The Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, would strive and exert himself, pouring his soul into the supplication for his people. They would not respond to his supplication except by persisting in disbelief and continuing in misguidance. So he was denied with the words: 'Are you to make the deaf hear?' This was a denial expressing astonishment that he would be the one capable of guiding them. He meant that no one could guide them except Him alone, in a manner of compulsion and force, as His saying, 'Indeed, Allah makes hear whom He wills, and you are not one to make hear those in the graves.'