Transliteration:( Qul laaa amliku linafsee darranw wa laa naf'an illaa maa shaaa'al laah; likulli ummatin ajalun izaa jaaa'a ajaluhum fa laaa yasta'khiroona saa'atanw wa laa yastaqdimoon )
"Say: 'I have no power to benefit or harm myself except as Allah wills. For every nation there is a term [142]. When their term comes, they cannot delay it by an hour, nor can they advance it [143].'" (Kanzul Imaan Translation)
This verse emphasizes that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has no power to benefit or harm himself except as Allah wills. The Prophet is empowered by Allah to guide and protect, but ultimately, the control over all events lies with Allah alone. Even though the Prophet had the ability to perform miracles, as seen with other Prophets such as Isa (Jesus) and Yusuf (Joseph), these powers were granted by Allah’s will and not inherent in the Prophet himself.
This refers to the appointed time of destruction for every nation, which is already recorded in the Divine Tablet. Allah, who knows the fate of every nation, has decreed the time of their rise and fall. When the term arrives for any nation, they cannot delay or bring it forward, as their fate is sealed by divine will.
This teaches that while the inevitable fate—such as the time of death—cannot be altered, changes can occur in the pending fate (things yet to happen). Allah can wipe out or establish what He pleases, as mentioned in S13:V39. For example, the age of Hazrat Dawood (ﷺ) was increased by Allah through the supplication of Hazrat Adam (ﷺ). Wealth and age can increase due to good deeds and charity, and supplication can alter the course of one's fate, within the limits set by Allah's will. While the time of death is fixed by Divine law, there is room for change in other aspects through divine power. The incidents of Hazrat Isa (ﷺ) raising the dead and Hazrat Ibrahim (ﷺ) bringing birds back to life were all by the command of Allah and show His supreme power.
The tafsir of Surah Yunus verse 49 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Yunus ayat 48 which provides the complete commentary from verse 48 through 52.
(10:49) Tell them: ‘I have no power to harm or benefit even myself, except what Allah may will.[57] There is an appointed term for every people; and when the end of their term comes, neither can they put it off for an hour, nor can they bring it an hour before.[58]
57. This is to say, I never said that I will sit in judgment on you and inflict torment on those who do not believe in me. Therefore, I am not in a position to tell when the threat will be made good. As the threat has been held out by Allah, He will pass His judgment on you when He wills, and in whatever way He wills, for everything depends on His will.
58. That is, Allah passes His judgment on individuals and communities after the expiry of the term that He Himself has set and He alone knows how long it lasts for a community. He is not hasty in giving rewards or punishments. When He sends His Messenger to deliver His Message, He allows sufficient time to each individual and to each community to consider it and ponder over it and mend his (or its) way, during the appointed term. The period of the term may extend to centuries in the case of a community and He knows best how long it should be.
When that term, which is based on justice, expires, and that person or community does not repent of its rebellious conduct, then Allah passes His judgment. When the time of the judgment comes, it is neither advanced nor delayed even by a single hour.
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