11. Hud

They said: "O Shu'ayb! We do not understand much of what you say, and we see you weak among us. Were it not for your family, you would have been stoned, and you are not powerful against us. (91)He said: "O my people! Is then my family of more weight with you than Allah? And you have cast Him away behind your backs. Verily, my Lord is surrounding all that you do. (92)

The Response of Shu'ayb's People

They said,

يَا شُعَيْبُ مَا نَفْقَهُ

(O Shu'ayb! We do not understand) This means that we do not comprehend.

كَثِيرًا

(much) 'most of what you say'. Ath-Thawri said, "He (Shu'ayb) was called the orator of the Prophets." As-Suddi said,

وَإِنَّا لَنَرَاكَ فِينَا ضَعِيفًا

(and we see you weak among us.) "They meant, 'You are only one person.'" Abu Rawq said, "They meant, 'You are despised, because your tribe is not upon your religion.'"

وَلَوْلَا رَهْطُكَ لَرَجَمْنَاكَ

(Were it not for your family, you would have been stoned,) This means, your people. Were it not for their powerful position over the people of Madyan, they would have stoned him to death. Some said that this means with rocks. It has also been said that this means that they would have cursed and insulted him verbally.

وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْنَا بِعَزِيزٍ

(and you are not powerful against us.) This means, "You have no position of power over us."

Shu'ayb's Refutation of His People

قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَرَهْطِي أَعَزُّ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ

(He said: "O my people! Is then my family of more weight with you than Allah?")

He says: You would leave me alone out of respect for my people but not out of respect for the greatness of the Lord, the Most Blessed and Exalted? Does not your awe of Allah prevent you from harming His Prophet? Indeed you have placed the fear of Allah,

وَرَاءَكُمْ ظِهْرِيًّا

(behind your backs.) This means that you have thrown it behind you. You do not obey it, nor do you respect it.

إِنَّ رَبِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ

(Verily, my Lord is surrounding all that you do.) This means that He knows all of your actions and He will reward you according to them.

They said: "O Shu'ayb! We do not understand much of what you say, and we see you weak among us. Were it not for your family, you would have been stoned, and you are not powerful against us. (91)He said: "O my people! Is then my family of more weight with you than Allah? And you have cast Him away behind your backs. Verily, my Lord is surrounding all that you do. (92)

The Response of Shu'ayb's People

They said,

يَا شُعَيْبُ مَا نَفْقَهُ

(O Shu'ayb! We do not understand) This means that we do not comprehend.

كَثِيرًا

(much) 'most of what you say'. Ath-Thawri said, "He (Shu'ayb) was called the orator of the Prophets." As-Suddi said,

وَإِنَّا لَنَرَاكَ فِينَا ضَعِيفًا

(and we see you weak among us.) "They meant, 'You are only one person.'" Abu Rawq said, "They meant, 'You are despised, because your tribe is not upon your religion.'"

وَلَوْلَا رَهْطُكَ لَرَجَمْنَاكَ

(Were it not for your family, you would have been stoned,) This means, your people. Were it not for their powerful position over the people of Madyan, they would have stoned him to death. Some said that this means with rocks. It has also been said that this means that they would have cursed and insulted him verbally.

وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْنَا بِعَزِيزٍ

(and you are not powerful against us.) This means, "You have no position of power over us."

Shu'ayb's Refutation of His People

قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَرَهْطِي أَعَزُّ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ

(He said: "O my people! Is then my family of more weight with you than Allah?")

He says: You would leave me alone out of respect for my people but not out of respect for the greatness of the Lord, the Most Blessed and Exalted? Does not your awe of Allah prevent you from harming His Prophet? Indeed you have placed the fear of Allah,

وَرَاءَكُمْ ظِهْرِيًّا

(behind your backs.) This means that you have thrown it behind you. You do not obey it, nor do you respect it.

إِنَّ رَبِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ

(Verily, my Lord is surrounding all that you do.) This means that He knows all of your actions and He will reward you according to them.

