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- “If they reject you, then say, ‘Your Lord is Possessed of vast mercy, but His punishment cannot be averted from the criminal people.’”
That is: If these polytheists reject you, continue calling them through encouragement and warning. Inform them that Allah is “Possessed of vast mercy”—that is, mercy that is universal and encompasses [all] created beings. So hasten toward His mercy by adopting the means that lead to it, foremost among which—and their foundation and essence—is believing Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in what he has brought.
“But His punishment cannot be averted from the criminal people”—that is, those whose crimes and sins have become numerous. Therefore, beware of the crimes that lead to Allah’s punishment, the gravest and foremost of which is rejecting Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
﴿١٤٧﴾ ﴿فَإِنْ كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُلْ رَبُّكُمْ ذُو رَحْمَةٍ وَاسِعَةٍ وَلا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُهُ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ﴾ .
أي: فإن كذبك هؤلاء المشركون، فاستمر على دعوتهم، بالترغيب والترهيب، وأخبرهم بأن الله ﴿ذُو رَحْمَةٍ وَاسِعَةٍ﴾ أي: عامة شاملة [لجميع] المخلوقات كلها، فسارعوا إلى رحمته بأسبابها، التي رأسها وأسها ومادتها، تصديق محمد ﷺ فيما جاء به.
﴿وَلا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُهُ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ﴾ أي: الذين كثر إجرامهم وذنوبهم. فاحذروا الجرائم الموصلة لبأس الله، التي أعظمها ورأسها تكذيب محمد ﷺ.