Tafsir of Al-An'am 6:35

"And if their aversion is too hard for you..."

The disbelief of his people and their turning away from what he brought used to weigh heavily upon the Prophet (ﷺ). Thus, it was revealed: "Perhaps you would kill yourself with grief" (Ash-Shu'ara: 3), "Indeed, you do not guide whom you like" (Al-Qasas: 56), and:

"If you are able to seek a tunnel into the earth..." Meaning: A passage through which you might penetrate to what is beneath the earth, so that you may bring forth a sign for them by which they might believe.

"Or a stairway into the sky to bring them a sign..." Then do so. This means: You are not able to do that. The intent is to demonstrate his intense desire for the Islam of his people and his eagerness for it; that if he were able to bring them a sign from beneath the earth or from above the sky, he would have done so in the hope of their belief.

It is said: They used to demand signs, and he wished that their requests be granted due to the extent of his eagerness for their faith. So it was said to him: "If you are able to do that, then do it." This indicates that his eagerness reached such a point that if he were able, he would have done it, even bringing them the signs they demanded, so that perhaps they might believe.

It is also permissible that seeking a tunnel in the earth or a stairway in the sky is a metaphor for bringing a sign. It is as if it were said: "If you were able to penetrate beneath the earth or ascend to the sky, you would have done so, hoping that it might be a sign for them upon which they would believe." The response to "if" (in) is omitted, as when you say: "If you wish to go with us to so-and-so to visit him..." (and if he wished, He could have gathered them upon guidance by bringing them a compelling sign, but He does not do so because it falls outside of wisdom).

"So do not be among the ignorant." Those who are ignorant of this and seek what is contrary to it.

"Only those who hear will respond." This means that those you are eager to have believe you are like the dead who do not hear. Only those who hear will respond, as in His saying: "Indeed, you will not make the dead hear" (An-Naml: 80).

"But the dead—Allah will resurrect them." This is a parable for His power to compel them to respond, for He is the One who resurrects the dead from their graves on the Day of Resurrection.

"Then to Him they will be returned." For recompense. Thus, He is capable of bringing these "dead" (in disbelief) to life through faith, whereas you are not capable of that.

It is also said: Its meaning is that these dead—meaning the disbelievers—Allah will resurrect them, then to Him they will be returned, and at that time they will hear. As for before that, there is no way for them to hear. It is also recited as yurja'un (they will be returned) with a fatha on the ya.

"And they say, 'Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?' Say, 'Indeed, Allah is able to send down a sign, but most of them do not know.'"