ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ شُعَيْبًا كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا۟ فِيهَا ۚ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ شُعَيْبًا كَانُوا۟ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ 92
Translations
Those who denied Shuʿayb - it was as though they had never resided there. Those who denied Shuʿayb - it was they who were the losers.
Transliteration
Alladhīna kadhdhabhū Shu'ayban ka-an lam yaghnaw fīhā. Alladhīna kadhdhabhū Shu'ayban kānū hum al-khāsirīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the destruction of the people of Madyan (Midian) who rejected the prophet Shu'ayb, stating they were annihilated as though they had never dwelt in prosperity in their land. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the phrase 'as if they had never been in it in comfort' emphasizes the complete obliteration of their civilization and the erasure of their former glory, serving as a stark warning to those who reject divine guidance. The repetition of 'those who rejected Shu'ayb were the losers' underscores the inevitable consequence of rejecting prophetic truth—ultimate loss in both worldly and eternal terms.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Shu'ayb (Jethro) in Surah Al-A'raf, a Meccan chapter. The broader context describes how the people of Madyan engaged in fraud and dishonesty in commercial transactions, and when Shu'ayb warned them to worship Allah alone and cease their corrupt practices, they mocked and rejected him. This ayah concludes that narrative section, illustrating the divine punishment that befell them.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sunan Ibn Majah and other collections record that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) warned his followers against the practices of dishonesty in commerce that the people of Madyan engaged in, emphasizing that rejecting prophetic guidance leads to destruction.
Themes
Key Lesson
Rejecting the message of truth and guidance from Allah's messengers leads to irreversible loss and destruction, both materially and spiritually. The complete erasure of the people of Madyan despite their former prosperity serves as a timeless reminder that no worldly success can protect one from divine accountability.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَقْعُدُوا۟ بِكُلِّ صِرَٰطٍ تُوعِدُونَ وَتَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِۦ وَتَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلًا فَكَثَّرَكُمْ ۖ وَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
And do not sit on every path, threatening and averting from the way of Allāh those who believe in Him, seeking to make it [seem] deviant. And remember when you were few and He increased you. And see how was the end of the corrupters.
وَإِذْ أَنجَيْنَـٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۖ يُقَتِّلُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ
And [recall, O Children of Israel], when We saved you from the people of Pharaoh, [who were] afflicting you with the worst torment - killing your sons and keeping your women alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.
وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَـٰحِهَا وَٱدْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allāh is near to the doers of good.
قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
Said the eminent among his people, "Indeed, we see you in clear error."