11. Hud

That is some of the news of the (population of) towns which We relate unto you; of them, some are (still) standing, and some have been (already) reaped (100)We wronged them not, but they wronged themselves. So their gods whom they call upon besides Allah, profited them naught when there came the command of your Lord, nor did they add aught to them but destruction (101)

The Lesson taken from the Destroyed Towns

When Allah mentioned the story of the Prophets and what happened with them and their nations – how He destroyed the disbelievers and saved the believers – He goes on to say,

ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الْقُرَىٰ

(That is some of the news of the (population of ) towns) meaning, news of them

نَقُصُّهُ عَلَيْكَ ۖ مِنْهَا قَائِمٌ

(which We relate unto you; of them, some are (still) standing,) This means still remaining.

وَحَصِيدٌ

(and some have been (already) reaped.) This means totally destroyed.

وَمَا ظَلَمْنَاهُمْ

(We wronged them not,) This means, "When We destroyed them."

وَلَٰكِن ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ

(but they wronged themselves.) their rejecting their Messengers and disbelieving in them.

فَمَا أَغْنَتْ عَنْهُمْ آلِهَتُهُمُ

(So their gods, profited them [not]...) This is referring to their idols that they used to worship and invoke.

مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ

(other than Allah naught) the idols did not benefit them, nor did they save them when Allah's command came for their destruction.

وَمَا زَادُوهُمْ غَيْرَ تَتْبِيبٍ

(nor did they add aught to them but destruction.) Mujahid, Qatadah and others said, "This means loss. Because the reason for their destruction and their ruin was that they followed those false gods. Therefore, they were losers in this life and the Hereafter."

Such is the punishment of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His punishment is painful (and) severe.) It is as though Allah is saying, "Just as We have destroyed these wicked generations who rejected their Messengers, We will do the same to any who are like them (102)

إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ

(Verily, His punishment is painful (and) severe.) In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Musa said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

إِنَّ اللهَ لَيُمْلِي لِلظَّالِمِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَخَذَهُ لَمْ يُفْلِتْهُ

(Verily, Allah gives respite to a wrongdoer until He seizes him and he cannot escape.) Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited,

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَىٰ وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ

(Such is the punishment of your Lord when He seizes the towns while they are doing wrong.)

Indeed in that (there) is a sure lesson for those who fear the torment of the Hereafter. That is a Day whereon mankind will be gathered together, and that is a Day when all will be present (103)And We delay it only for a term (already) fixed (104)On the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His (Allah's) leave. Some among them will be wretched and (others) blessed (105)

The Destruction of the Towns is a Proof of the Establishment of the Hour (Judgement)

Allah, the Exalted, is saying that in the destruction of the disbelievers and the salvation of the believers by us is,

لَآيَةً

(a sure lesson). This means an admonition and lesson concerning the truthfulness of that which We are promised in the Hereafter.

إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ

(Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this world's life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth.)[40:51] Allah, the Exalted, also says,

فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ

(So their Lord revealed to them: "Truly, We shall destroy the wrongdoers.)[14:13] Concerning Allah's statement,

ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمٌ مَّجْمُوعٌ لَّهُ النَّاسُ

(That is a Day whereon mankind will be gathered together,) This means the first of them and the last of them. This is similar to Allah's statement,

وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا

(And We shall gather them all together so as to leave not one of them behind.)[18:47]

وَذَٰلِكَ يَوْمٌ مَّشْهُودٌ

(and that is a Day when all will be present.) This means a day that is great. The angels will be present, the Messengers will gather and all of the creation will be gathered with their families. The humans, Jinns, birds, wild beasts and domesticated riding animals will all be gathered. Then the Most Just, Who does not wrong anyone even an atom's weight, will judge between them and He will increase their good deeds in reward.

