Hud 11:88

"He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I am upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has provided me with a good provision from Him...? And I do not intend to differ from you in that which I have forbidden you; I only intend reform as much as I am able. And my success is not but through Allāh. Upon Him I have relied, and to Him I return."

Shu`ayb's Refutation of His People

He said to them: Do you see O my people, that if I

عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى

(have a clear evidence from my Lord) meaning, upon clear guidance in that which I am calling to.

وَرَزَقَنِى مِنْهُ رِزْقًا حَسَنًا

(and He has given me a good sustenance from Himself.) It has been said that he meant the prophethood. It has also been said that he meant the lawful provisions. It seems that the verse carries both meanings. Ath-Thawri said,

وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَى مَآ أَنْهَـكُمْ عَنْهُ

(I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you.) meaning, `do not forbid you from something and at the same time I contradict my prohibitions in secret behind your backs, doing what I have forbidden.' This is similar to what Qatadah said concerning Allah's statement,

وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَى مَآ أَنْهَـكُمْ عَنْهُ

(I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you.) "He is saying, `I do not forbid you all from something while I do it myself."'

إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلاَّ الإِصْلَـحَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ

(I only desire reform to the best of my power.) This means, "In that which I command and forbid you, I only want to correct your affair as much as I am able."

وَمَا تَوْفِيقِى

(And my guidance cannot come) This means, "In whatever I intend that agrees with the truth."

إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ

(except from Allah, in Him I put my trust) This means in all of my affairs.

وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ

(and unto Him I repent.) meaning; "I return." This has been said by Mujahid and others.

Пророк Шуейб сказал: «О мои соплеменники! Я абсолютно спокоен и убежден в правдивости моего учения. Аллах даровал мне всевозможное богатство, и я не желаю обманывать людей на мере и на весах, удерживая вас от этих прегрешений. В противном случае вы сможете представить мне серьезные обвинения. Однако я стараюсь первым отречься от любых грехов, в которых я призываю вас покаяться. Я проповедую среди вас для того, чтобы ваши деяния стали праведными и приносили вам пользу. Я не преследую корыстных целей и по мере возможностей стараюсь не делать ничего во благо только себе одному. Но не думайте, что я восхваляю себя. Воистину, совершать добрые дела и удерживаться от злодеяний мне удается только благодаря поддержке Всевышнего Аллаха. Это не является результатом моих стараний и усилий. Во всех начинаниях я полагаюсь только на Аллаха, и мне достаточно Его поддержки. Я обращаюсь только к Нему и посвящаю свое поклонение только Ему». Этими словами святой пророк подчеркнул, что пытался приблизиться к Аллаху посредством разных праведных деяний. И если человек испрашивает помощь у Аллаха и искренне обращается к Нему, то все его поступки непременно окажутся правильными. Именно поэтому Всевышний Аллах сказал: «Аллаху ведомо сокровенное на небесах и на земле, и к Нему возвращаются дела. Посему поклоняйся Ему и уповай на Него, ибо Господь твой не находится в неведении о том, что вы совершаете» (11:123). А в другом откровении говорится: «Тебе одному мы поклоняемся и Тебя одного молим о помощи» (1:5).

What Sayyidna Shu'aib (علیہ السلام) had said to his people was good counsel based on earnest fellow feeling. But, his people responded to him with a sarcasm that was biting. However, they had done that to a blessed prophet of Sayyidna Shu'aib's class. He heard their caustic comments, yet turned to them with the same empathy and once again tried to make them see the truth. He said: يَا قَوْمِ أَرَ‌أَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّ‌بِّي وَرَ‌زَقَنِي مِنْهُ رِ‌زْقًا حَسَنًا (0 my people, tell me, if I am on a clear path from my Lord and He has provided me from Himself with a good provision, [ should I still leave you unguided?] ) Sayyidna Shu'aib (علیہ السلام) was telling his people that he had been blessed by his Lord in that He gave him good provision for his material life and in that He also gave him the light of revelation and spiritual insight. Now, with these wonderful assets in his hands, how could he ever think of becoming like them, willingly embracing error and injustice, and thus failing to bring the truth home to them?

After that, he said: وَمَا أُرِ‌يدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَىٰ مَا أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ (and I do not want to do in your absence what I prohibit for you). This tells us that the way a preacher of religion conducts his life has a major role in what he preaches. What a preacher does not himself practice produces no effect on others.

Then, he said: إِنْ أُرِ‌يدُ إِلَّا الْإِصْلَاحَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ (I want to do nothing but to set things right as far as I can). And since, this effort too was not by his personal choice and volition, he further said: وَمَا تَوْفِيقِي إِلَّا بِاللَّـهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ (And my ability to do things comes from none but Allah. In Him alone I have placed my trust, and to Him alone I turn in humbleness).

Other English translations

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Shu`ayb's Refutation of His People