Tafheem ul Quran

Surah 29 Al-'Ankabut, Ayat 36-37

وَاِلٰى مَدۡيَنَ اَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبًا ۙ فَقَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ وَ ارۡجُوا الۡيَوۡمَ الۡاٰخِرَ وَلَا تَعۡثَوۡا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِيۡنَ‏ ﴿29:36﴾ فَكَذَّبُوۡهُ فَاَخَذَتۡهُمُ الرَّجۡفَةُ فَاَصۡبَحُوۡا فِىۡ دَارِهِمۡ جٰثِمِيۡنَ‏  ﴿29:37﴾

(29:36) And We sent to Midian their brother Shuayb.61 He said: “My people, serve Allah and look forward to the Last Day62 and do not go about the earth committing mischief.” (29:37) But they denounced him as a liar.63 So a mighty earthquake overtook them, and by the morning they lay overturned in their houses.64


Notes

61. For comparison, see (Surah Al-Aaraf: Ayats 85-93), (Surah Hud: Ayats 84-96), (Surah Ash-Shuara: Ayats 177- 191).

62. This can have two meanings: (1) “Look forward to the life of Hereafter, and do not think that there is no life after this worldly life, when you will have to render an account of your deeds and be rewarded or punished accordingly.” (2) “Work righteously so as to meet a good end in the Hereafter.”

63. That is, “They did not believe that the Prophet Shuaib (peace be upon him) was a Messenger of Allah and the teachings he gave were from Allah and that if they rejected him they would be punished by a torment from Allah.”

64. “Dwelling places”: the whole area and country inhabited by them.