Surah Al-A'raaf: Verse 90 - وقال الملأ الذين كفروا من... - English

Reported in the third verse (90) is a misleading statement of the arrogant chiefs of the people of Sayyidna Shu'aib (علیہ السلام) which they made while talking among themselves, or said that to their followers: that is, ` if you are to follow Shu'aib, then you are sure losers.' (Al-Bahr Al-Muhit from 'Ata' )

The account of the punishment of these wicked people was given in the fourth verse (91) in the following words: فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّ‌جْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دَارِ‌هِمْ جَاثِمِينَ ﴿91﴾ (So, the earthquake seized them, and they were [ found dead ] in their homes fallen on their knees).

("If you follow Shu`ayb, be sure then you will be the losers!") Allah answered them,

(So the earthquake seized them and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes) Allah said that the earthquake shook them, as punishment for threatening to expel Shu`ayb and his followers. Allah mentioned their end again in Suah Hud,

(And when Our commandment came, We saved Shu`ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us. And the Sayhah (loud cry) seized the wrongdoers, and they lay (dead) prostrate in their homes.) 11:94 This Ayah mentions the Sayhah (cry) that struck them after they mocked Shu`ayb, saying,

(Does your Salah (prayer) command you...) so it was befitting to mention here the cry that made them silence. In Surat Ash-Shu`ara', Allah said,

(But they belied him, so the torment of the Day of Shadow (a gloomy cloud) seized them. Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day) 26:189 because they challenged Shu`ayb,

("So cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!") 26:187. Therefore, Allah stated that each of these forms of punishment struck them on the Day of the Shadow. First,

(So the torment of the Day of Shadow (a gloomy cloud) seized them) 26:189 when a gloomy cloud came over them (containing) fire, flames and a tremendous light. Next, a cry from the sky descended on them and a tremor shook them from beneath. Consequently, their souls were captured, their lives were taken and their bodies became idle,

(and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes). Allah said next,

(They became as if they had never dwelt there) meaning, after the torment seized them, it looked as if they never dwelled in the land from which they wanted to expel their Messenger Shu`ayb and his followers. Here, Allah refuted their earlier statement,

(Those who belied Shu`ayb, they were the losers.)