قَدْ نَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُ لَيَحْزُنُكَ الَّذِي يَقُولُونَ ۖ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يُكَذِّبُونَكَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّـهِ يَجْحَدُونَ ﴿33﴾ وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُوا عَلَىٰ مَا كُذِّبُوا وَأُوذُوا حَتَّىٰ أَتَاهُمْ نَصْرُنَا ۚوَلَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّـهِ ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَكَ مِن نَّبَإِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿34﴾وَإِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكَ إِعْرَاضُهُمْ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَن تَبْتَغِيَ نَفَقًا فِي الْأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّمًا فِي السَّمَاءِ فَتَأْتِيَهُم بِآيَةٍ ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّـهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى الْهُدَىٰ ۚ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ ﴿35
We know indeed the grief which their words cause you (O Muhammad SAW): it is not you that they deny, but it is the Verses (the Qur’an) of Allah that the Dhalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) deny. (Al-An’am 6:33)
Verily, (many) Messengers were denied before you (O Muhammad SAW), but with patience they bore the denial, and they were hurt, till Our Help reached them, and none can alter the Words (Decisions) of Allah Surely there has reached you the information (news) about the Messengers (before you). (Al-An’am 6:34)
If their aversion (from you, O Muhammad SAW and from that with which you have been sent) is hard on you, (and you cannot be patient from their harm to you), then if you were able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the sky, so that you may bring them a sign (and you cannot do it, so be patient). And had Allah willed, He could have gathered them together (all) unto true guidance, so be not you one of those who are Al-Jahilun (the ignorant). (Al-An’am 6:35)
An explanation of some of the wording
- Grief which their words cause you – That which was said by the People of Makka in reference to disbelieving in that which you brought to them from Allah.
- It is not you that they deny – This is because to them he was known as being truthful
- Dhalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) – The ones referred to here were the people of Makka that denied the message.
- The information (news) about the Messengers (before you) – About the fact that Allah aided them.
- So be not you one of those who are Al-Jahilun – Do not forget that which you know about the fact that what Allah wills will come about and that which He did not will will never be. Remember this in terms of how you feel about their disbelief in your message.
The reason behind the revelation
Hakim reported that Sufiyan ath Thawri said, on the authority of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Abu Jahil said to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) ‘ We do not disbelieve in You but rather we disbelieve in that which you came with. Then Allah revealed. – {it is not you that they deny} to then end.
The Meaning
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to be distraught about his people and how they disbelieved what he told them even though they know him to be trustworthy and truthful. This was very hard on him. He was trying his hardest to get them to believe him. So Allah revealed these verses to ease his heart and strengthen him. This was done by reminding him about the messengers that came before him and what happened with their people. This was done to make it easier on him so that he did not let it be such a problem on himself. Allah does not burden a soul with more then it can handle.
Allah makes it known that He realizes the amount of mercy that Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) had for his people. They knew that he is trustworthy and truthful. He explained that they are not saying that you are lying about that which you are saying, but rather they are disbelieving in that which you came with from your Lord (which was the Quran). Allah said {And they belied them (those Ayat) wrongfully and arrogantly, though their own-selves were convinced thereof [i.e. those (Ayat) are from Allah, and Musa (Moses) is the Messenger of Allah in truth, but they disliked to obey Musa (Moses), and hated to believe in his Message of Monotheism]. So see what was the end of the Mufsidun (disbelievers, disobedient to Allah, evil-doers, liars.). (An-Naml 27:14)}.
The previous Prophets were just like this. Their people disbelieved them. They were patient with their people and their disbelief and harm until Allah’s aide came. {Therefore be patient (O Muhammad SAW) as did the Messengers of strong will … (Al-Ahqaf 46:35)}. Do not permit yourself to be distraught because of them. Verily Allah is able to guide them, but out of His wisdom they are in their situations. So, regardless of what you do and how far you go, regardless of what you bring them they will not believe. If Allah willed they would have all been guided. Therefore it is not befitting that you do not take heed to this. Do worry yourself to death about them. {Not upon you (Muhammad ) is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills … (Al-Baqarah 2:272)}. Know that the fact that Allah did not guide them to believing because of Allah’s knowledge about them and their unwillingness to accept the guidance.
That which is benefited from these verses
It is not befitting that the believer puts more on themselves religiously that they can handle. The religion is easy, as long as an individual holds fast to that which is legislated.
It is upon mankind to take the from the best of examples, and take lessons from those things that have happened in the past. {Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding … (Yusuf 12:111)}.
It is upon those that are callers to the good and being upright, that they be patient with the harm that comes to them while they are making their call. This is because the aide will come to them.
