Surah Hud Tafseer

The Response of Shu`ayb's People

Allah tells,

قَالُواْ يَا شُعَيْبُ مَا نَفْقَهُ

They said:"O Shu`ayb! We do not understand,

This means that we do not comprehend.

كَثِيرًا

much,

`most of what you say'.

مِّمَّا تَقُولُ

..

what you say,

Ath-Thawri said,

"He (Shu`ayb) was called the orator of the Prophets."

وَإِنَّا لَنَرَاكَ فِينَا ضَعِيفًا

and we see you weak among us.

As-Suddi said,

"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

He (Shu`ayb) said