Surah 11:86
Show Full Scripture Context (11:84-86) — 3 Verses
۞وَإِلَىٰ مَدۡيَنَ أَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبٗاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥۖ وَلَا تَنقُصُواْ ٱلۡمِكۡيَالَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَۖ إِنِّيٓ أَرَىٰكُم بِخَيۡرٖ وَإِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٖ مُّحِيطٖ
And to Midian (We sent) their brother Shu‘ayb. He said, ‘My people! Serve God! You have no god other than Him. Do not diminish the measure or the scale. Surely I see you in prosperity, but surely I fear for you the punishment of an overwhelming day.
وَيَٰقَوۡمِ أَوۡفُواْ ٱلۡمِكۡيَالَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَلَا تَبۡخَسُواْ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشۡيَآءَهُمۡ وَلَا تَعۡثَوۡاْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِينَ
My people! Fill up the measure and the scale in justice, and do not shortchange the people of their wealth, and do not act wickedly on the earth, fomenting corruption.
بَقِيَّتُ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَۚ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ عَلَيۡكُم بِحَفِيظٖ
A remnant of God is better for you, if you are believers. I am not a watcher over you.’
Allah, the Exalted, says, "We sent a Messenger to the people of Madyan." They were a tribe of Arabs who lived between the land of the Al-Hijaz and Ash-Sham, close to the land of Ma'an. Their land was known by the name of their tribe and was thus, called Madyan. Allah sent unto them the Prophet Shu'ayb and he was of the noblest of them in lineage. For this reason, Allah said,
Shu'ayb commanded them to worship Allah alone without associating any partners with him. He also prohibited them from cheating in their weights and measures (for business transactions).
{I see you in prosperity} meaning, 'in your livelihood and your provisions. And verily, I fear that you will be deprived of this bounty that you are enjoying by violating Allah's prohibitions.'
This means the abode of the Hereafter.
First, he (Shu'ayb) prohibited them from cheating in business by decreasing the weights whenever they gave (products) to people. He commanded them to give just measure and weight whether they were giving or receiving (in transactions). He also forbade them from causing mischief and corruption in the land. This was due to their practice of highway robbery along the roads. Abu Ja'far bin Jarir said,
This means what you gain from your successful business dealings in which you have given just measure, is better for you than wrongfully taking the wealth of the people." Ibn Jarir said that this statement has been reported from Ibn 'Abbas and I say it is similar to Allah's statement,
{Say: "Not equal are Khabith (all that is evil) and Tayyib (all that is good), even though the abundance of Khabith may please you."} 5:100
Allah then says,
This means a watcher over you people. In other words, "Do this for Allah and not to be seen by the people."