English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ra
He punishes whom He pleases and shows mercy unto whom He pleases; and to Him will you be turned back.
English - Five Volume Translation
He punishes whom He pleases and shows mercy unto whom He pleases; and to Him will you be turned back.
Commentary:
As stated in many places in the Quran, God does not punish arbitrarily but only after punishment has been fully deserved. This verse only means that God in His perfect knowledge well knows who has deserved punishment, and He punishes accordingly.
English - Short Commentary Translation
He punishes whom He pleases and shows mercy unto whom He pleases; and to Him will you be turned back;
As stated at several places in the Qur’an, God does not punish arbitrarily but only after punishment has been fully deserved. The verse only emphasizes this fact.