قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِمَنْ ءَامَنَ مِنْهُمْ أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ صَـٰلِحًا مُّرْسَلٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلَ بِهِۦ مُؤْمِنُونَ 75
Translations
Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people to those who were oppressed - to those who believed among them, "Do you [actually] know that Ṣāliḥ is sent from his Lord?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which he was sent, are believers."
Transliteration
Qala al-mala'u alladhina istakbaru min qawmihi lilladhina istudu'ifu liman amana minhum ataalamun anna salihan mursalun min rabbihi qalu inna bima ursila bihi mu'minun
Tafsir (Explanation)
The arrogant leaders of Salih's people mockingly asked the weak believers if they knew that Salih was truly sent by his Lord, to which the believers confidently affirmed their faith in the message he brought. This ayah illustrates the contrast between the arrogant disbelievers who rejected the truth out of pride and the humble believers who accepted it with certainty. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this exchange demonstrates how faith transcends social status—the weak believers possessed stronger conviction than the powerful disbelievers despite their inferior worldly standing.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Salih and the Thamud people in Surah Al-A'raf, a Meccan surah addressing the Quraysh's rejection of the Prophet Muhammad. The account of Salih's mission parallels the Meccan rejection of Prophet Muhammad, serving as a historical warning about the consequences of arrogance and disbelief. The broader context illustrates how the arrogant elite throughout history resisted divine messengers while the oppressed masses embraced faith.
Related Hadiths
The Quran mentions this story extensively, and Sahih Bukhari includes hadiths about the people of Thamud. A related principle is found in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said, 'Whoever is humble for the sake of Allah, Allah raises him,' emphasizing how humility before Allah leads to true honor, contrasting with the arrogance of Salih's people.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith and conviction are not dependent on wealth, power, or social status, but rather on sincerity of heart and humility before Allah. The ayah teaches that genuine believers should not be deterred by the mockery or opposition of the powerful, as their faith in divine truth supersedes worldly considerations.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ جِئْنَـٰهُم بِكِتَـٰبٍ فَصَّلْنَـٰهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ هُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
And We had certainly brought them a Book which We detailed by knowledge - as guidance and mercy to a people who believe.
أُبَلِّغُكُمْ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ رَبِّى وَأَنصَحُ لَكُمْ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
I convey to you the messages of my Lord and advise you; and I know from Allāh what you do not know.
قَدِ ٱفْتَرَيْنَا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا إِنْ عُدْنَا فِى مِلَّتِكُم بَعْدَ إِذْ نَجَّىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ مِنْهَا ۚ وَمَا يَكُونُ لَنَآ أَن نَّعُودَ فِيهَآ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا ۚ وَسِعَ رَبُّنَا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا ۚ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا ٱفْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْفَـٰتِحِينَ
We would have invented against Allāh a lie if we returned to your religion after Allāh had saved us from it. And it is not for us to return to it except that Allāh, our Lord, should will. Our Lord has encompassed all things in knowledge. Upon Allāh we have relied. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who give decision."
وَمَا وَجَدْنَا لِأَكْثَرِهِم مِّنْ عَهْدٍ ۖ وَإِن وَجَدْنَآ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَفَـٰسِقِينَ
And We did not find for most of them any covenant; but indeed, We found most of them defiantly disobedient.