Who are the Unchosen Ones?
Those who responded to the guidance call of the Prophet (PBUH) and wished for the Essence of their Lord (sahabah-the Companions).
Here, two groups of people are mentioned:
Al-Kahf-28: And keep your soul patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and evening seeking His Essence. Let not your eyes pass from them desiring the adornments of the life of the world. Do not obey those whose heart We have made heedless of Our praise (Dhikr) and who follows their low desires and are excessive in His command.
In Surah Al-Kahf, Allah Almighty mentions the Companions who, fourteen centuries ago, followed the most excellent example, our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).”
“The hidayah (guidance) and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling upon different types of land. Some of the land is pure; it absorbs the water and brings forth much herbage and grass. Some of it is barren but holds the water on its surface. People benefit from this water: they drink, give drink to their animals, and irrigate their crops. Another type of land is flat and smooth; rain falls on it, but it neither holds water nor produces vegetation. Such is the example of the one who comprehends the religion of Allah, benefits from the hidayah (guidance) and knowledge with which Allah has sent me, learns and teaches, and the one who, when he hears it, arrogantly turns away without raising his head and does not accept the hidayah (guidance) with which I have been sent.” (S: Sahih al Bukhari, Book of Knowledge, Hadith 20)
It is also stated in another noble hadith:
“Whoever prefers this world over the Hereafter will be subjected to three things: his sorrow will never diminish, he will never see comfort in wealth but will always suffer the hardship of poverty, and he will be seized by an insatiable greed that keeps him so occupied that he never finds any free time.” (S: R. Nasihi)
The Sultan of the Prophets (PBUH) says:
As stated in the Noble Hadith: “When the son of Adam perishes or grows old, yet two things remain in him: greed and ambition.” (Tirmidhi 9/206; Ibn Majah 4234; Ahmad 1/115) — these people spend their lives as slaves to their desires (hawā). For this reason, their salvation is not possible.
We see that those who follow their souls (nafs) find neither happiness in this world nor attain bliss in the Hereafter.
"If the believer were to know the extent of Allah’s punishment, no one would hope to enter Paradise, and if the non-believer were to know the extent of Allah’s mercy, no one would despair of entering Paradise." (S: Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2755; Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications, Hadith 3536)
“If the disbeliever truly understood the extent of Allah’s mercy, he would never despair of entering His Paradise.” (S: Sahih Muslim, Book of Repentance, Hadith 23)
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says the following about these people:
Az-Zumar-53 Say: “O, My servants, who have placed the burden of unbridledness on their souls! Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Surely, Allah forgives (replaces with good) all of the sins. Surely, He is Oft-Forgiving (Replacing sins with good), Most Merciful (the One that sends the light of Mercy)!”
Yet, Allah Almighty commands us not to despair of His mercy.
Al-Ankabut-23 And those who deny the Verses of Allah and reaching Him (having their spirits reach Allah while they are alive), they have despaired of My Mercy. It is they for whom there is a painful torment.
These are the people who have despaired of Allah’s mercy.
Yunus-8: As for those, their abode is the Fire for what they have earned (negative degrees).
Yunus-7: Surely they do not wish to reach Us (they do not wish their spirits to reach Us before death). They are pleased with the life of the world and are satisfied with it, and those are the ones who are heedless of Our Verses.
Those who do not know the truths of Allah and cannot make correct evaluations remain stuck in the first two steps of Islam, and their destination is Hell.
People in this group are never chosen by Allah Almighty. According to the Holy Qur'an, they are people who are in deep darkness (misguidance). And their salvation is not possible in any ways. Allah Almighty has sealed the hearts of these people who prevent the hidayah (guidance) of others.
“Whoever is asked about knowledge and conceals it will be bridled on the Day of Resurrection with a bridle of fire.” (S: Abi Dawud, Book of Knowledge, Hadith 3658; Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi, Book of Knowledge, Hadith 2651)
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also says the following about those who conceal the truths of Allah:
An-Nisa-169: but only (delivers) to the path of Hell, to abide in it forever, and this is easy to Allah.
An-Nisa-168: Surely those who disbelieve and do wrong (who hinder others from finding their religious guides and cause them to go astray from Allah’s Way) Allah will not forgive them nor guide them to the path (Sırat Al-Mustaqîm that delivers to Allah).
An-Nisa-167: Surely those who deny and hinder (cause others astray) from the Way of Allah, they indeed have strayed off into a remote Darkness (as they have not reached their own religious guides).
Those whom Allah does not choose make up a very small portion of people in every era. Their rejection stems from the temptation and mischief-making they carry in their hearts. They constantly spread mischief on the earth and always strive to harm others. More importantly, not only do they themselves refuse to wish to reach Allah, they also prevent others from wishing to reach Allah.
Those who, despite receiving the message of hidayah (guidance), did not wish for it. They are the ones who follow the desires (hawā) of their souls.
So, whoever responds to the invitation of hidayah (guidance) of the Rasul (Messenger) and wishes to reach Allah, they are the ones who will attain salvation.