Most High, has established it as His way not to seize anyone except after sin has occurred. A person becomes sinful only when he is commanded and does not comply, or forbidden and does not desist; and this is after the messengers have given warning.

“For all are ranks according to what they have done”: that is, in reward and punishment, according to the measure of their deeds in this world. Thus, among them are those whose punishment is more severe, and among them are those whose reward is more abundant. “And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.” Ibn ‘Amir recited “what you do,” addressing them directly, while the rest recited “what they do.”

“And your Lord is the Self-Sufficient,” independent of His creation, “the Possessor of mercy.” Ibn ‘Abbas said: “The Possessor of mercy” (1) toward His allies and those who obey Him. Al-Kalbi said: He is merciful toward His creation and pardons them. “If He wills, He can do away with you”: that is, destroy you; this is a warning to the people of Mecca. “And replace you”: that is, create (2) and bring into being “after you whomever He wills”—a people other than you, better and more obedient—“just as He brought you forth from the descendants of another people”: that is, from their forefathers of former generations, one generation after another.

“Indeed, what you are promised”—namely, the coming of the Hour and the gathering—“will surely come,” that is, it will certainly take place; “and you cannot escape it,” meaning, you cannot evade it. That is, death will reach you wherever you may be.

“Say, ‘O my people, act according to your position; indeed, I too am acting. You will soon know who will have the final abode. Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed.’” (135) “They set aside for Allah a share of the crops and livestock He has created, and they say, according to their claim, ‘This is for Allah, and this is for our alleged partners.’ But what was assigned to their alleged partners does not reach Allah, while what was assigned to Allah reaches their alleged partners. Evil is their judgment.” (136) “Thus their alleged partners made the killing of their children seem fair to many of the polytheists, in order to destroy them and confuse them concerning their religion. Had Allah willed, they would not have done so; so leave them and what they fabricate.” (137)

“Say,” O Muhammad, “O my people, act according to your position.” Abu Bakr, narrating from ‘Asim, recited “your positions” in the plural wherever it occurs; that is, according to your power and ability. ‘Ata’ said: according to the conditions in which you find yourselves. Al-Zajjaj said: Act according to what you are doing. When a man is commanded to remain in a particular state, one says to him, “Remain in your position, so-and-so,” meaning: remain firm in the state you are