Surah 18:7
Show Full Scripture Context (18:6-8) — 3 Verses
فَلَعَلَّكَ بَٰخِعٞ نَّفۡسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِمۡ إِن لَّمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا
Perhaps you are going to destroy yourself by following after them, if they do not believe in this proclamation.
إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ زِينَةٗ لَّهَا لِنَبۡلُوَهُمۡ أَيُّهُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلٗا
Surely We have made what is on the earth a splendor for it, so that We may test them (to see) which of them is best in deed.
وَإِنَّا لَجَٰعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيۡهَا صَعِيدٗا جُرُزًا
And surely We shall make what is on it barren soil.
Allah consoles His Messenger for his sorrow over the idolators because they would not believe and keep away from him. He also said:
{So destroy not yourself in sorrow for them.} [35:8]
{And grieve not over them.} [16:127]
meaning, maybe you will destroy yourself with your grief over them. Allah says:
meaning the Qur'an.
Allah is saying, 'do not destroy yourself with regret.' Qatadah said: "killing yourself with anger and grief over them." Mujahid said: "with anxiety." These are synonymous, so the meaning is: 'Do not feel sorry for them, just convey the Message of Allah to them. Whoever goes the right way, then he goes the right way only for the benefit of himself. And whoever goes astray, then he strays at his own loss, so do not destroy yourself in sorrow for them.'
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Page 115)