Surah 7

Surah 7:87

"If (there is) a contingent of you who believe in that with which I have been sent, and a contingent who do not believe, be patient until God judges between us, (for) He is the best of judges.’"
Tafsir Ibn Kathir Verses 7:86-87
Show Full Scripture Context (7:86-87) — 2 Verses
Verse 86

وَلَا تَقۡعُدُواْ بِكُلِّ صِرَٰطٖ تُوعِدُونَ وَتَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِهِۦ وَتَبۡغُونَهَا عِوَجٗاۚ وَٱذۡكُرُوٓاْ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ قَلِيلٗا فَكَثَّرَكُمۡۖ وَٱنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ

And do not sit in every path making threats, and keeping from the way of God those who believe in Him, and desiring (to make) it crooked. Remember when you were few (in number) and He multiplied you. And see how the end was for the fomenters of corruption!

Verse 87

وَإِن كَانَ طَآئِفَةٞ مِّنكُمۡ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱلَّذِيٓ أُرۡسِلۡتُ بِهِۦ وَطَآئِفَةٞ لَّمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ فَٱصۡبِرُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَحۡكُمَ ٱللَّهُ بَيۡنَنَاۚ وَهُوَ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡحَٰكِمِينَ

If (there is) a contingent of you who believe in that with which I have been sent, and a contingent who do not believe, be patient until God judges between us, (for) He is the best of judges.’

Prophet Shu'ayb forbade his people from setting up blockades on the roads, saying,

{"And sit not on every road, threatening"} threatening people with death if they do not give up their money, as they were bandits, according to As-Suddi. Ibn ‘Abbas, Mujahid and several others commented:

{"And sit not on every road, threatening"} the believers who come to Shu'ayb to follow him." The first meaning is better, because Prophet Shu'ayb first said to them,

{" on every road. .."} He then mentioned the second meaning,

Quoted Scripture
"" and hindering from the path of Allah those who believe in Him, and seeking to make it crooked.""

meaning, you seek to make the path of Allah crooked and deviated.

Quoted Scripture
""And remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you.""

meaning, you were weak because you were few. But you later on became mighty because of your large numbers. Therefore, remember Allah's favor.

Quoted Scripture
"" And see what was the end of the mischief-makers.""

from the previous nations and earlier generations. See the torment and punishment they suffered, because they disobeyed Allah and rejected His Messengers. Shu'ayb continued;

Quoted Scripture
""And if there is a party of you who believes in that with which I have been sent and a party who does not believe,""

that is, if you divided concerning me,

{" so be patient"} that is, then wait and see,

{" until Allah judges between us,"}, and you,

Quoted Scripture
"" and He is the best of judges.""

Surely, Allah will award the best end to those who fear and obey Him and He will destroy the disbelievers.

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.