"And O my people! Act according to your ability, and I am acting. You will come to know who it is on whom descends the torment that will cover him with ignominy, and who is a liar! And watch you! Verily, I too am watching with you. (93)And when Our commandment came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us. And As-Sayhah (awful cry) seized the wrongdoers, and they lay (Jathimin) in their homes (94)As if they had never lived there! So away with Madyan just as Thamud went away (95)

Shu'ayb's threatening of His People

When the Prophet of Allah, Shu'ayb, despaired of their response to him,he said " O my people,

اعْمَلُوا عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ

(Act according to your ability,) This means, "Act according to your current ways." This is actually a severe threat.

إِنِّي عَامِلٌ

(I am acting.) according to my way.

سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ

(You will come to know who it is on whom descends the torment that will cover him with ignominy, and who is a liar!) meaning, between me and you.

وَارْتَقِبُوا

(And watch you!) This means to wait.

إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ رَقِيبٌ

(I too am watching with you.) Allah then says,

وَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبًا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا الصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دِيَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ

(And when Our commandment came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us. And As-Sayhah (awful cry) seized the wrongdoers, and they lay (Jathimin) in their homes.) His saying Jathimin means extinct and lifeless without any movement. Here Allah mentions that a loud cry (Sayhah) came to them. In Surat Al-A'raf He says a severe quake (Rajfah) came to them. In Surat Ash-Shu'ara', He said it was a torment of a cloudy day. They were one nation upon which all of these punishments were gathered on the day of their destruction. In each context, Allah only mentioned that which was suitable. In Surat Al-A'raf when they said,

لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ يَا شُعَيْبُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَكَ مِن قَرْيَتِنَا

(We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu'ayb, and those who have believed with you from our town.)[7:88] In this verse it was suitable to mention a tremor, or quake (Rajfah). The earth in which they practiced their wrongdoing and they wanted to expel their Prophet from it, shook them. Here, due to their disrespectful manners in speaking to their Prophet, Allah mentioned the awful cry (Sayhah) which overcame them and killed them. In Surat Ash-Shu'ara' when they said,

فَأَسْقِطْ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

(So cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!)[26:187] Allah said in response,

فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

(So the torment of the day of Shadow seized them. Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day.)[26:189] This is from the intricate secrets and to Allah belongs all praise and much bounty forever. Concerning the statement,

كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا فِيهَا

(As if they had never lived there!) This means it was as if they had not lived in their homes before that.

أَلَا …

"And O my people! Act according to your ability, and I am acting. You will come to know who it is on whom descends the torment that will cover him with ignominy, and who is a liar! And watch you! Verily, I too am watching with you. (93)And when Our commandment came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us. And As-Sayhah (awful cry) seized the wrongdoers, and they lay (Jathimin) in their homes (94)As if they had never lived there! So away with Madyan just as Thamud went away (95)

Shu'ayb's threatening of His People

When the Prophet of Allah, Shu'ayb, despaired of their response to him,he said " O my people,

اعْمَلُوا عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ

(Act according to your ability,) This means, "Act according to your current ways." This is actually a severe threat.

إِنِّي عَامِلٌ

(I am acting.) according to my way.

سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ

(You will come to know who it is on whom descends the torment that will cover him with ignominy, and who is a liar!) meaning, between me and you.

وَارْتَقِبُوا

(And watch you!) This means to wait.

إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ رَقِيبٌ

(I too am watching with you.) Allah then says,

وَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبًا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا الصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دِيَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ

(And when Our commandment came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us. And As-Sayhah (awful cry) seized the wrongdoers, and they lay (Jathimin) in their homes.) His saying Jathimin means extinct and lifeless without any movement. Here Allah mentions that a loud cry (Sayhah) came to them. In Surat Al-A'raf He says a severe quake (Rajfah) came to them. In Surat Ash-Shu'ara', He said it was a torment of a cloudy day. They were one nation upon which all of these punishments were gathered on the day of their destruction. In each context, Allah only mentioned that which was suitable. In Surat Al-A'raf when they said,

لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ يَا شُعَيْبُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَكَ مِن قَرْيَتِنَا

(We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu'ayb, and those who have believed with you from our town.)[7:88] In this verse it was suitable to mention a tremor, or quake (Rajfah). The earth in which they practiced their wrongdoing and they wanted to expel their Prophet from it, shook them. Here, due to their disrespectful manners in speaking to their Prophet, Allah mentioned the awful cry (Sayhah) which overcame them and killed them. In Surat Ash-Shu'ara' when they said,

فَأَسْقِطْ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

(So cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!)[26:187] Allah said in response,

فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

(So the torment of the day of Shadow seized them. Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day.)[26:189] This is from the intricate secrets and to Allah belongs all praise and much bounty forever. Concerning the statement,

كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا فِيهَا

(As if they had never lived there!) This means it was as if they had not lived in their homes before that.

أَلَا …

"And O my people! Act according to your ability, and I am acting. You will come to know who it is on whom descends the torment that will cover him with ignominy, and who is a liar! And watch you! Verily, I too am watching with you. (93)And when Our commandment came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us. And As-Sayhah (awful cry) seized the wrongdoers, and they lay (Jathimin) in their homes (94)As if they had never lived there! So away with Madyan just as Thamud went away (95)

Shu'ayb's threatening of His People

When the Prophet of Allah, Shu'ayb, despaired of their response to him,he said " O my people,

اعْمَلُوا عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ

(Act according to your ability,) This means, "Act according to your current ways." This is actually a severe threat.

إِنِّي عَامِلٌ

(I am acting.) according to my way.

سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ

(You will come to know who it is on whom descends the torment that will cover him with ignominy, and who is a liar!) meaning, between me and you.

وَارْتَقِبُوا

(And watch you!) This means to wait.

إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ رَقِيبٌ

(I too am watching with you.) Allah then says,

وَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبًا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا الصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دِيَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ

(And when Our commandment came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us. And As-Sayhah (awful cry) seized the wrongdoers, and they lay (Jathimin) in their homes.) His saying Jathimin means extinct and lifeless without any movement. Here Allah mentions that a loud cry (Sayhah) came to them. In Surat Al-A'raf He says a severe quake (Rajfah) came to them. In Surat Ash-Shu'ara', He said it was a torment of a cloudy day. They were one nation upon which all of these punishments were gathered on the day of their destruction. In each context, Allah only mentioned that which was suitable. In Surat Al-A'raf when they said,

لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ يَا شُعَيْبُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَكَ مِن قَرْيَتِنَا

(We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu'ayb, and those who have believed with you from our town.)[7:88] In this verse it was suitable to mention a tremor, or quake (Rajfah). The earth in which they practiced their wrongdoing and they wanted to expel their Prophet from it, shook them. Here, due to their disrespectful manners in speaking to their Prophet, Allah mentioned the awful cry (Sayhah) which overcame them and killed them. In Surat Ash-Shu'ara' when they said,

فَأَسْقِطْ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

(So cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!)[26:187] Allah said in response,

فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

(So the torment of the day of Shadow seized them. Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day.)[26:189] This is from the intricate secrets and to Allah belongs all praise and much bounty forever. Concerning the statement,

كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا فِيهَا

(As if they had never lived there!) This means it was as if they had not lived in their homes before that.

أَلَا …

And indeed We sent Musa with Our Ayat and a manifest authority (96)To Fir'awn and his chiefs, but they followed the command of Fir'awn, and the command of Fir'awn was no right guide (97)He will go ahead of his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them into the Fire, and evil indeed is the place to which they are led (98)They were pursued by a curse in this (deceiving life of this world) and (so they will be pursued by a curse) on the Day of Resurrection, evil indeed is the gift granted (99)

The Story of Musa and Fir'awn

In these verses Allah informs of His sending Musa with His signs and clear proofs to Fir'awn, the king of the Coptic people, and his chiefs.

