And that day was a day of misfortune for them because punishment was sent upon them during it: it would not abate that day—that is, it would not leave them as worldly afflictions come and go. Rather, this misfortune would remain upon these deniers of the messengers.
“Unrelenting” describes the misfortune, not the day. Whoever supposes that it describes the day, that it was a Wednesday at the end of a month, and that this day is forever inauspicious has erred and misunderstood the Quran. The day in question is characterized by what occurs during it. How many blessings Allah bestows upon His allies on that day, and how many afflictions and punishments He visits upon His enemies, just as happens on other days! Thus, the good or ill fortune of days depends entirely on deeds: deeds bring good fortune through their conformity to what pleases the Lord, and misfortune only through their opposition to what the messengers brought.
The same day may bring good fortune to one group and misfortune to another, just as the day of Badr brought good fortune to the believers and misfortune to the disbelievers.
Allah Most High says:
41:33 “And who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah, does righteous deeds, and says, ‘Indeed, I am one of the Muslims’?”
Allah Most High also says:
82:108 “Say, ‘This is my way: I call to Allah with clear insight—I and those who follow me.’”
Whether the meaning is, “I and those who follow me call to Allah with clear insight,” or the pause comes after “I call to Allah,” followed by “I and those who follow me have clear insight,” the two interpretations necessarily imply one another. For Allah, glorified be He, commanded him to declare that his way is to call to Allah. Whoever calls to Allah Most High follows the way of His Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), possesses clear insight, and is one of his followers. Whoever calls to anything else neither follows his way, nor possesses clear insight, nor belongs to his followers. Calling to Allah Most High is therefore the task of the messengers and their followers. They are the messengers’ successors among their respective nations, and the people follow their lead. Allah, glorified be He, commanded His Messenger to convey what had been revealed to him from his Lord and guaranteed that He would preserve him and protect him from people.
Those of his community who convey his message receive Allah’s preservation and protection in proportion to their upholding His religion and conveying it. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) commanded that his message be conveyed, even if only a single verse, and prayed for whoever conveyed from him even a single hadith.