Concerning the statement,

وَمَا نُؤَخِّرُهُ إِلَّا لِأَجَلٍ مَّعْدُودٍ

(And We delay it only for a term (already) fixed.) This means for a fixed period of time than cannot be increased or decreased. Then He says,

يَوْمَ يَأْتِ لَا تَكَلَّمُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ

(On the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His (Allah's) leave.) This means that on the Day of Judgement no one will speak except with the permission of Allah. This is similar to another verse, which says,

لَّا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وَقَالَ صَوَابًا

(they will not speak except him whom the Most Gracious (Allah) allows, and he will speak what is right.)[78:38] Allah also says,

وَخَشَعَتِ الْأَصْوَاتُ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ

(And all the voices will be humbled for the Most Gracious (Allah).)[20:108] In the Hadith about the intercession, which is recorded in the Two Sahihs, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

وَلَا يَتَكَلَّمُ يَوْمَئِذٍ إِلَّا الرُّسُلُ، وَدَعْوَى الرُّسُلِ يَوْمَئِذٍ اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْ سَلِّمْ

(No one will speak on that day except the Messengers, and the call of the Messengers will be, "O Allah, save us, save us.") Concerning Allah's statement,

فَمِنْهُمْ شَقِيٌّ وَسَعِيدٌ …

Indeed in that (there) is a sure lesson for those who fear the torment of the Hereafter. That is a Day whereon mankind will be gathered together, and that is a Day when all will be present (103)And We delay it only for a term (already) fixed (104)On the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His (Allah's) leave. Some among them will be wretched and (others) blessed (105)

The Destruction of the Towns is a Proof of the Establishment of the Hour (Judgement)

Allah, the Exalted, is saying that in the destruction of the disbelievers and the salvation of the believers by us is,

لَآيَةً

(a sure lesson). This means an admonition and lesson concerning the truthfulness of that which We are promised in the Hereafter.

إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ

(Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this world's life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth.)[40:51] Allah, the Exalted, also says,

فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ

(So their Lord revealed to them: "Truly, We shall destroy the wrongdoers.)[14:13] Concerning Allah's statement,

ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمٌ مَّجْمُوعٌ لَّهُ النَّاسُ

(That is a Day whereon mankind will be gathered together,) This means the first of them and the last of them. This is similar to Allah's statement,

وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا

(And We shall gather them all together so as to leave not one of them behind.)[18:47]

وَذَٰلِكَ يَوْمٌ مَّشْهُودٌ

(and that is a Day when all will be present.) This means a day that is great. The angels will be present, the Messengers will gather and all of the creation will be gathered with their families. The humans, Jinns, birds, wild beasts and domesticated riding animals will all be gathered. Then the Most Just, Who does not wrong anyone even an atom's weight, will judge between them and He will increase their good deeds in reward.

Concerning the statement,

وَمَا نُؤَخِّرُهُ إِلَّا لِأَجَلٍ مَّعْدُودٍ

(And We delay it only for a term (already) fixed.) This means for a fixed period of time than cannot be increased or decreased. Then He says,

يَوْمَ يَأْتِ لَا تَكَلَّمُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ

(On the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His (Allah's) leave.) This means that on the Day of Judgement no one will speak except with the permission of Allah. This is similar to another verse, which says,

لَّا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وَقَالَ صَوَابًا

(they will not speak except him whom the Most Gracious (Allah) allows, and he will speak what is right.)[78:38] Allah also says,

وَخَشَعَتِ الْأَصْوَاتُ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ

(And all the voices will be humbled for the Most Gracious (Allah).)[20:108] In the Hadith about the intercession, which is recorded in the Two Sahihs, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

وَلَا يَتَكَلَّمُ يَوْمَئِذٍ إِلَّا الرُّسُلُ، وَدَعْوَى الرُّسُلِ يَوْمَئِذٍ اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْ سَلِّمْ

(No one will speak on that day except the Messengers, and the call of the Messengers will be, "O Allah, save us, save us.") Concerning Allah's statement,

فَمِنْهُمْ شَقِيٌّ وَسَعِيدٌ …

Indeed in that (there) is a sure lesson for those who fear the torment of the Hereafter. That is a Day whereon mankind will be gathered together, and that is a Day when all will be present (103)And We delay it only for a term (already) fixed (104)On the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His (Allah's) leave. Some among them will be wretched and (others) blessed (105)

The Destruction of the Towns is a Proof of the Establishment of the Hour (Judgement)

Allah, the Exalted, is saying that in the destruction of the disbelievers and the salvation of the believers by us is,

لَآيَةً

(a sure lesson). This means an admonition and lesson concerning the truthfulness of that which We are promised in the Hereafter.

إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ

(Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this world's life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth.)[40:51] Allah, the Exalted, also says,

فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ

(So their Lord revealed to them: "Truly, We shall destroy the wrongdoers.)[14:13] Concerning Allah's statement,

ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمٌ مَّجْمُوعٌ لَّهُ النَّاسُ

(That is a Day whereon mankind will be gathered together,) This means the first of them and the last of them. This is similar to Allah's statement,

وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا

(And We shall gather them all together so as to leave not one of them behind.)[18:47]

وَذَٰلِكَ يَوْمٌ مَّشْهُودٌ

(and that is a Day when all will be present.) This means a day that is great. The angels will be present, the Messengers will gather and all of the creation will be gathered with their families. The humans, Jinns, birds, wild beasts and domesticated riding animals will all be gathered. Then the Most Just, Who does not wrong anyone even an atom's weight, will judge between them and He will increase their good deeds in reward.

Concerning the statement,

وَمَا نُؤَخِّرُهُ إِلَّا لِأَجَلٍ مَّعْدُودٍ

(And We delay it only for a term (already) fixed.) This means for a fixed period of time than cannot be increased or decreased. Then He says,

يَوْمَ يَأْتِ لَا تَكَلَّمُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ

(On the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His (Allah's) leave.) This means that on the Day of Judgement no one will speak except with the permission of Allah. This is similar to another verse, which says,

لَّا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وَقَالَ صَوَابًا

(they will not speak except him whom the Most Gracious (Allah) allows, and he will speak what is right.)[78:38] Allah also says,

وَخَشَعَتِ الْأَصْوَاتُ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ

(And all the voices will be humbled for the Most Gracious (Allah).)[20:108] In the Hadith about the intercession, which is recorded in the Two Sahihs, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

وَلَا يَتَكَلَّمُ يَوْمَئِذٍ إِلَّا الرُّسُلُ، وَدَعْوَى الرُّسُلِ يَوْمَئِذٍ اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْ سَلِّمْ

(No one will speak on that day except the Messengers, and the call of the Messengers will be, "O Allah, save us, save us.") Concerning Allah's statement,

فَمِنْهُمْ شَقِيٌّ وَسَعِيدٌ …

As for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, in it they will experience Zafir and Shahiq (106)They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills. Verily, your Lord is the doer of whatsoever He intends (or wills (107)

The Condition of the Wretched People and their Destination

Allah, the Exalted, says,

لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ

(in it they will experience Zafir and Shahiq.) Ibn 'Abbas said, "Az-Zafir is a sound in the throat and Ash-Shahiq is a sound in the chest. This means that their exhaling will be Zafir and their inhaling will Shahiq." This will be due to the torment that they will be experiencing. We seek refuge with Allah from such evil.

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ

(They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure,) Imam Abu Ja'far bin Jarir said, "It was from the customs of the Arabs that when they wanted to describe something that would last forever, they would say, 'This is as enduring as the heavens and the earth.' Or, 'It will last as until the night and day separate.' They would say, 'As long as talkers at night continue to chat.' They meant by these statements the condition of eternity. Therefore, Allah addressed them in a manner that they were familiar with among themselves. Thus, He said,

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ

(They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure,) The literal meaning is also intended with; "for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure." This is due to the fact that there will be heavens and earth in the life of the next world, just as Allah said,

يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ الْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ الْأَرْضِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ

(On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens.)[14:48] For this reason, Al-Hasan Al-Basri said concerning the statement of Allah,

مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ

(the heavens and the earth endure.) "Allah is referring to a heaven other than this heaven (which we see now) and an earth other than this earth. That (new) heaven and earth will be eternal." Concerning Allah's statement,

إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ رَبُّكَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ

(except as your Lord wills. Verily, your Lord is the doer of whatsoever He intends.) This is similar to His statement,

