Surah Hud: Verse 91 - قالوا يا شعيب ما نفقه... - English

Tafsir of Verse 91, Surah Hud

قَالُوا۟ يَٰشُعَيْبُ مَا نَفْقَهُ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا تَقُولُ وَإِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِينَا ضَعِيفًا ۖ وَلَوْلَا رَهْطُكَ لَرَجَمْنَٰكَ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْنَا بِعَزِيزٍ

English Translation

They said, "O Shu\'ayb, we do not understand much of what you say, and indeed, we consider you among us as weak. And if not for your family, we would have stoned you [to death]; and you are not to us one respected."

English Transliteration

Qaloo ya shuAAaybu ma nafqahu katheeran mimma taqoolu wainna lanaraka feena daAAeefan walawla rahtuka larajamnaka wama anta AAalayna biAAazeezin

Tafsir of Verse 91

They said, 'Shuaib, we do not understand much of what thou sayest. Truly we see thee weak among us; but for thy tribe we would have stoned thee; for thou art not strong against us.

They said: "O Shu'aib! much of what thou sayest we do not understand! In fact among us we see that thou hast no strength! Were it not for thy family, we should certainly have stoned thee! for thou hast among us no great position!"

The Response of Shu`ayb's People

They said,

يشُعَيْبُ مَا نَفْقَهُ

(O Shu`ayb! We do not understand) This means that we do not comprehend.

كَثِيراً

(much) `most of what you say'. Ath-Thawri said, "He (Shu`ayb) was called the orator of the Prophets." As-Suddi said,

وَإِنَّا لَنَرَاكَ فِينَا ضَعِيفًا

(and we see you weak among us.) "They meant, `You are only one person."' Abu Rawq said, "They meant, `You are despised, because your tribe is not upon your religion."'

وَلَوْلاَ رَهْطُكَ لَرَجَمْنَـكَ

(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.

وَمَآ 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

قَالَ يقَوْمِ أَرَهْطِى أَعَزُّ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ

(He said: "O my people! Is then my family of more weight with you than Allah")( He says: You would leave me alone out of respect for my people but not out of respect for the greatness of the Lord, the Most Blessed and Exalted Does not your awe of Allah prevent you from harming His Prophet Indeed you have placed the fear of Allah,

وَرَآءَكُمْ ظِهْرِيّاً

(behind your backs.) This means that you have thrown it behind you. You do not obey it, nor do you respect it.

إِنَّ رَبِّى بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ

(Verily, my Lord is surrounding all that you do.) This means that He knows all of your actions and He will reward you according to them.

Verse 91 - Surah Hud: (قالوا يا شعيب ما نفقه كثيرا مما تقول وإنا لنراك فينا ضعيفا ۖ ولولا رهطك لرجمناك ۖ وما أنت علينا...) - English