Of course. Here is the detailed explanation of Surah Ar-Ra’d, Verse 40 from Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi’s “Tafheem-ul-Quran”.

This verse addresses a core concern of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the early Muslim community regarding the apparent delay in the punishment warned about in previous verses.

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Verse 13:40 (Surah Ar-Ra’d)

Arabic Text:
وَإِن مَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعۡضَ ٱلَّذِى نَعِدُهُمۡ أَوۡ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَلَـٰغُ وَعَلَيۡنَا ٱلۡحِسَابُ

Transliteration:

Wa im mā nuriyannaka baʿḍalladhī naʿiduhum aw natawaffayannaka fa innamā ʿalaykal-balāghu wa ʿalaynal-ḥisāb.

Translation (Maududi’s Meaning):

And whether We let you witness [in your lifetime] the fulfillment of the punishment We have threatened them with, or whether We take you away [before that], in either case your responsibility is only to convey the Message, and it is for Us to take account.

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Tafseer (Explanation) from Tafheem-ul-Quran by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi

Maududi explains that this verse serves a dual purpose: to console the Prophet (ﷺ) and to clearly define the roles of the Messenger and Allah.

1. The Core Concern Being Addressed

The preceding verses (31, 32, 33, etc.) had warned the disbelievers of Mecca of a severe punishment, both in this world and the next. The Prophet (ﷺ) and the believers were eagerly awaiting this punishment, expecting it to come swiftly to prove the truth of the message and bring justice.

This verse was revealed to address their anxiety and to clarify a fundamental principle: The timing of the punishment is not the Prophet’s concern; conveying the message is.

2. The Two Scenarios and the Prophet’s Single Duty

The verse presents two possibilities regarding the worldly punishment:

• Scenario 1: “Whether We let you witness… the punishment…” This means that Allah might allow the Prophet to see the punishment befall the disbelievers in his own lifetime. (This was later fulfilled in events like the Battle of Badr and the eventual Conquest of Mecca).
• Scenario 2: “Or whether We take you away [before that]…” This means that the full-scale punishment might occur after the Prophet’s death.

The Key Instruction: In both cases, the duty of the Prophet (ﷺ) remains one and the same:

“…your responsibility is only to convey the Message…”

Maududi emphasizes that the Prophet’s (ﷺ) mission was defined and limited to Al-Balagh—the clear and complete delivery of the message. He was not responsible for forcing people to believe, nor was he responsible for the timing or the execution of the punishment. His duty was purely that of a Warner (Nadhir) and a Messenger (Rasul).

3. The Division of Responsibilities

The verse establishes a clear and decisive division of labor between the Messenger and his Lord:

“…and it is for Us to take account.”

Maududi explains this as follows:

• “Upon you is the conveyance (Al-Balagh)”: This is the human, prophetic responsibility.
• “Upon Us is the reckoning (Al-Hisab)”: This is the divine, exclusive prerogative of Allah.

This means:

• Calling people to account for their acceptance or rejection of the message.
• Deciding the appropriate time for punishment.
• Executing that punishment in this world and the next.
• Delivering the final judgment on the Day of Resurrection.

All of this rests solely with Allah.

Summary of Maududi’s Tafseer in Key Points:

• Relieving the Prophet’s Anxiety: The verse consoles the Prophet (ﷺ) by telling him not to be anxious about when the punishment will come. His job is to deliver the warning; Allah’s job is to enforce it.
• Clarifying the Prophetic Mission: It sharply defines the role of a messenger. He is a conveyor, not a punisher. His success is measured by the completeness of his delivery, not by the people’s acceptance.
• A Universal Principle for the Ummah: This instruction, while directly for the Prophet (ﷺ), extends to all who call people to Allah. Their duty is to convey the truth with clarity and sincerity. The outcome, the timing of success, and the exacting of accountability are in the hands of Allah.
• A Warning to the Disbelievers: Implicitly, it warns the disbelievers that the absence of immediate punishment does not mean they are safe. The accounting will happen, whether the Prophet witnesses it or not, for it is Allah who calls to account.

In essence, Verse 13:40 is a foundational verse for understanding the methodology of Islamic propagation (Dawah). It teaches patience, focus on one’s duty, and absolute trust in Allah’s plan and timing, freeing the believer from the burden of outcomes they cannot control.