(27–30) “When they see it drawing near, the faces of those who disbelieved will become distressed, and it will be said, ‘This is what you used to deny.’ * Say, ‘Consider this: whether Allah causes me and those with me to perish or has mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?’ * Say, ‘He is the Most Merciful. We believe in Him, and in Him we put our trust. You will soon know who is in manifest error.’ * Say, ‘Consider this: if your water were to sink deep into the earth, who could bring you flowing water?’”
This means that the disbelievers’ denial and their self-deception concerning it belonged to the time when they were in this world. But when the Day of Recompense comes and they see the punishment close at hand, it will distress and horrify them and throw their hearts into turmoil, causing their faces to change. They will be rebuked for their denial and told, “This is what you used to deny. Today you have seen it with your own eyes; the matter has become clear to you, all means of escape have been cut off, and nothing remains but to undergo the punishment itself.”
Since the deniers of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), [who] rejected his call, awaited his demise and watched for some calamity of fate to befall him, Allah commanded him to say to them: “As for you (1), even if your wishes (2) are fulfilled and Allah causes me and those with me to perish, that will not benefit you in the least. You have disbelieved in Allah’s signs and have therefore deserved the punishment. Who, then, can protect you from a painful punishment whose descent upon you has become inevitable?” Thus, all your effort and eagerness to see me perish are useless and will avail you nothing.
They claimed that they were rightly guided and that the Messenger was astray. They repeated this incessantly, argued for it, and fought for it. Allah therefore commanded His Prophet to describe his own condition and that of his followers in terms that would make their guidance and piety evident to everyone—namely, that they say, “We believe in Him, and in Him we put our trust.” Faith encompasses inward conviction as well as inward and outward deeds. Since the very performance and perfection of deeds depend upon reliance on Allah, Allah specifically mentioned reliance among all other deeds, even though it is itself included within faith and is one of its necessary implications. As Allah Most High says, “Put your trust in Allah, if you are believers.”
If this, then, is the condition of the Messenger and those who follow him—and it is the condition indispensable for success and upon which happiness depends—while the condition of his enemies is its very opposite, there being no faith [in them] and no reliance, it thereby becomes clear who is rightly guided and who is in manifest error.
He then declared that He alone bestows blessings, particularly water, from which Allah has made every living thing. He said: “Say, ‘Consider this: if your water were to sink deep into the earth,’” meaning that it sank far beneath the ground, “who could bring you flowing water” from which you could drink and with which you could water your livestock, trees, and crops? This question conveys negation: no one other than Allah Most High is capable of doing so.
Completed, and all praise is due to Allah. (3)
Commentary on Sūrat Nūn
It is Makkan.