Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
Which was revealed in Makkah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
كِتَـبٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ
((This is the) Book (the Qur'an) sent down unto you (O Muhammad)), from your Lord,
فَلاَ يَكُن فِى صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِّنْهُ
(so let not your breast be narrow therefrom,) meaning, having doubt about it according to Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi. It was also said that the meaning here is: `do not hesitate to convey the Qur'an and warn with it,'
فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُواْ الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ
(Therefore be patient as did the Messengers of strong will) 46:35. Allah said here,
لِتُنذِرَ بِهِ
(that you warn thereby) meaning, `We sent down the Qur'an so that you may warn the disbelievers with it,'
وَذِكْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
(and a reminder unto the believers). Allah then said to the world,
اتَّبِعُواْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ
(Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord) meaning, follow and imitate the unlettered Prophet , who brought you a Book that was revealed for you, from the Lord and master of everything.
وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَآءَ
(and follow not any Awliya', besides Him (Allah)) meaning, do not disregard what the Messenger brought you and follow something else, for in this case, you will be deviating from Allah's judgment to the decision of someone else. Allah's statement,
قَلِيلاً مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ
(Little do you remember!) is similar to,
وَمَآ أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
(And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly)12:103, and;
وَإِن تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
(And if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah's path)6:116, and,
وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بِاللَّهِ إِلاَّ وَهُمْ مُّشْرِكُونَ
(And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners unto Him)12:106.