فَاتَّبَعُوا أَمْرَ فِرْعَوْنَ

(but they followed the command of Fir'awn.) This means that they followed his path, way and methodology in transgression.

وَمَا أَمْرُ فِرْعَوْنَ بِرَشِيدٍ

(and the command of Fir'awn was no right guide.) This means there was no right guidance in it. It was only ignorance, misguidance, disbelief and stubbornness. Just as they followed him in this life and he was their leader and chief, likewise he will lead them to the Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection. He will lead them directly to it and they will drink from springs of destruction. Fir'awn will have a great share in that awful punishment. This is as Allah, the Exalted, said,

فَعَصَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ الرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُ أَخْذًا وَبِيلًا

(But Fir'awn disobeyed the Messenger; so We seized him with a severe punishment.)[73:16] Allah also said,

فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ - ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَىٰ - فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ - فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ - فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُولَىٰ - إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّمَن يَخْشَىٰ

(But Fir'awn belied and disobeyed. Then he turned his back, striving (against Allah). Then he gathered (his people) and cried aloud, Saying: "I am your lord, most high." So Allah, seized him with exemplary punishment for his last and first transgression. Verily, in this is an instructive admonition for whosoever fears Allah.)[79:21-26] Allah also said,

يَقْدُمُ قَوْمَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَأَوْرَدَهُمُ النَّارَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْوِرْدُ الْمَوْرُودُ

(He will go ahead of his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them into the Fire, and evil indeed is the place to which they are led.) This will be the condition of those who were followed. They will have a great share of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection. This is as Allah says,

لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَعْلَمُونَ

(For each one there is double (torment), but you know not.)[7:38] Allah also says that the disbelievers will say while they are in the Hellfire,

رَبَّنَا إِنَّا أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلَا - رَبَّنَا آتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ

("Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (right) way. Our Lord! Give them double torment.")[33:67-68] Concerning the statement,

وَأُتْبِعُوا فِي هَٰذِهِ لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

(They were pursued by a curse in this (deceiving life of this world) and (so they will be pursued by a curse) on the Day of Resurrection.) meaning, 'We have made them to …

And indeed We sent Musa with Our Ayat and a manifest authority (96)To Fir'awn and his chiefs, but they followed the command of Fir'awn, and the command of Fir'awn was no right guide (97)He will go ahead of his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them into the Fire, and evil indeed is the place to which they are led (98)They were pursued by a curse in this (deceiving life of this world) and (so they will be pursued by a curse) on the Day of Resurrection, evil indeed is the gift granted (99)

The Story of Musa and Fir'awn

In these verses Allah informs of His sending Musa with His signs and clear proofs to Fir'awn, the king of the Coptic people, and his chiefs.

فَاتَّبَعُوا أَمْرَ فِرْعَوْنَ

(but they followed the command of Fir'awn.) This means that they followed his path, way and methodology in transgression.

وَمَا أَمْرُ فِرْعَوْنَ بِرَشِيدٍ

(and the command of Fir'awn was no right guide.) This means there was no right guidance in it. It was only ignorance, misguidance, disbelief and stubbornness. Just as they followed him in this life and he was their leader and chief, likewise he will lead them to the Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection. He will lead them directly to it and they will drink from springs of destruction. Fir'awn will have a great share in that awful punishment. This is as Allah, the Exalted, said,

فَعَصَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ الرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُ أَخْذًا وَبِيلًا

(But Fir'awn disobeyed the Messenger; so We seized him with a severe punishment.)[73:16] Allah also said,

فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ - ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَىٰ - فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ - فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ - فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُولَىٰ - إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّمَن يَخْشَىٰ

(But Fir'awn belied and disobeyed. Then he turned his back, striving (against Allah). Then he gathered (his people) and cried aloud, Saying: "I am your lord, most high." So Allah, seized him with exemplary punishment for his last and first transgression. Verily, in this is an instructive admonition for whosoever fears Allah.)[79:21-26] Allah also said,

