10-41 And if they reject thee, say: My work is for me and your work for you. You are clear of what I do and I am clear of what you do.a
وَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل لِّى عَمَلِى وَلَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ ۖ أَنتُم بَرِيٓـُٔونَ مِمَّآ أَعْمَلُ وَأَنَا۠ بَرِىٓءٌۭ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ (۴۱)
10-41a: At the end of the last section, it is mentioned that the disbelievers are quick to discredit the Quran and its final sequel will definitely play out. This section is a narration of the chastisement that befalls those who belie the Quran. As a prelude to this discussion, it is stated that every person must bear the burden of their actions. He who opposes the truth and desires extirpating it will definitely be punished.
10-42 And of them are some who listen to thee. But canst thou make the deaf to hear, though they will not understand?
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُسْمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ (۴۲)
10-43 And of them are some who look at thee. But canst thou show the way to the blind, though they will not see?
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنظُرُ إِلَيْكَ ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تَهْدِى ٱلْعُمْىَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ (۴۳)
10-44 Surely Allah wrongs not men in aught, but men wrong themselves.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ ٱلنَّاسَ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ (۴۴)
10-44a: After mentioning that every man is responsible for his actions, it is stated that some people hear the message but do not apply their mind to it and hence they do not benefit from the message. Some appear to be seeing but have no insight, so it is the same whether they see or not. They thus wrong themselves and Allah’s punishment is therefore not unjust.
10-45 And on the day when He will gather them, as though they had not stayed but an hour of the day, they will recognize one another. They perish indeed who reject the meeting with Allah, and they follow not the right way.a
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ كَأَن لَّمْ يَلْبَثُوٓا۟ إِلَّا سَاعَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّهَارِ يَتَعَارَفُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَدْ خَسِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِلِقَآءِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُهْتَدِينَ (۴۵)
10-45a: Ease and difficulty compared: The time spent on this earth will appear to be only a small part of a day. Regardless of the time that one spends in ease and luxury, it appears very short when one gets caught up in difficulties. The meaning of they will recognize one another is the same, that is the period they were separated will appear short.
10-46 And if We show thee something of that which We promise them, or cause thee to die, yet to Us is their return, and Allah is Witness to what they do.
وَإِمَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُهُمْ ثُمَّ ٱللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَىٰ مَا يَفْعَلُونَ (۴۶)
10-46a: Chastisement will keep befalling the opponents of the Holy Prophet till the Day of Judgment: The meaning is that it is not necessary that all the promised chastisements will be inflicted on the opponents during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet. The fact is that the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad will last till the Day of Judgment and the Quran promises punishment for all those who oppose and belittle the Quran. So, it is not possible for all the chastisements to come during the Prophet’s lifetime. Historical testimony exists that many of the Prophet’s opponents were punished during his life. The statement that Allah is Witness to what they do means that in every period Allah sees those who oppose the Prophet and He punishes them as He considers appropriate.
10-47 And for every nation there is a messenger. So when their messenger comes, the matter is decided between them with justice, and they are not wronged.
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ رَّسُولٌۭ ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ (۴۷)
10-47a: Every nation has a messenger: This is that magnificent truth that no religion before Islam has taught. As the Holy Prophet was sent for the entire world, the whole world became one nation under the same arbitrator. The coming of a messenger now to any people is the coming of the Holy Prophet’s teachings. Any nation to whom the teaching of the Holy Prophet reaches comes within the ambit of those for whom the truth of this verse is fulfilled. By بَيْنَهُم is meant the Holy Prophet on the one hand and his opponents on the other and the matter will be decided between them with justice, that is the opponents will be punished. The question in the next verse refers to this where the disbelievers ask when will the punishment come. The demand of the disbelievers in the Quran: مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ (When will this promise be fulfilled) مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا الفتح is generally about the worldly punishment.
10-48 And they say: When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful?
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ (۴۸)
10-49 Say: I control not for myself any harm, or any benefit, except what Allah pleases. Every nation has a term. When their term comes, they cannot put it off an hour, nor can they bring it before (its time).a
قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى ضَرًّۭا وَلَا نَفْعًا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۚ إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةًۭ ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ (۴۹)
10-49a: When the question is asked when will the punishment come, the Holly Prophet is directed to say that he has no authority to punish them and he controls neither benefit nor harm even for himself. Statements of this type that occur repeatedly in the Quran not only stop the Prophet’s followers from hyperbole but also conveys to them not to get people to accept the truth by tempting them with benefit or harm. They should invite people to the truth for the sake of the truth.
The lesson imparted in the statement every nation has a fixed term is that just as humans are born and die, similarly nations take birth and die and for every nation there is a fixed term, the duration of which is known only to God. When a nation’s time expires, it is rolled up and confined to the pages of history. Therefore, nations should not take pride in their power just as humans should not take pride in their power.
10-50 Say: Do you see if His chastisement overtakes you by night or by day? What then is there of it that the guilty would hasten?a
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَتَىٰكُمْ عَذَابُهُۥ بَيَـٰتًا أَوْ نَهَارًۭا مَّاذَا يَسْتَعْجِلُ مِنْهُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ (۵۰)
10-50a: Debauchery and heedlessness invites punishment: Heedless people spend their nights in pursuing carnal pleasures and forget God. During the day, they are so busy with their employment and business that they are far removed from God. This is what is indicated in the statement that chastisement may overtake them by night or day. It is stated at the end of the verse that when they are going to be punished anyways what is the need to hasten the punishment.
10-51 And when it comes to pass, will you believe in it? What! now! and you hastened it on.
أَثُمَّ إِذَا مَا وَقَعَ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦٓ ۚ ءَآلْـَٔـٰنَ وَقَدْ كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ (۵۱)
10-52 Then will it be said to those who were unjust: Taste abiding chastisement; you are not requited except for what you earned.
ثُمَّ قِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْخُلْدِ هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ (۵۲)
10-53 And they ask thee: Is that true? Say: Aye, by my Lord! it is surely the Truth, and you will not escape.a
وَيَسْتَنۢبِـُٔونَكَ أَحَقٌّ هُوَ ۖ قُلْ إِى وَرَبِّىٓ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقٌّۭ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ (۵۳)
10-53a: إِى – It is a word of response and attestation. It means نَعَم and translates as yes, certainly, surely. It is commonly used with an oath. The question here is about the chastisement whether it will actually come. When a nation is drunk with power, it never considers that there is a time of reckoning for it when its power will be destroyed. The repeated question on this point manifests this reality.
Bayan-ul-Quran 