Tafsir of Hud 11:56

"Indeed, I have relied upon Allah..."

When he mentioned his reliance upon Allah and his trust in His protection and guardianship against their plotting, he described Him with attributes that necessitate reliance upon Him—namely, that His Lordship encompasses both him and them. Every living creature is within His grasp, His dominion, and under His subjugation and authority, with Him holding them by their forelocks; this is a metaphor for that.

"Indeed, my Lord is on a straight path." He means that He is upon the path of truth and justice in His dominion; no oppressor escapes Him, and no one who seeks refuge in Him is lost.

"But if you turn away..." Meaning: If you turn away. Question: The conveyance of the message occurred before the turning away, so how can this be the consequence (apodosis) of the condition? Answer: It means: If you turn away, I will not be blamed for any negligence in conveying the message, and you will be left without excuse, for what I was sent with has reached you, yet you insisted on rejecting the message and showing hostility toward the messenger.

"And He will replace you..." This is a new statement. He means: Allah will destroy you and bring other people who will succeed you in your homes and wealth.

"And you will not harm Him at all." By your turning away, you will cause no harm whatsoever, for harm and benefit cannot befall Him; you only harm yourselves. In the reading of Abdullah (ibn Mas'ud), it is written as wa-yastakhlif (jussive) and likewise wa-la tadurruhu, as a conjunction to the position of faqad ablaghtukum. The meaning is: If you turn away, He will excuse me, replace you with others, and you will harm none but yourselves.

"Indeed my Lord is, over all things, Guardian." Meaning: A Watcher over them, a Protector. Your deeds are not hidden from Him, and He is not heedless of holding you accountable. Or, He who is a Watcher over all things, preserving them, while they are in need of His protection from harm—such a One cannot be harmed by the likes of you.

"And when Our command came, We saved Hud and those who believed with him, by a mercy from Us; and We saved them from a harsh punishment."