Surah 10

Surah 10:44

"Surely God does not do the people any evil at all, but the people do themselves evil."
The Command to be Free and Clear from the Idolaters Verses 10:41-44
Show Full Scripture Context (10:41-44) — 4 Verses
Verse 41

وَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل لِّي عَمَلِي وَلَكُمۡ عَمَلُكُمۡۖ أَنتُم بَرِيٓـُٔونَ مِمَّآ أَعۡمَلُ وَأَنَا۠ بَرِيٓءٞ مِّمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ

If they call you a liar, say: ‘To me my deed, and to you your deed. You are free of what I do, and I am free of what you do.’

Verse 42

وَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَسۡتَمِعُونَ إِلَيۡكَۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُسۡمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ وَلَوۡ كَانُواْ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ

(There is) one of them who listens to you, but can you make the deaf hear, when they do not understand?

Verse 43

وَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَنظُرُ إِلَيۡكَۚ أَفَأَنتَ تَهۡدِي ٱلۡعُمۡيَ وَلَوۡ كَانُواْ لَا يُبۡصِرُونَ

(There is) one of them who looks to you, but can you guide the blind, when they do not see?

Verse 44

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظۡلِمُ ٱلنَّاسَ شَيۡـٔٗا وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ أَنفُسَهُمۡ يَظۡلِمُونَ

Surely God does not do the people any evil at all, but the people do themselves evil.

Allah said to His Prophet: If these idolators belie you, then be clear from them and their deeds. {Say: "For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds!"} Similarly, Allah said: {Say: "O you disbelievers! I worship not that which you worship."} [109:1-2]. to the end of the Surah. Ibrahim Al-Khalil (the Friend) and his followers said to the idolators among their people: {Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah} [60:4]. Allah then said: {And among them are some who listen to you,} They listen to your beautiful talk and to the Glorious Qur'an. They listen to your truthful, eloquent and authentic Hadiths that are useful to the hearts, the bodies and their faith. This is indeed a great benefit and is sufficient. But guiding the people to the truth is not up to you or to them. You cannot make the deaf hear. Therefore you cannot guide these people except if Allah wishes. {And among them are some who look at you,} They look at you and at what Allah has given you in terms of dignity, noble personality and great conduct. There is in all of this clear evidence of your prophethood to those who have reason and insight. Other people also look but they do not receive guidance like them. Believers look at you with respect and dignity while disbelievers regard you with contempt. {And when they see you, they treat you only in mockery.} [25:41]. Then Allah announces that He is never unjust with anyone. He guides whomever He wills and opens the eyes of the blind, makes the deaf hear and removes neglect from the hearts. At the same time He lets others go astray, moving away from faith. He does all of that yet He is always Just, for He is the Ruler and has full authority over His kingdom. He does whatever He wills without any restrictions. No one can question Him as to what He does while he will question everyone else. He is Omniscient, All-Wise, and All-Just. So Allah said: {Truly, Allah wrongs not mankind in aught; but mankind wrong themselves.} In the Hadith narrated by Abu Dharr, he states that the Prophet related that His Lord, Exalted and High is He, said: "O My servant! I have prohibited oppression for Myself and made it prohibited for you, so do not oppress one another..." Until He said at the end of the Hadith: "O My servants! It is but your deeds that I reckon for you and then recompense you for. So let him who finds good (in the Hereafter) praise Allah. And let him who finds other than that blame no one but himself." [1] The complete version was recorded by Muslim. Muslim 4:1994.

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.