The Shaykh’s clarification of the distinction between the sending of a Messenger to a people and the reaching of the Messenger’s call to specific individuals.

The Shaykh : Now, to clarify the distinction between the sending of a Messenger to a people and the reaching of the Messenger’s call to a people, let us assume two groups, each consisting of one hundred people. A Messenger was sent personally to one of these groups. Among them were non-adults and adults who were accountable but had been afflicted with insanity. Has the argument been established against the hundred? The question is: Has the argument been established against the hundred? The answer is self-evident: Yes, the argument has been established, except for those who are excused, such as non-adult children and the insane. It is possible to include other people in this category.
We move to the second example. The second group consists of one hundred people, all adult men who are accountable. However, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not come to them personally, but the call of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) reached them. Has the argument been established against them? The answer is: Yes. Thus, we know from the verse that the intended meaning of its wording is not the person of the Messenger, but rather the call of the Messenger.
In that case, we say: If we assume a man who apostatized from his religion, and the call did not reach him for one reason or another, is he judged as an apostate and treated like the first one, to whom the call reached and who intended apostasy? The answer is self-evident: No. Why? Because the call did not reach him.