فَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّى وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُحِبُّونَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ 79
Translations
And he [i.e., Ṣāliḥ] turned away from them and said, "O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord and advised you, but you do not like advisors."
Transliteration
Fatawalla 'anhum wa-qala ya-qawmi laqad ablaghtukum risalata rabbi wa-nasahtu lakum wa-lakin la tuhibbun al-nasihin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Salih turned away from his people after they rejected his message, declaring that he had faithfully conveyed Allah's message and offered them sincere counsel, yet they do not love those who give them honest advice. This ayah demonstrates the prophet's fulfillment of his duty regardless of acceptance, and highlights the people's rejection of sincere guidance—a recurring theme in the Quran. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari emphasize that Salih's turning away signifies the completion of his prophetic mission and the people's culpability for their rejection.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Salih and the people of Thamud in the Meccan period. Salih preached monotheism to his people, but they mocked him and rejected his message. This verse reflects the broader Quranic pattern of prophets' struggles with their communities' disbelief, serving as consolation to Prophet Muhammad and his followers who faced similar rejection in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of sincere counsel: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The deen is sincere counsel (al-dinu nasihah)' reported in Sahih Muslim. Also relevant: 'Whoever loves for the sake of Allah and hates for the sake of Allah has perfected their faith' (Sunan Abu Dawud), emphasizing the importance of sincere counsel in faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
A believer's responsibility is to convey the message of Allah sincerely and offer genuine advice, regardless of whether others accept it; our duty is in the effort itself, not the outcome. This teaches modern Muslims to remain steadfast in their Islamic responsibilities and not become discouraged by societal rejection of truth.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ يَـٰفِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّى رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And Moses said, "O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds
وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ غَضْبَـٰنَ أَسِفًا قَالَ بِئْسَمَا خَلَفْتُمُونِى مِنۢ بَعْدِىٓ ۖ أَعَجِلْتُمْ أَمْرَ رَبِّكُمْ ۖ وَأَلْقَى ٱلْأَلْوَاحَ وَأَخَذَ بِرَأْسِ أَخِيهِ يَجُرُّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ ۚ قَالَ ٱبْنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱسْتَضْعَفُونِى وَكَادُوا۟ يَقْتُلُونَنِى فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِىَ ٱلْأَعْدَآءَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِى مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And when Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said, "How wretched is that by which you have replaced me after [my departure]. Were you impatient over the matter of your Lord?" And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by [the hair of] his head, pulling him toward him. [Aaron] said, "O son of my mother, indeed the people overpowered me and were about to kill me, so let not the enemies rejoice over me and do not place me among the wrongdoing people."
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّىَ ٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَٱلْإِثْمَ وَٱلْبَغْىَ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا وَأَن تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Say, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allāh that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allāh that which you do not know."
قَالَ ٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُومًا مَّدْحُورًا ۖ لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
[Allāh] said, "Depart from it [i.e., Paradise], reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together."