Surah 29:37

"But they called him a liar, so the earthquake seized them, and morning found them leveled in their home(s)."

Islamic Commentaries (1)Manuscripts (34)

Shu'ayb and His People Verses 29:36-37

Show Full Scripture Context (29:36-37) — 2 Verses

Verse 36

وَإِلَىٰ مَدۡيَنَ أَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبٗا فَقَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱرۡجُواْ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَ وَلَا تَعۡثَوۡاْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِينَ

And to Midian (We sent) their brother Shu‘ayb. He said, ‘My people! Serve God and expect the Last Day. Do not act wickedly on the earth, fomenting corruption.’

Verse 37

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلرَّجۡفَةُ فَأَصۡبَحُواْ فِي دَارِهِمۡ جَٰثِمِينَ

But they called him a liar, so the earthquake seized them, and morning found them leveled in their home(s).

Allah tells us that His servant and Messenger Shu'ayb, peace be upon him, warned his people, the people of Madyan, and commanded them to worship Allah Alone with no partner or associate, and to fear the wrath and punishment of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. He said:

Quoted Scripture

"O my people! Worship Allah and hope for the last Day,"

Ibn Jarir said: “Some of them said that this meant: Fear the Last Day.” This is like the Ayah,

{for those who look forward to (meeting with) Allah and the Last Day} (60:6).

Quoted Scripture

"and commit no mischief on the earth as mischief-makers."

This is forbidding them to make mischief on earth by spreading corruption, which means going around doing evil to people. They used to cheat in weights and measures, and ambush people on the road; this is in addition to their disbelief in Allah and His Messenger. So Allah destroyed them with a mighty earthquake that convulsed their land, and the Sayhah (shout) which tore their hearts from their bodies, and the torment of the Day of Shade, when their souls were taken.

This was the torment of a great day. We have already examined their story in detail in Surat Al-A'raf, Surat Hud and Surat Ash-Shu'ara'.

Quoted Scripture

"and they lay, prostrate in their dwellings."

Qatadah said, “They were dead.” Others said that they were thrown on top of one another.

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.

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