Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 25

(Ayah 25) {قُلْ لَّا تُسْـَٔلُوْنَ عَمَّاۤ اَجْرَمْنَا …:} This is also a teaching of wisdom and decency in debate and argument, meaning that even though Muslims are upon the truth and their deeds are righteous, yet they should invite the addressee to reflection by saying in such a way that, keeping in view their minor sins, they use the word "crime" for themselves, and for their disbelief, polytheism, and major sins, they use the word "deed," that you will not be questioned about what crimes we have committed, and we will not be asked about what deeds you are doing. They are commanded to use the past tense word {’’ اَجْرَمْنَا ‘‘} for themselves and the present tense word {’’ تَعْمَلُوْنَ‘‘} for them, meaning, suppose we are criminals, then we will bear its consequences, you will not be questioned about it, and if any of your deeds are worthy of accountability, then you will be questioned about them, not us. Therefore, each of us should keep our own benefit in mind, lest we are going on the wrong path. Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, said, its meaning is to express disassociation from them, meaning neither are you ours nor are we yours, rather, we invite you to Allah Almighty, to His oneness and to worship Him alone, if you accept, then you are ours and we are yours, and if you do not accept, then we are free from you and you are free from us, as Allah Almighty said: « وَ اِنْ كَذَّبُوْكَ فَقُلْ لِّيْ عَمَلِيْ وَ لَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ اَنْتُمْ بَرِيْٓـُٔوْنَ مِمَّاۤ اَعْمَلُ وَ اَنَا بَرِيْٓءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُوْنَ » [ یونس : ۴۱ ] "And if they deny you, then say, 'For me is my deed and for you is your deed; you are free from what I do and I am free from what you do.'" And He said: « قُلْ يٰۤاَيُّهَا الْكٰفِرُوْنَ (1) لَاۤ اَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُوْنَ (2) وَ لَاۤ اَنْتُمْ عٰبِدُوْنَ مَاۤ اَعْبُدُ (3) وَ لَاۤ اَنَا عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدْتُّمْ (4) وَ لَاۤ اَنْتُمْ عٰبِدُوْنَ مَاۤ اَعْبُدُ (5) لَكُمْ دِيْنُكُمْ وَ لِيَ دِيْنِ » [ الکافرون : ۱ تا ۶ ] "Say, O disbelievers! I do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you have worshipped. Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion and for me is my religion."