Surah 11:89
Show Full Scripture Context (11:88-90) — 3 Verses
قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٖ مِّن رَّبِّي وَرَزَقَنِي مِنۡهُ رِزۡقًا حَسَنٗاۚ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أُخَالِفَكُمۡ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنۡهَىٰكُمۡ عَنۡهُۚ إِنۡ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلۡإِصۡلَٰحَ مَا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُۚ وَمَا تَوۡفِيقِيٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِۚ عَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡتُ وَإِلَيۡهِ أُنِيبُ
He said, ‘My people! Have you considered? If I (stand) on a clear sign from my Lord, and He has provided me with good provision from Himself [. . .]. I do not wish to go behind your backs to (do) what I forbid you from. I only wish to set (things) right, as much as I am able, but my success is only with God. In Him I have put my trust, and to Him I turn (in repentance).
وَيَٰقَوۡمِ لَا يَجۡرِمَنَّكُمۡ شِقَاقِيٓ أَن يُصِيبَكُم مِّثۡلُ مَآ أَصَابَ قَوۡمَ نُوحٍ أَوۡ قَوۡمَ هُودٍ أَوۡ قَوۡمَ صَٰلِحٖۚ وَمَا قَوۡمُ لُوطٖ مِّنكُم بِبَعِيدٖ
My people! Do not let my defiance (of you) provoke you to sin, or something will smite you similar to what smote the people of Noah, or the people of Hūd, or the people of Ṣāliḥ. And the people of Lot are not far from you.
وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي رَحِيمٞ وَدُودٞ
Ask forgiveness from your Lord, (and) then turn to Him (in repentance). Surely my Lord is compassionate, loving.’
meaning, 'do not forbid you from something and at the same time I contradict my prohibitions in secret behind your backs, doing what I have forbidden.' This is similar to what Qatadah said concerning Allah's statement,
{I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you.}
"He is saying, 'I do not forbid you all from something while I do it myself.'"
{I only desire reform to the best of my power.}
This means, "In that which I command and forbid you, I only want to correct your affair as much as I am able."
{And my guidance cannot come}
This means, "In whatever I intend that agrees with the truth."
{except from Allah, in Him I put my trust}
This means in all of my affairs.
{and unto Him I repent.} meaning; "I return." This has been said by Mujahid and others.
{89. "And O my people! Let not my Shiqaq cause you to suffer the fate similar to that of the people of Nuh or of Hud or of Salih, and the people of Lut are not far off from you!"}
He (Shu'ayb) said to them,
{And O my people! Let not my Shiqaq cause you}
This means, "Do not let your hatred and enmity of me cause you to persist in your corruption and disbelief. If you continue this way, you will suffer the same vengeance and torment that overcame Nuh's people, Hud's people, Salih's people and Lut's people." Qatadah said,
{And O my people! Let not my Shiqaq cause you}
"He is saying, 'Do not be influenced by your differing with me.'" As-Suddi said, "This means your enmity of me should not lead you to continue in misguidance and disbelief, or else you will be afflicted by what afflicted them."
Concerning His statement,
{and the people of Lut are not far off from you!}
It has been said that this refers to the period of time. Qatadah said, "This means that they were only destroyed before you yesterday." It has also been said that it refers to place. Actually, the verse carries both meanings.
{And ask forgiveness of your Lord} from the previous sins.
{and turn unto Him in repentance.} In whatever evil actions you may encounter in the future.
Concerning his statement,
{Verily, my Lord is Most Merciful, Most Loving.} to those who repent.