Surah 11, Hud (The Prophet Hud), Mecca 52

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Translation:

قَالُواْ يَا شُعَيْبُ أَصَلاَتُكَ تَأْمُرُكَ أَن نَّتْرُكَ مَا يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا...   

11: 87.  They said:

"Oh Shu'ayb! does thy (religion of) prayer command thee that we leave off the worship which our fathers practiced,

 ...أَوْ أَن نَّفْعَلَ فِي أَمْوَالِنَا مَا نَشَؤُا...

or that we leave off doing what we like with our property?

...إِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ الْحَلِيمُ الرَّشِيدُ ﴿٨٧﴾

Truly, though art the one that forbeareth with faults and is right-minded!"

Transliteration Qa_lu_ ya_ syu'aibu asala_tuka ta'muruka an natruka ma_ ya'budu a_ba_'una_ au an naf'ala fi amwa_lina_ ma_ nasyu_'(u), innaka la antal halimur rasyid(u).

Other Translations:

11: 87

Asad Said they: "O Shu'ayb! Does thy [habit of] praying compel thee to demand of us 120 that we give up all that our forefathers were wont to worship, or that we refrain from doing whatever we please with our possessions? 121 Behold, [thou wouldst have us believe that] thou art indeed the only clement, the only right-minded man!"

Pickthall They said: O Shueyb! Doth thy way of prayer command thee that we should forsake that which our fathers (used to) worship, or that we (should leave off) doing what we will with our own property. Lo! thou are the mild, the guide to right behavior.

Yuksel They said, "O Shuayb, does your contact prayer order you that we leave what our fathers served, or that we do not do with our money as we please? You are the compassionate, the sane!"*

********************************

Ali’s comments:

1586. It is the way of selfish and material minded people;

- to scoff at spiritual things like prayer and worship and

- to hug their own property rights as if there were not other rights even greater than those of property!

1587. They grow sarcastic against Shu'ayb. In effect they say:

"You are a fine man! You teach us that we must be kind and forbearing with other people's faults, and now get at what you call our sins! You think you are the only right minded man!"

Asad’s comments:

120 Lit., "Do thy prayers command thee...", etc.

121 I.e., without regard to the rights and needs of others, especially the poor: hence their sarcastic reference, in the next sentence, to Shu'ayb's clemency and right-mindedness.

Yuksel’s comments:

011:087 Sala prayer observed properly keeps away from immorality and crimes (29:45).