Transliteration:( Qaalal mala ul lazeenas takbaroo min qawmihee lanukhrijannaka yaa Shu'aibu wallazeena aamanoo ma'aka min qaryatinaaa aw lata'oo dunna fee millatinaa; qaala awa law kunnaa kaariheen )
"The proud chiefs [212] of his people said: 'O Shuaib! We swear that we will certainly throw you out of our town along with those Muslims [213] who are with you or you come back to our faith.' He said: 'What! Even though we hate it?'" [214]
This verse shows that it is often the leaders of a nation who become the cause of its destruction. If the leaders are righteous and humble, they can lead their people to moral and spiritual heights. But the leaders of the people of Hazrat Shu‘ayb (عليه السلام) were arrogant and disrespectful, and their impudence led to their downfall. The fate of a nation is closely tied to the integrity of its leadership.
Their threat was not just directed at Hazrat Shu‘ayb, but also at the believers with him. They said “throw you out… along with those Muslims who are with you”, implying that their real target was the Prophet, and the believers were considered an extension of his mission. This shows that even disbelievers understood there is a clear distinction between Prophets and common believers—Prophets are not simply “believers”, but superior in rank and faith.
The phrase “with you” relates to the act of expelling, not to equality in status. The Prophet leads, and his followers accompany him, but never equal him in status or belief.
Hazrat Shu‘ayb responded with a clear rejection of the idea of returning to their false religion, especially against his will. His words “Even though we hate it?” affirm that faith must come from the heart, not from coercion. To pretend outward belief while inwardly disbelieving is hypocrisy, and this verse firmly condemns such duplicity.
True faith requires sincerity, and any belief void of internal conviction is meaningless.
88. The chiefs of those who were arrogant among his people said: “We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu`ayb and those who have believed with you from our town, or else you (all) shall return to our religion.” He said: “Even though we hate it” 89. “We should have invented a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion, after Allah has rescued us from it. And it is not for us to return to it unless Allah, our Lord, should will. Our Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge. In Allah (Alone) we put our trust. Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth, for You are the best of those who give judgment.”
The chiefs spoke the words mentioned here to the Messenger Shu`ayb, but intended it for those who followed his religion too. The statement,
(“Even though we hate it”), means, would you force us to do that, even though we hate what you are calling us to Certainly if we revert to your religion and accept your ways, we will have uttered a tremendous lie against Allah by calling partners as rivals to Him,
(And it is not for us to return to it unless Allah, our Lord, should will.) This part of the Ayah refers all matters to Allah’s will, and certainly, He has perfect knowledge of all matters and His observation encompasses all things,
(In Allah (Alone) we put our trust. ), concerning all our affairs, what we practice of them and what we ignore,
(Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth) judge between us and our people and give us victory over them,
(for You are the best of those who give judgment) and You are the Most Just Who never wrongs any in His judgment.
(7:88) The haughty elders of his people said: ‘O Shu’ayb! We shall certainly banish you and your companions-in-faith from our town, or else you shall return to our faith.’ Shu’ayb said: ‘What! Even though we abhor [your faith]?
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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