لَا يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ لَن يَضُرُّوا اللَّهَ شَيْئًا ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَلَّا يَجْعَلَ لَهُمْ حَظًّا فِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٧٦﴾ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الْكُفْرَ بِالْإِيمَانِ لَن يَضُرُّوا اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿١٧٧﴾ وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لِّأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُوا إِثْمًا ۚ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
Those who hasten towards disbelief should not make you grieve. They cannot harm Allah at all. Allah intends not to spare any portion for them in the Hereafter. And for them there is a mighty punishment. Certainly, those who bought disbelief in exchange for belief cannot harm Allah at all. And for them there is a painful punishment. Those who disbelieve should not think that the respite We give them is good for them. In fact, We give them respite only so that they may increase in sin. And for them there is a humiliating punishment. (Surah Aal ‘Imraan v176-178)
After the Battle of Uhud, the hypocrites would instill fear in the minds of the believers and make them despondent of being victorious in the future. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would naturally become grieved by their statements and actions. (At-Tafseerul Kabeer vol. 9, pg. 84)
Therefore, Allah Ta‘ala revealed the abovementioned verses as a consolation to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), instructing him that he should not be grieved by the statements and actions of these misguided hypocrites because the outcome of their actions will only be against themselves. They will also not be able to harm the Deen of Allah Ta‘ala, nor stop its progress in any way whatsoever. (Ma‘aariful Quraan vol. 2, pg. 245)
Furthermore, Allah Ta‘ala explains that the disbelievers living a life of apparent luxury and ease is in no way beneficial for them. In actual fact, the respite given to them will only be of more detriment to them because through it, their sins will increase (due to them enjoying a longer life of ease and comfort). Hence, they will be doomed to an everlasting punishment in the Hereafter. (Ma‘aariful Quraan vol. 2, pg. 246)
In light of this, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) has said, “Death is better for every person – whether he be righteous or sinful. If he is a righteous person, Allah Ta‘ala says (regarding the righteous), ‘What is by Allah is better (than what is in this world) for the righteous ones.’ However, if he is a sinful person, then Allah Ta‘ala says (regarding sinful people), ‘We give them respite only so that they may increase in sin (due to enjoying a longer life of sin).’” (Tafseerul Qurtubi vol. 5, pg. 432)
In essence, a believer should not be beguiled and deceived by the glitter and glamour of the life of a disbeliever or even a sinful believer who is in apparent comfort and ease, for indeed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has said, “The world is a prison for a believer and a Jannah for the disbeliever.” (Saheeh Muslim #7417)