility is to do what is right: offer sincere advice where appropriate, behave with good character, ask Allah for guidance, and leave the result with Him.

Surah Ṭā-Hā teaches us something remarkable:

Even when confronting severe wrongdoing, the door of sincere invitation was not treated casually as closed.

So when it comes to someone you love, do not underestimate the power of a sincere du‘a.

And never underestimate the power of Allah to guide a heart.

Conclusion

Surah Ṭā-Hā 20:44 is more than a lesson about how Musa and Harun were commanded to speak to Pharaoh.

It teaches us something about da‘wah, relationships, patience and hope.

Speak the truth—but speak it wisely.

Correct—but do not humiliate.

Advise—but do not imagine that you control the result.

Make du‘a—but remember that you need Allah's guidance too.

And when someone seems far away from the truth, remember:

You see where that person is today.
Allah knows where their journey may end.

Do your part with wisdom and mercy.

Then entrust their heart to Allah.

May Allah keep our hearts firm upon His guidance, guide our families and those whom we love, and grant us wisdom and gentleness when calling others toward what is right. Āmīn.

AUTHENTIC REFERENCES

Primary verse: Surah Ṭā-Hā 20:44 — Musa and Harun were commanded to address Pharaoh with gentle speech.

Context: Surah Ṭā-Hā 20:43–47 — Allah sends Musa and Harun to Pharaoh, commands gentleness, and reassures them when they express fear.

Guidance belongs to Allah: Surah Al-Qasas 28:56.

Invite with wisdom: Surah An-Nahl 16:125.

Du‘a for steadfast hearts: Surah Āli ‘Imrān 3:8.