“(O Prophet!) Do not grieve over them, nor be distressed at their designs. They also say: ‘Tell us when this threat will come to pass, if you are truthful.’ Say: ‘The chastisement whose hastening you have been asking for, maybe a part of it might have drawn quite near to you.’ Indeed Your Lord is exceedingly bountiful to mankind. Yet most of them do not give thanks.”
(Al Qur’ān – 27:70-73)
The Messenger of Allahﷺhad done his duty and had duly explained things to people. If they still did not believe and persisted in their ignorance, thereby inviting Divine punishment upon themselves, why should the Messenger torment himself on their account? He is told not to worry about the petty plots which people hatched in order to thwart the Truth and frustrate his efforts to bring about reform; rather, he should feel reassured because God stands behind him.
The ayat 27:72 carries a majestic manner of speech. It cannot even be imagined that God would will something and it not happen. Therefore, His saying that ‘…maybe a part of it might have drawn quite near to you’ simply means that unless they mend their ways, they are bound to meet their doom. Then, how can one remain unmoved after hearing from the Almighty that may be their doom had drawn quite near to him?
It is the Mercy of the Lord of the universe that He delays His punishment and gives respite to people. But most people do not give thanks to God for this favour.