فَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ رَبِّى وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ ءَاسَىٰ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ كَـٰفِرِينَ 93
Translations
And he [i.e., Shuʿayb] turned away from them and said, "O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the messages of my Lord and advised you, so how could I grieve for a disbelieving people?"
Transliteration
Fatawallā 'anhum wa-qāla yā-qawmi laqad ablaghtukum risālāti rabbī wa-nasahtu lakum fa-kayfa āsā 'alā qawmin kāfirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the final words of Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) to the people of Madyan after they rejected his message. He turned away from them, having fulfilled his prophetic duty by conveying Allah's messages and offering sincere counsel, and expressed his grief at their disbelief. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, Shu'ayb's turning away symbolizes the completion of the call to Allah and the inevitability of divine judgment upon those who reject guidance despite clear proofs.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Shu'ayb's mission within Surah Al-A'raf, a Meccan surah that extensively details the stories of various prophets and their peoples. The context portrays Shu'ayb's warning against dishonesty in commerce and the worship of idols, and his people's stubborn rejection. This passage illustrates the spiritual state of a messenger after exhausting all means of persuasion.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to the concept of 'husn al-nasihah' (sincere counsel). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Ad-dīn an-nasīhah' (The religion is sincere counsel) - Sahih Muslim. Additionally, the ayah reflects the Prophet's experience of rejection as mentioned in Surah 26:3-4 regarding his own call to his people.
Themes
Key Lesson
A believer who sincerely conveys the truth and offers genuine counsel has fulfilled their obligation before Allah, regardless of whether people accept or reject the message. Our responsibility is to communicate with wisdom and compassion, but the outcome rests with Allah alone.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ كَـٰفِرُونَ
Who averted [people] from the way of Allāh and sought to make it [seem] deviant while they were, concerning the Hereafter, disbelievers."
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allāh that perhaps they will remember.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِينَ
But those who hold fast to the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] and establish prayer - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of the reformers.
أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
Then, did they feel secure from the plan of Allāh? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allāh except the losing people.