"And whether We show you some of what We promise them or take you in death [before that] - for indeed, upon Us is the retribution against them." Al-Hasan's interpretation is: Allah informed Muhammad that He has a retribution in store for his nation, but He did not inform him whether it would be during his lifetime or after his death. The verse contains an elliptical structure: "For indeed, We are avengers against them."

"So you are only [bound] to deliver the message," meaning that you are only to convey it to them, and you do not have the power to force them to believe; only he whom Allah wills to believe shall believe. "And upon Us is the reckoning" on the Day of Resurrection, then He commanded him to fight them.