Overall meaning : Allah Almighty says: If you think, Muhammad, it is strange that your people still do not believe despite all these signs and proofs, stranger still is their saying, ‘What! After we have become dust, shall we indeed be brought back to life again?’ It is they who have disbelieved in their Lord who created them out of nothing; it is they who will have shackles on their necks around Judgement Day; and it is they who will be the inhabitants of the Fire, in which they will abide for all eternity.
The unbelievers ask you, out of sheer unbelief and derision, to hasten Allah’s punishment with which you have threatened them, rather than asking for His mercy and guidance although they already know of the punishments that afflicted the unbelieving nations before them. How can they not take warning from their example? Surely your Lord, Muhammad, extends His forgiveness to people when they turn to Him in repentance despite their wrongdoing, and He metes out severe punishment to those who persist in their unbelief, error and disobedience.
The unbelievers from among your people in Makkah say, out of sheer unbelief and pure stubbornness, ‘Why has no miraculous sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?’ But you have no hand in the matter. You are only to warn them of Allah’s punishment if they persist in their unbelief; and every nation has its messenger who calls them to Allah and guides them to the truth.