Tafsir of Surah Al-A'raf - Verse 86

Prophet Shu`ayb forbade his people from setting up blockades on the roads, saying,

وَلاَ تَقْعُدُواْ بِكُلِّ صِرَطٍ تُوعِدُونَ

("And sit not on every road, threatening,") threatening people with death if they do not give up their money, as they were bandits, according to As-Suddi. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and several others commented:

وَلاَ تَقْعُدُواْ بِكُلِّ صِرَطٍ تُوعِدُونَ

("And sit not on every road, threatening.") the believers who come to Shu`ayb to follow him." The first meaning is better, because Prophet Shu`ayb first said to them,

بِكُلِّ صِرَطٍ

("on every road...") He then mentioned the second meaning,

وَتَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِ وَتَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا

("and hindering from the path of Allah those who believe in Him, and seeking to make it crooked.") meaning, you seek to make the path of Allah crooked and deviated,

وَاذْكُرُواْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلاً فَكَثَّرَكُمْ

("And remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you.") meaning, you were weak because you were few. But you later on became mighty because of your large numbers. Therefore, remember Allah's favor.

وَانظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

("And see what was the end of the mischief-makers. ") from the previous nations and earlier generations. See the torment and punishment they suffered, because they disobeyed Allah and rejected His Messengers. Shu`ayb continued;

وَإِن كَانَ طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنكُمْ ءامَنُواْ بِالَّذِى أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ وَطَآئِفَةٌ لَّمْ يْؤْمِنُواْ

("And if there is a party of you who believes in that with which I have been sent and a party who does not believe,") that is, if you divided concerning me,

فَاصْبِرُواْ

("so be patient") that is, then wait and see,

حَتَّى يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَنَا

("until Allah judges between us,"), and you,

وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَـكِمِينَ

("and He is the best of judges.") Surely, Allah will award the best end to those who fear and obey Him and He will destroy the disbelievers.

In the last sentence of verse 86, it was said: وَاذْكُرُ‌وا إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلًا فَكَثَّرَ‌كُمْ ۖ وَانظُرُ‌وا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ. (And remember the time when you were few, then He increased you in number. And look, how was the fate of mischief makers). The twin aspects of persuasion and intimidation were employed to warn these people. The first was persuasion when they were reminded of the blessing of Allah who increased their insignificant numbers to become a large nation, or changed their economic weakness into need-free financial strength. Then, to chasten them through intimidation, it was said that they could do much better if they had a look at the sad end of peoples who had engineered disorder on the earth. The peoples of Nuh, ` Ad, Thamud and Lut (علیہم السلام) were examples of so many different punishments, which should help them understand their own situation and make the correction needed.

When the people of Midian went to extremes in their wrongful ways, God sent Shu‘ayb to them with His message. He exhorted them to adopt the way of righteousness and honesty in their dealings. With the help of clear arguments, He made them fully aware of the necessity for honesty. But they were not willing to accept the admonition. Not only that, they were not ready to accept the mission of Shu‘ayb. They distorted his preachings and created misunderstanding among the people about him. They even resorted to violent means to dissuade the people from supporting him. In the end the retribution of God descended upon them and they were destroyed. In the eyes of God, matters relating to the consideration of the rights of fellow human beings and honesty in mutual dealings are so important that a community, in spite of claiming to be believers, was destroyed. God is the best Judge and His judgement cannot be biased.