۞ قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ يَـٰشُعَيْبُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَكَ مِن قَرْيَتِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَا ۚ قَالَ أَوَلَوْ كُنَّا كَـٰرِهِينَ 88
Translations
Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people, "We will surely evict you, O Shuʿayb, and those who have believed with you from our city, or you must return to our religion." He said, "Even if we were unwilling?
Transliteration
Qala al-mala'u alladhina istakbaru min qawmihi lanukhrijannaka ya Shu'aybu wa alladhina amanu ma'aka min qaryatina aw latawdunna fi millatina. Qala awa law kunna kariheen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The arrogant chiefs of Shu'ayb's people threaten to expel him and the believers from their city unless they renounce their faith and return to the pagan religion. Shu'ayb responds with rhetorical rejection, asking how they could expect him to return to disbelief even under duress. This ayah illustrates the typical response of oppressive societies to prophetic calls: persecution, exile threats, and demands for religious conformity—and demonstrates the unwavering commitment of a true believer to Allah's guidance regardless of worldly consequences.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the story of Prophet Shu'ayb (Jethro) addressing the people of Madyan, who were known for dishonest commerce and rejecting divine guidance. The passage reflects the historical pattern of rejection prophets faced, presented in Surah Al-A'raf to illustrate how communities repeatedly dismissed messengers sent to guide them toward righteousness.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected here relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'Whoever is put to trial for My sake, I will make paradise his reward' (various transmissions). Also relevant is the general principle from Surah Al-Ankabut 29:2-3 about trials separating true believers from those insincere in faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith cannot be compromised through intimidation, exile, or loss of wealth and position—the believer's allegiance to Allah transcends temporal pressures. This ayah teaches that standing firm on principle may cost us dearly in worldly terms, yet submission to truth is the only honorable path.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ إِن كُنتَ جِئْتَ بِـَٔايَةٍ فَأْتِ بِهَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
[Pharaoh] said, "If you have come with a sign, then bring it forth, if you should be of the truthful."
وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ لَهُمْ نَصْرًا وَلَآ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَنصُرُونَ
And they [i.e., the false deities] are unable to [give] them help, nor can they help themselves.
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَآ ۛ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَـٰذَا غَـٰفِلِينَ
And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware."
قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ لَٱسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِىَ ٱلسُّوٓءُ ۚ إِنْ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Say, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allāh has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe."