Surah Al-An'am, Verse 125: My understanding of the meaning and grammar.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings, I read the verse: **So whoever Allah wants to guide, He expands his chest for Islam; and whoever He wants to misguide, He makes his chest tight and constricted as if he were climbing into the sky. Thus Allah places the filth upon those who do not believe.** The proposed translation says, “Whoever Allah wishes to guide, He opens his heart to Islam...,” while I initially read the verse thinking that “whoever He wants” could be understood as “whoever wants to be guided by Allah,” or even as if the subject here were the same person in the phrase “whoever desires to be guided,” meaning: whoever wanted guidance for their personal goal. First simple observation: the Arabic phrasing in the Quran here uses the verb "يُرِدِ اللَّهُ" with a third-person pronoun, which in terms of grammar refers back to the active will of God, not to the desire of the responsible individual himself. So most interpreters and readers understand it to mean that guidance is a matter of God’s will, not that simply wanting it guarantees guidance. This aligns with many other verses that talk about God’s guidance or misguidance based on His will. Secondly, in some rhetorical contexts, there can be a complementary reading or a reconciliatory interpretation that says: if a person is sincere in their request, effort, and plea to God, then God facilitates their guidance; meaning that "the servant's will" is not annulled but is linked with God's will and a legitimate cause for it. Some interpreters mention that the reasons for the acceptance of prayer and sincere intention can be a reason for God to open their chest, but that doesn't mean the text changes the subject from God to the servant grammatically – instead, it confirms God’s role in delegation and empowerment. Simple summary and simplified wording: - From a grammatical and linguistic perspective, the phrase "يُرِدِ اللَّهُ" points to the will of God, so the common translation “Whoever Allah wishes to guide...” is accurate. - From the standpoint of practical and spiritual meaning, it can encompass an interpretative aspect that considers the servant's effort, sincerity, and request, so that God's will is linked to causes and acceptance from the heart. If you'd like, I can add examples from interpretations (like Ibn Kathir or al-Tabari) or similar verses in the Quran that explain this meaning more, I can bring them if God willing. May God reward you well.