يَقْدُمُ قَوْمَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَأَوْرَدَهُمُ النَّارَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْوِرْدُ الْمَوْرُودُ

(He will go ahead of his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them into the Fire, and evil indeed is the place to which they are led.) This will be the condition of those who were followed. They will have a great share of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection. This is as Allah says,

لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَعْلَمُونَ

(For each one there is double (torment), but you know not.)[7:38] Allah also says that the disbelievers will say while they are in the Hellfire,

رَبَّنَا إِنَّا أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلَا - رَبَّنَا آتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ

("Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (right) way. Our Lord! Give them double torment.")[33:67-68] Concerning the statement,

وَأُتْبِعُوا فِي هَٰذِهِ لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

(They were pursued by a curse in this (deceiving life of this world) and (so they will be pursued by a curse) on the Day of Resurrection.) meaning, 'We have made them to …

And indeed We sent Musa with Our Ayat and a manifest authority (96)To Fir'awn and his chiefs, but they followed the command of Fir'awn, and the command of Fir'awn was no right guide (97)He will go ahead of his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them into the Fire, and evil indeed is the place to which they are led (98)They were pursued by a curse in this (deceiving life of this world) and (so they will be pursued by a curse) on the Day of Resurrection, evil indeed is the gift granted (99)

The Story of Musa and Fir'awn

In these verses Allah informs of His sending Musa with His signs and clear proofs to Fir'awn, the king of the Coptic people, and his chiefs.

فَاتَّبَعُوا أَمْرَ فِرْعَوْنَ

(but they followed the command of Fir'awn.) This means that they followed his path, way and methodology in transgression.

وَمَا أَمْرُ فِرْعَوْنَ بِرَشِيدٍ

(and the command of Fir'awn was no right guide.) This means there was no right guidance in it. It was only ignorance, misguidance, disbelief and stubbornness. Just as they followed him in this life and he was their leader and chief, likewise he will lead them to the Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection. He will lead them directly to it and they will drink from springs of destruction. Fir'awn will have a great share in that awful punishment. This is as Allah, the Exalted, said,

فَعَصَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ الرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُ أَخْذًا وَبِيلًا

(But Fir'awn disobeyed the Messenger; so We seized him with a severe punishment.)[73:16] Allah also said,

فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ - ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَىٰ - فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ - فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ - فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُولَىٰ - إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّمَن يَخْشَىٰ

(But Fir'awn belied and disobeyed. Then he turned his back, striving (against Allah). Then he gathered (his people) and cried aloud, Saying: "I am your lord, most high." So Allah, seized him with exemplary punishment for his last and first transgression. Verily, in this is an instructive admonition for whosoever fears Allah.)[79:21-26] Allah also said,

يَقْدُمُ قَوْمَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَأَوْرَدَهُمُ النَّارَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْوِرْدُ الْمَوْرُودُ

(He will go ahead of his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them into the Fire, and evil indeed is the place to which they are led.) This will be the condition of those who were followed. They will have a great share of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection. This is as Allah says,

لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَعْلَمُونَ

(For each one there is double (torment), but you know not.)[7:38] Allah also says that the disbelievers will say while they are in the Hellfire,

رَبَّنَا إِنَّا أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلَا - رَبَّنَا آتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ

("Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (right) way. Our Lord! Give them double torment.")[33:67-68] Concerning the statement,

وَأُتْبِعُوا فِي هَٰذِهِ لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

(They were pursued by a curse in this (deceiving life of this world) and (so they will be pursued by a curse) on the Day of Resurrection.) meaning, 'We have made them to …

And indeed We sent Musa with Our Ayat and a manifest authority (96)To Fir'awn and his chiefs, but they followed the command of Fir'awn, and the command of Fir'awn was no right guide (97)He will go ahead of his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them into the Fire, and evil indeed is the place to which they are led (98)They were pursued by a curse in this (deceiving life of this world) and (so they will be pursued by a curse) on the Day of Resurrection, evil indeed is the gift granted (99)

The Story of Musa and Fir'awn

In these verses Allah informs of His sending Musa with His signs and clear proofs to Fir'awn, the king of the Coptic people, and his chiefs.

