قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِمَنْ ءَامَنَ مِنْهُمْ أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ صَـٰلِحًا مُّرْسَلٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلَ بِهِۦ مُؤْمِنُونَ 75
Translations
Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people to those who were oppressed - to those who believed among them, "Do you [actually] know that Ṣāliḥ is sent from his Lord?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which he was sent, are believers."
Transliteration
Qala al-mala'u alladhina istakbaru min qawmihi lilladhina istudu'ifu liman amana minhum ataalamun anna salihan mursalun min rabbihi qalu inna bima ursila bihi mu'minun
Tafsir (Explanation)
The arrogant leaders of Salih's people mockingly asked the weak believers if they knew that Salih was truly sent by his Lord, to which the believers confidently affirmed their faith in the message he brought. This ayah illustrates the contrast between the arrogant disbelievers who rejected the truth out of pride and the humble believers who accepted it with certainty. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this exchange demonstrates how faith transcends social status—the weak believers possessed stronger conviction than the powerful disbelievers despite their inferior worldly standing.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Salih and the Thamud people in Surah Al-A'raf, a Meccan surah addressing the Quraysh's rejection of the Prophet Muhammad. The account of Salih's mission parallels the Meccan rejection of Prophet Muhammad, serving as a historical warning about the consequences of arrogance and disbelief. The broader context illustrates how the arrogant elite throughout history resisted divine messengers while the oppressed masses embraced faith.
Related Hadiths
The Quran mentions this story extensively, and Sahih Bukhari includes hadiths about the people of Thamud. A related principle is found in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said, 'Whoever is humble for the sake of Allah, Allah raises him,' emphasizing how humility before Allah leads to true honor, contrasting with the arrogance of Salih's people.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith and conviction are not dependent on wealth, power, or social status, but rather on sincerity of heart and humility before Allah. The ayah teaches that genuine believers should not be deterred by the mockery or opposition of the powerful, as their faith in divine truth supersedes worldly considerations.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ عَنْهَا لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَٰبُ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ ٱلْجَمَلُ فِى سَمِّ ٱلْخِيَاطِ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Indeed, those who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - the gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel enters into the eye of a needle [i.e., never]. And thus do We recompense the criminals.
أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا۟ ۗ مَا بِصَاحِبِهِم مِّن جِنَّةٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
Then do they not give thought? There is in their companion [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] no madness. He is not but a clear warner.
وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَـٰلِحًا ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً ۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And to the Thamūd [We sent] their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allāh [sent] to you as a sign. So leave her to eat within Allāh's land and do not touch her with harm, lest there seize you a painful punishment.
أَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَقْسَمْتُمْ لَا يَنَالُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ ۚ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَآ أَنتُمْ تَحْزَنُونَ
[Allāh will say], "Are these the ones whom you [inhabitants of Hell] swore that Allāh would never offer them mercy? Enter Paradise, [O people of the Elevations]. No fear will there be concerning you, nor will you grieve."