Surah Al-A'raf, Ayah 88
Quran 7:88 · The Heights · Makki · Para 9 · Page 162
قَالَ الْمَلَاُ الَّذِیْنَ اسْتَكْبَرُوْا مِنْ قَوْمِهٖ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ یٰشُعَیْبُ وَالَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مَعَكَ مِنْ قَرْیَتِنَاۤ اَوْ لَتَعُوْدُنَّ فِیْ مِلَّتِنَا ؕ قَالَ اَوَلَوْ كُنَّا كٰرِهِیْنَ ۟۫
Transliteration
Qala almalao allatheenaistakbaroo min qawmihi lanukhrijannaka ya shuAAaybu wallatheenaamanoo maAAaka min qaryatina aw lataAAoodunna feemillatina qala awa law kunna kariheen
Saheeh International
Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people, "We will surely evict you, O Shuʿayb, and those who have believed with you from our city, or you must return to our religion." He said, "Even if we were unwilling?
Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir
The leaders and important people who were proud among the people of Shu’ayb (peace be upon him) said: 'We will drive you out of our city O Shu'ayb, you and those with you who believe you, unless you and they return back to your old way of life and worship. Shu‘ayb said in astonishment: 'Should we return to a way of life and religion that we hate because we know what falsehood it is based on?!'
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) on 7:88–7:89
The chiefs of those who were arrogant among his people said: "We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu'ayb and those who have believed with you from our town, or else you (all) shall return to our religion." He said: "Even though we hate it? (88)"We should have invented a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion, after Allah has rescued us from it. And it is not for us to return to it unless Allah, our Lord, should will. Our Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge. In Allah (Alone) we put our trust. Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth, for You are the best of those who give judgment. (89)
Allah describes the way the disbelievers answered His Prophet Shu'ayb and those who believed in him,by threatening them with expulsion from their village,or with forceful reversion to the disbeliever's religion.
The chiefs spoke the words mentioned here to the Messenger Shu'ayb, but intended it for those who followed his religion too. The statement,
أَوَلَوْ كُنَّا كَارِهِينَ
("Even though we hate it?"), means, would you force us to do that, even though we hate what you are calling us to? Certainly if we revert to your religion and accept your ways, we will have uttered a tremendous lie against Allah by calling partners as rivals to Him,
وَمَا يَكُونُ لَنَا أَن نَّعُودَ فِيهَا إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّنَا
(And it is not for us to return to it unless Allah, our Lord, should will.)
This part of the Ayah refers all matters to Allah's will, and certainly, He has perfect knowledge of all matters and His observation encompasses all things,
عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا
(In Allah (Alone) we put our trust.), concerning all our affairs, what we practice of them and what we ignore,
رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِالْحَقِّ
(Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth) judge between us and our people and give us victory over them,
وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْفَاتِحِينَ
(for You are the best of those who give judgment) and You are the Most Just Who never wrongs any in His judgment.