فَاتَّبَعُوا أَمْرَ فِرْعَوْنَ

(but they followed the command of Fir'awn.) This means that they followed his path, way and methodology in transgression.

وَمَا أَمْرُ فِرْعَوْنَ بِرَشِيدٍ

(and the command of Fir'awn was no right guide.) This means there was no right guidance in it. It was only ignorance, misguidance, disbelief and stubbornness. Just as they followed him in this life and he was their leader and chief, likewise he will lead them to the Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection. He will lead them directly to it and they will drink from springs of destruction. Fir'awn will have a great share in that awful punishment. This is as Allah, the Exalted, said,

فَعَصَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ الرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُ أَخْذًا وَبِيلًا

(But Fir'awn disobeyed the Messenger; so We seized him with a severe punishment.)[73:16] Allah also said,

فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ - ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَىٰ - فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ - فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ - فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُولَىٰ - إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّمَن يَخْشَىٰ

(But Fir'awn belied and disobeyed. Then he turned his back, striving (against Allah). Then he gathered (his people) and cried aloud, Saying: "I am your lord, most high." So Allah, seized him with exemplary punishment for his last and first transgression. Verily, in this is an instructive admonition for whosoever fears Allah.)[79:21-26] Allah also said,

يَقْدُمُ قَوْمَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَأَوْرَدَهُمُ النَّارَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْوِرْدُ الْمَوْرُودُ

(He will go ahead of his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them into the Fire, and evil indeed is the place to which they are led.) This will be the condition of those who were followed. They will have a great share of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection. This is as Allah says,

لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَعْلَمُونَ

(For each one there is double (torment), but you know not.)[7:38] Allah also says that the disbelievers will say while they are in the Hellfire,

رَبَّنَا إِنَّا أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلَا - رَبَّنَا آتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ

("Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (right) way. Our Lord! Give them double torment.")[33:67-68] Concerning the statement,

وَأُتْبِعُوا فِي هَٰذِهِ لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

(They were pursued by a curse in this (deceiving life of this world) and (so they will be pursued by a curse) on the Day of Resurrection.) meaning, 'We have made them to …

That is some of the news of the (population of) towns which We relate unto you; of them, some are (still) standing, and some have been (already) reaped (100)We wronged them not, but they wronged themselves. So their gods whom they call upon besides Allah, profited them naught when there came the command of your Lord, nor did they add aught to them but destruction (101)

The Lesson taken from the Destroyed Towns

When Allah mentioned the story of the Prophets and what happened with them and their nations – how He destroyed the disbelievers and saved the believers – He goes on to say,

ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الْقُرَىٰ

(That is some of the news of the (population of ) towns) meaning, news of them

نَقُصُّهُ عَلَيْكَ ۖ مِنْهَا قَائِمٌ

(which We relate unto you; of them, some are (still) standing,) This means still remaining.

وَحَصِيدٌ

(and some have been (already) reaped.) This means totally destroyed.

وَمَا ظَلَمْنَاهُمْ

(We wronged them not,) This means, "When We destroyed them."

وَلَٰكِن ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ

(but they wronged themselves.) their rejecting their Messengers and disbelieving in them.

فَمَا أَغْنَتْ عَنْهُمْ آلِهَتُهُمُ

(So their gods, profited them [not]...) This is referring to their idols that they used to worship and invoke.

مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ

(other than Allah naught) the idols did not benefit them, nor did they save them when Allah's command came for their destruction.

وَمَا زَادُوهُمْ غَيْرَ تَتْبِيبٍ

(nor did they add aught to them but destruction.) Mujahid, Qatadah and others said, "This means loss. Because the reason for their destruction and their ruin was that they followed those false gods. Therefore, they were losers in this life and the Hereafter."