Verses and Translation
قُلۡ يَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِڪُمۡ إِنِّى عَامِلٌ۬ۖ فَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ مَن تَكُونُ لَهُ ۥ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِۗ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ (١٣٥)
“Say, “O my people, work according to your position; [for] indeed, I am working. And you are going to know who will have succession in the home. Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed.”
Commentary
This contains a stern warning and a sure promise saying remain on your way, if you think that you are rightly guided, for I will remain on mine. Allah said in another verse, “And say to those who do not believe, ‘Act according to Makanatikum, We are acting (in our way). And you wait! We (too) are waiting.'” [Quran; 11:121-122]
Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said that, “according to Makanatikum…” means your way.
“And you will come to know for which of us will be the (happy) end in the Hereafter. Certainly the wrongdoers will not be successful” [Quran; 6:135]
You will come to know if the happy end will be mine (the Messenger’s) or yours (the disbelievers). Allah has indeed kept His promise and allowed the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to prevail in the land and rise above those who defied him. He conquered Makkah for him and made him triumphant over his people who rejected and showed enmity towards him. The Prophet’s rule soon spread over the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen and Bahrain, and all this occurred during his lifetime. After his death, the various lands and provinces were conquered during the time of his successors, may Allah be pleased with them all.
“Allah has decreed, ‘Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious.’ Verily, Allah is All-Powerful, Almighty.” [Quran; 58:21]
“Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth. The Day when their excuses will be of no profit to the wrongdoers. Theirs will be the curse, and theirs will be the evil abode.” [Quran; 40:51-52]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is being told to say to those who stand against him to do what they will and that he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is working too, for wrongdoers will not succeed [regardless of their best effort against him (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)]. [NAK]
Foundational Attributes
disbelief, suppressing goodness