النَّارُ مَثْوَاكُمْ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ

(The Fire be your dwelling place, you will dwell therein forever, except as Allah may will. Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing.)[6:128] It has been said that the exception mentioned in this verse refers to the disobedient among the people of Tawhid. It is these whom Allah will bring out of the Fire by the intercession of the interceders. Those who will be allowed to intercede are the angels, the Prophets and the believers. They will intercede even on behalf of those who committed major sins. Then, the generous mercy of Allah will remove from the Fire those who have never done any good, except for saying La ilaha illallah one day of their life. This has been mentioned in numerous authentic …

As for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, in it they will experience Zafir and Shahiq (106)They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills. Verily, your Lord is the doer of whatsoever He intends (or wills (107)

The Condition of the Wretched People and their Destination

Allah, the Exalted, says,

لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ

(in it they will experience Zafir and Shahiq.) Ibn 'Abbas said, "Az-Zafir is a sound in the throat and Ash-Shahiq is a sound in the chest. This means that their exhaling will be Zafir and their inhaling will Shahiq." This will be due to the torment that they will be experiencing. We seek refuge with Allah from such evil.

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ

(They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure,) Imam Abu Ja'far bin Jarir said, "It was from the customs of the Arabs that when they wanted to describe something that would last forever, they would say, 'This is as enduring as the heavens and the earth.' Or, 'It will last as until the night and day separate.' They would say, 'As long as talkers at night continue to chat.' They meant by these statements the condition of eternity. Therefore, Allah addressed them in a manner that they were familiar with among themselves. Thus, He said,

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ

(They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure,) The literal meaning is also intended with; "for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure." This is due to the fact that there will be heavens and earth in the life of the next world, just as Allah said,

يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ الْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ الْأَرْضِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ

(On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens.)[14:48] For this reason, Al-Hasan Al-Basri said concerning the statement of Allah,

مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ

(the heavens and the earth endure.) "Allah is referring to a heaven other than this heaven (which we see now) and an earth other than this earth. That (new) heaven and earth will be eternal." Concerning Allah's statement,

إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ رَبُّكَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ

(except as your Lord wills. Verily, your Lord is the doer of whatsoever He intends.) This is similar to His statement,

النَّارُ مَثْوَاكُمْ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ

(The Fire be your dwelling place, you will dwell therein forever, except as Allah may will. Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing.)[6:128] It has been said that the exception mentioned in this verse refers to the disobedient among the people of Tawhid. It is these whom Allah will bring out of the Fire by the intercession of the interceders. Those who will be allowed to intercede are the angels, the Prophets and the believers. They will intercede even on behalf of those who committed major sins. Then, the generous mercy of Allah will remove from the Fire those who have never done any good, except for saying La ilaha illallah one day of their life. This has been mentioned in numerous authentic …

And those who are blessed, they will be in Paradise, abiding therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills: a gift without an end (108)

The Condition of the Happy People and their Destination

Allah, the Exalted, says,

وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ سُعِدُوا

(And those who are blessed.) These are the followers of the Messengers.

فَفِي الْجَنَّةِ

(they will be in Paradise,) This means that their final abode will be Paradise.

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا

(abiding therein for all the time) This means that they will remain there forever.

مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ رَبُّكَ

(that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills:) The meaning of the exception that is made here is that the condition of eternal pleasure that they will experience therein is something that is not mandatory by itself. Rather, it is something that is dependent upon the will of Allah. Unto Him belongs the favor of immortality upon them. For this reason they are inspired to glorify and praise Him, just as they are inspired to breathe. Ad-Dahhak and Al-Hasan Al-Basri both said, "It is about the right of the disobedient people of Tawhid who were in the Fire and then brought out of it." Then Allah finished this statement by saying,

عَطَاءً غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍ

(a gift without an end.) This means that it will never be cut off. This has been mentioned by Mujahid, Ibn 'Abbas, Abu Al-'Aliyah and others. This has been mentioned so that the suspicious person will not doubt after the mention of the will of Allah. Someone may think that the mention of Allah's will here means that the pleasure of Paradise may end or change. To the contrary, it has been decreed that this pleasure will truly be forever and will never end. Likewise, Allah has clarified here that the eternal torment of the people of the Fire in Hell also is due to His will. He explains that He punishes them due to His justness and wisdom. This is why He says,

