Tafsir

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 verse (87), an answer has been given to scruples of these people about the division in their ranks after some of them believed in the call of Sayyidna Shu'aib (علیہ السلام) while others kept rejecting him. But, there was no difference between them outwardly. Both groups were living comfortably. If being a disbeliever or denier would have been a crime, the criminal would have been punished. To answer that doubt, it was said: فَاصْبِرُ‌وا حَتَّىٰ يَحْكُمَ اللَّـهُ بَيْنَنَا Is that is, do not make haste. Allah Ta` ala is Forbearing and Merciful. He gives respite to wrongdoers. It is only when they become absolutely wicked and highhanded that the decree of Allah comes into action. The state in which they were was similar. If they remained sticking to their denial, the time was not far when the decisive punishment will overtake the deniers.

وإن كان جماعة منكم صدَّقوا بالذي أرسلني الله به، وجماعة لم يصدِّقوا بذلك، فانتظروا أيها المكذبون قضاء الله الفاصل بيننا وبينكم حين يحلُّ عليكم عذابه الذي أنذرتكم به. والله -جلَّ وعلا- هو خير الحاكمين بين عباده.

وقوله : ( وإن كان طائفة منكم آمنوا بالذي أرسلت به وطائفة لم يؤمنوا ) أي : قد اختلفتم علي ) فاصبروا ) أي : انتظروا ( حتى يحكم الله بيننا ) أي : يفصل ، ( وهو خير الحاكمين ) فإنه سيجعل العاقبة للمتقين ، والدمار على الكافرين .وقوله : ( أولو كنا كارهين ) يقول : أو أنتم فاعلون ذلك ولو كنا كارهين ما تدعونا إليه ؟ فإنا إن رجعنا إلى ملتكم ودخلنا معكم فيما أنتم فيه ، فقد أعظمنا الفرية على الله في جعل الشركاء معه أندادا . وهذا تعبير منه عن أتباعه . ( وما يكون لنا أن نعود فيها إلا أن يشاء الله ربنا ) وهذا رد إلى المشيئة ، فإنه يعلم كل شيء ، وقد أحاط بكل شيء علما ، ( على الله توكلنا ) أي : في أمورنا ما نأتي منها وما نذر ( ربنا افتح بيننا وبين قومنا بالحق ) أي : افصل بيننا وبين قومنا ، وانصرنا عليهم ، ( وأنت خير الفاتحين ) أي : خير الحاكمين ، فإنك العادل الذي لا يجور أبدا .