Surah Hud 11:84-95 - Quran Translation Commentary

84. And to Madyan (People We sent) their brother, Shuaib.¹²² He said: “O my people! Worship Allah. You have no god, but Him. And do not give short measure and weight.¹²³ Verily, I see you prosperous but verily I fear for you the punishment of an inescapable day.

85. And O my people! Give just measure and weight, and do not give people less than their (due) things, and do not corrupt on the earth with mischief.”

86. What Allah leaves for you is better for you, if you are believers,¹²⁴ and I am not a guardian over you.”¹²⁵

87. They said: “O Shuaib! Does your salat (prayer) command you that we should forsake worshipping which our fathers worshipped, or that we (should give up) doing what we will with our own property?¹²⁶ Indeed you are the only forbearing and healthy-minded man!”¹²⁷

88. He said: “O my people! Did you think that if I am on to a clear proof from my Lord and He sustains me with a good sustenance¹²⁸ from Him (should I not follow the path of truth)? I do not wish to do in your opposition what I forbid you to do.¹²⁹ I only desire your reform as far as I am able (to effect). And there is no help for me except from Allah.¹³⁰ In Him I trust and to Him I turn.”

89. And O my people! Let not the antagonism against me cause you to sin so that there may befall you (the punishment) that befell the people of Nooh, and the people of Hood, and the people of Salih; and the people of Loot are not far off from you.¹³¹”

90. And beg for forgiveness of your Lord and then turn to Him repentant.¹³² Verily, my Lord is Most Merciful, Loving. “¹³³

91. They said: “O Shuaib! We do not understand much of what you say,¹³⁴ and in fact we see you among us a weak person;¹³⁵were it not for your tribe, we had surely stoned you,¹³⁶ for you are not strong against us.

92. “He said:” O my people! Is my tribe stronger than Allah for you? And you put Him behind your backs¹³⁷ neglected? Verily my Lord encompasses all that you do.”

93. And O my people! Do in accordance with your ways, and verily I am doing accordingly. You will soon know on whom comes the disgraceful punishment, and who is a liar. And watch, surely I am too watching with you.”

94. And when Our command came We saved Shuaib and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us; and the dreadful sound seized the wrong-doers, so they lay in their dwellings prostrate.¹³⁸

95. As if they had not dwelt there. A far removal¹³⁹ for Madyan like the far removal for Thamud!¹⁴⁰

Commentary

122. The chronicle of the people of Madyan, has been narrated in Surah A’raf, ayat No.85 to ayat No.93. On this occasion the said ayat and their explanatory notes Nos. 134 to 149 should be kept in view.

123. To measure less and weigh less while selling a thing is a great sin, and this practice is indulged in by those who do not believe in or do not remember their accountability before God. Please see Surah Mutaffifeen, Note No. 1.”

124. That is: If you believe in Allah and are content to earn only by lawful means, then it will be auspicious for you in the world and will assure your success in the Hereafter. By deceiving people in business and trade, apparently property and wealth are increased, but such an income is devoid of goodness and is the cause of doom in the Hereafter.

125. That is: My task is merely to convey Allah’s message to the people. It is not my job to be a detective and watch over their every act nor am I required to give an account before God of whatever you do in this world.

126. Their question reveals their mentality which questions the right of a person who is allowed to offer salat to criticise or declare false other religions which are idolatrous. Similarly it is questioned what right that person has to restrict others economic freedom by introducing the discussion about lawful and unlawful methods, justice and securing rights of others in business and trade matters. The present day secularists are demonstrating this very mentality. According to them the jurisdiction of religion is confined to personal beliefs and worship only, social life, community living and politics, and economic activities, etc. have nothing to do with it. For this reason they advise Muslims to practise Islam to the extent of offering prayers and observing fasts, but not to let Islam interfere in the social affairs. This mentality has become so much aggressive these days that they even object to the Muslims following their Divine Laws in their family matters, like Nikah, Divorce, Inheritance, etc.

127. This was a taunt against Prophet Shuaib.

128. ‘Rizq-e-hasan’ (good sustenance) means spiritual sustenance (divine revelation) as well as material sustenance. It means that Allah has blessed me with prophethood as also lawful livelihood. After this, should I be ungrateful to Him, and should I not follow the path that He has guided me to?

129. That is: I have kept myself innocent of polytheism and also of earning by unlawful means, and these points are proof of my truthfulness.

130. There is a guidance for those who set out to reform the people in the statement of Prophet Shuaib that his task is to reform the people so far as it is in his power, but the trust for the results should not be on personal efforts but on the guidance and help provided by Allah.

131. The disaster that struck the people of Loot was not an old event for the people of Madyan but it had taken place recently. Besides the region of the people of Loot was close to Madyan.

132. It has been explained in Note No.8.

133. That is: He does not hate or dislike His slaves but loves them and likes them, therefore, He does not intend to throw them into Fire willy-nilly. He desires to open up vistas of goodness and blessings for His slaves. However, if the slaves themselves show indifference to Him or rebel against Him, then they would naturally be liable to be dealt with severely.

134. The statements of Shuaib were neither philosophical nor were they complicated; they were simple and straightforward statements directly appealing to the head and the heart. But since they were not prepared to listen to him with an open mind and a sincere heart, they were not in a position to understand them. When a man casts his mind in a particular mould, then any statement which does not conform to that mould is not understood by him, however obvious that reality may be.

135. That is: According to the number of supporters and strength.

136. In tribal system great consideration had to be shown to the kinship and family connections, otherwise on somebody’s being murdered the chain of revenge killings would never end. This consideration was the main hindrance in stoning Prophet Shuaib. The threat of stoning Shuaib shows the tyrannical tendency of the community. It also shows that in that society to invite people to accept monotheism and to forbid them from committing evil was considered a crime.

137. That is: You stopped taking action against me from the fear of my relatives and you were not afraid of the wrath of God. Are my relatives, then, stronger and more devastating than Allah?

138. For explanation, please see Surah A’raf Note No.147.

139. That is: Being removed from the mercy of Allah.

140. It seems that the punishment which seized Thamud was similar to the one that had seized the people of Madyan.