Surah Yunus Notes (42-52)

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

(42) And among them are some who listen to you, but can you make the deaf to hear, even though they apprehend not?

(And among them are some who listen to you,) They listen to your beautiful talk and to the Glorious Qur'an. They listen to your truthful, eloquent and authentic Hadiths that are useful to the hearts, the bodies and their faith. This is indeed a great benefit and is sufficient. But guiding the people to the truth is not up to you or to them. You cannot make the deaf hear. Therefore you cannot guide these people except if Allah wishes.

(43) And among them are some who look at you, but can you guide the blind, even though they see not?

(And among them are some who look at you, ) They look at you and at what Allah has given you in terms of dignity, noble personality and great conduct. There is in all of this clear evidence of your prophethood to those who have reason and insight. Other people also look but they do not receive guidance like them. Believers look at you with respect and dignity while disbelievers regard you with contempt.

(And when they see you, they treat you only in mockery.)﴿25:41﴾ Then Allah announces that He is never unjust with anyone. He guides whomever He wills and opens the eyes of the blind, makes the deaf hear and removes neglect from the hearts. At the same time He lets others go astray, moving away from faith. He does all of that yet He is always Just, for He is the Ruler and has full authority over His kingdom. He does whatever He wills without any restrictions. No one can question Him as to what He does while he will question everyone else. He is Omniscient, All-Wise, and All-Just.

(44) Truly! Allah wrongs not mankind in aught; but mankind wrong themselves.

(Truly, Allah wrongs not mankind in aught; but mankind wrong themselves.)

In the Hadith narrated by Abu Dharr, he states that the Prophet related that His Lord, Exalted and High is He, said: (O My servant! I have prohibited oppression for Myself and made it prohibited for you, so do not oppress one another...) (O My servants! It is but your deeds that I reckon for you and then recompense you for. So let him who finds good (in the Hereafter) praise Allah. And let him who finds other than that blame no one but himself.) The complete version was recorded by Muslim.

The Feeling of Brevity toward the Worldly Life at the Gathering on the Day of Resurrection

(45) And on the Day when He shall gather (resurrect) them together, (it will be) as if they had not stayed (in the life of this world and graves, etc.) but an hour of a day. They will recognise each other. Ruined indeed will be those who denied the meeting with Allah, and were not guided.

To remind people of the establishment of the Hour and their resurrection from their graves to the gathering for the Day of Judgment, Allah says:

(And on the Day when He shall gather (resurrect) them.) Similarly Allah said:

(On the Day when they will see that (torment) with which they are promised (threatened, it will be) as if they had not stayed more than an hour in a single day.)﴿46:35﴾ Allah also said:

(The Day they see it, (it will be) as if they had not tarried (in this world) except an afternoon or a morning.) ﴿79:46﴾

(He (Allah) will say: "What number of years did you stay on earth'' They will say: "We stayed a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep account.'' He (Allah) will say: "You stayed not but a little, if you had only known!'') ﴿23:112-124﴾ Allah then said:

(They will recognize each other) The children will know their parents and relatives will recognize one another. They will know them just like they used to know them during the life in this world. However, on that Day everyone will be busy with himself. 

(Ruined indeed will be those who denied the meeting with Allah and were not guided.) This is similar to the Ayah:

(Woe that Day to the deniers.)﴿77:15﴾ Woe to them because they will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. That is indeed the great loss. There is no loss greater than the loss of one who will be taken away from his dear ones on the Day of Grief and Regret.

The Criminals will certainly be avenged -- whether in This World or in the Hereafter

(46) Whether We show you (in your lifetime, O Muhammad SAW) some of what We promise them (the torment), - or We cause you to die, - still unto Us is their return, and moreover Allah is Witness over what they used to do.

(Whether We show you some of what We promise them (the torment),) We shall avenge them in your lifetime so your eye will be delighted.

(Or We cause you to die -- still unto Us is their return,) Allah will then be the Witness watching over their actions for you. Allah then said,

(47) And for every Ummah (a community or a nation), there is a Messenger; when their Messenger comes, the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged.

(And for every Ummah there is a Messenger; when their Messenger comes, the matter will be judged between them with justice,) is similar to the Ayah:

(And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord (Allah),) ﴿39:69﴾ 

So every nation will be presented before Allah in the presence of its Messenger and the Book of its deeds. All good and evil deeds will be witnessed upon them. Their guardian angels will be witnesses too. The nations will be brought forth, one by one. Our noble Ummah, while it is the last of the nations, is the first one on the Day of Resurrection to be questioned and judged.

This was stated by Allah's Messenger in a Hadith recorded by both Al-Bukhari and Muslim. Allah's Messenger said:

(We are the last, the first on the Day of Resurrection. We will be judged before the rest of the creatures.) His Ummah attains the honor of precedence only by the honor of its Messenger , may Allah's peace and blesings be upon him forever, until the Day of Judgement.

The Deniers of the Day of Resurrection wish to hasten its Coming and their Response

(48) And they say: "When will be this promise (the torment or the Day of Resurrection), - if you speak the truth?"

Allah told us about the idolators who reject faith through their demand that the punishment be hastened, inquiring about the time of punishment. The response to such question is not inherently beneficial, yet they inquired anyway. Allah said:

(Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, while those who believe are fearful of it, and know that it is the very truth.) ﴿42:18﴾ They know that it is the truth for it is definitely going to happen. It is going to take place even if they have no idea when it will occur. 

(49) Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I have no power over any harm or profit to myself except what Allah may will. For every Ummah (a community or a nation), there is a term appointed; when their term is reached, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment)." (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi).

 This is why Allah instructed His Messenger to answer them saying: 

(Say: "I have no power over any harm or profit to myself.'') ﴾ I will not say except what He has taught me. I also have no authority over anything that Allah has not shown to me. I am Allah's servant and His Messenger to you. I was told that the Hour is going to come, but He has not told me when it will occur.

(For every Ummah, there is a term appointed;) meaning that for every generation or community there is a set term appointed for them.  

(50) Say: "Tell me, - if His torment should come to you by night or by day, - which portion thereof would the Mujrimun (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, criminals) hasten on ?"

Say: "Tell me, if His torment should come to you by night or by day, which portion thereof would the criminals hasten on Is it then that when it has actually befallen, you will believe in it What! Now (you believe) And you used (aforetime) to hasten it on!'') When the punishment befalls them, they will say:

("Our Lord! We have now seen and heard.'') (32:12)

(51) Is it then, that when it has actually befallen, that you will believe in it? What! Now (you believe)? And you used (aforetime) to hasten it on!"

(52) Then it will be said to them who wronged themselves: "Taste you the everlasting torment! Are you recompensed (aught) save what you used to earn?"

(Then it will be said to them who wronged themselves: "Taste you the everlasting torment!'') This will be said to them on the Day of Resurrection, blaming and rebuking them.