Tafsir of Ya seen 36:43

Surah Ya-Sin (36): Verse 43

{وَإِن نَّشَأْ نُغْرِقْهُمْ} (And if We willed, We could drown them.)

This statement points to two benefits:

1. In times of ease and blessing, they should not feel secure from God's punishment.
2. It serves as a response to an implied objection. The naturalists might argue that a ship floats due to its nature (being hollow), and thus cannot sink. God replies: "It is not so; rather, if He wills, We could drown them, and this would not be according to nature."

If their flawed reasoning were true, one could ask: Do you not agree that some ships capsize or break, and some are pierced, causing them to sink? All of this happens by God's will. If He wills their drowning, it could happen without any of these apparent causes (as the Sunnis believe), or through some of these causes (as you [the objector] concede).

{فَلَا صَرِيخَ لَهُمْ} (Then there will be no helper for them)

Meaning, no one to save them from drowning.

{وَلَا هُمْ يُنْقَذُونَ} (nor will they be rescued.)

If the drowning overtakes them. Salvation from punishment is either by preventing the punishment from occurring in the first place, or by removing it after it has struck. God says: "No helper (صريخ) will avert it, nor will they be rescued (ينقذون) after it has occurred." This is similar to His saying: {Their intercession will not avail them in the least, nor will they be rescued} (Qur'an 30:37).

The phrasing {فَلَا صَرِيخَ لَهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْقَذُونَ} carries an additional nuance beyond mere comprehensive denial:

God said {لَا صَرِيخَ لَهُمْ} (no sareekh for them) and did not say "no munqidh (rescuer) for them" in this first part. This is because one whose nature is not to grant victory or aid (صراخ) would hesitate to attempt aid for fear of being overpowered and losing face. Only one whose nature is to aid and help would initiate the act of helping. Hence, {لَا صَرِيخَ لَهُمْ}.

However, one whose nature is not necessarily to rescue might still attempt a rescue if they see someone dear to them in distress, even if they are not confident in their ability to succeed or overcome the difficulty. They will exert their utmost effort. Therefore, God said {وَلَا هُمْ يُنْقَذُونَ} (nor will they be rescued), implying that even they themselves will be incapable of achieving rescue, rather than saying "no rescuer for them."

**! 7 < { إِلَّا رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا وَمَتَاعًا إِلَىٰ حِينٍ } > 7

<** (Except as a mercy from Us, and enjoyment for a while.)