The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 92
CH. 10 YŪNUS PT. 11 قُلِ انْظُرُوا مَاذَا فِي السَّمواتِ Say, "Consider what is. 102 وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُغْنِي الأيتُ وَالنُّذُرُ the earth. But Signs and عَنْ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ happening in the heavens and Warners avail not a people who will not believe. 1373 فَهَلْ يَنْتَظِرُونَ إِلَّا مِثْلَ أَيَّامِ الَّذِينَ What then do they expect. 103 b خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ قُلْ فَانتَظِرُوا اِنّى punishment suffered by those مَعَكُمْ مِّنَ الْمُنْتَظِرِينَ save the like of the days of who passed away before them? Say, dWait then, and I am with you among those who wait. '1374 1373. Commentary: a7:186. 54:6. 35:44. 11:123. The words, Consider what is happening in the heavens and the earth, mean that the factors which are destined to lead to the success and prosperity of the cause of the Holy Prophet are already apparent both in the heavens and the earth and so no compulsion is needed to help a naturally prospering cause. The words, But Signs and Warners avail not a people who will not believe, make the point still clearer, for they establish the fact that when the Quran asks men to consider the happenings of the universe it often means Signs and Warners. 1374. Important Words: (days) means here days of Divine punishment. See also 1:4. Commentary: Disbelievers are here told that, as in the end Divine punishment does overtake those who persist in rejecting the Prophets of God, therefore they need not demand its speedy arrival, because it is sure to come at its fixed time. It is strange that whereas disbelievers, who in the early days of the preaching of a new Message are the stronger party, display great impatience for the early coming of Divine punishment, the Prophet and his followers, who are the weaker party, do not wish that punishment should come soon. This impatience on the part of disbelievers on the one hand, and equanimity and calmness on the part of believers on the other, in themselves constitute a proof of the believers being in the right. The words put in the mouth of the Holy Prophet, viz. Wait then, and I am with you among those who wait, signify that, although I am being made the target of your tyrannies, yet I am waiting patiently. Why then should you, who are the stronger party and are leading peaceful lives, show such impatience? 1300