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ

(Verily, your Lord is the doer of whatsoever He intends.) Similarly, Allah says,

لَا يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْأَلُونَ

(He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned.)[21:23] Here, Allah soothes the hearts and affirms the intent, by His saying,

عَطَاءً غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍ

(a gift without an end.) It has been recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

يُؤتَى بِالْمَوْتِ فِي صُورَةِ كَبْشٍ أَمْلَحَ فَيُذْبَحُ بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ، ثُمَّ يُقَالُ: يَا أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ! خُلُودٌ فَلَا مَوْتَ، وَيَا أَهْلَ النَّارِ! خُلُودٌ فَلَا مَوْتَ

(Death will be brought in the form of a handsome ram (on the Day of Judgement) and it will be slaughtered between Paradise and the Hellfire. Then, it will be said, "O people of Paradise! Eternity and no death! O people of Hellfire! Eternity and no death!") In the Sahih it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

فَيُقَالُ: يَا أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ! إِنَّ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَعِيشُوا فَلَا تَمُوتُوا أَبَدًا، وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَشِبُّوا فَلَا تَهْرَمُوا أَبَدًا، وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَصِحُّوا فَلَا تَسْقَمُوا أَبَدًا، وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَنْعَمُوا فَلَا تَبْأَسُوا …

So be not in doubt as to what these people (pagans and polytheists) worship. They worship nothing but what their fathers worshipped before (them). And verily, We shall repay them in full their portion without diminution (109)Indeed, We gave the Book to Musa, but differences arose therein, and had it not been for a Word that had gone forth before from your Lord, the case would have been judged between them, and indeed they are in grave doubt concerning it (this Qur'an)(110)And verily, to each of them your Lord will repay their works in full. Surely, He is All-Aware of what they do (111)

Associating Partners with Allah is no doubt Misguidance

Allah, the Exalted, says,

فَلَا تَكُ فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِّمَّا يَعْبُدُ هَٰؤُلَاءِ

(So be not in doubt as to what these people worship.) This refers to the polytheists. Verily, what they are doing is falsehood, ignorance and misguidance. Verily, they are only worshipping what their fathers worshipped before. This means that they have no support for their Shirk. They are only mimicking their fathers in ignorance. Therefore, Allah will give them due recompense for that and He will punish them with a punishment the likes of which none can give besides Him. If they did any good deeds, then Allah will reward them for those good works in this life, before the life of the Hereafter. Concerning Allah's statement,

وَإِنَّا لَمُوَفُّوهُمْ نَصِيبَهُمْ غَيْرَ مَنقُوصٍ

(And verily, We shall repay them in full their portion without diminution.) 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "We will pay them in full their portion of punishment without diminution." Then, Allah mentions that He gave Musa the Book, but the people differed concerning it. Some believed in it and some disbelieved in it. Therefore, you, Muhammad, have an example in the Prophets who came before you. So do not grieve or be upset by their denial of you.

وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ

(and had it not been for a Word [Kalimah] that had gone forth before from your Lord, the case would have been judged between them,) Ibn Jarir said, "If it were not that the punishment had already been delayed until an appointed time, then Allah would have decided the matter between you now. The word Kalimah carries the meaning that Allah will not punish anyone until the proof has been established against him and a Messenger has been sent to him." This is similar to Allah's statement,

وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا

(And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning).)[17:15] For verily, Allah says in another verse,

وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَكَانَ لِزَامًا وَأَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى - فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ

(And had it not been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, and a term determined, (their punishment) must necessarily have come (in this world). So bear patiently what they say.)[20:129-130] Then, Allah informs that He will gather the early generations and the later generations from all of the nations. He will then reward them based upon their deeds. If they did good deeds, their reward will be good, and if they did evil deeds, their reward will be bad. Allah says, …