ABSTRACT
And we sent unto Midian [Medyen] their brother Sho’eyb.1 He said, O my people, worship God; assert His unity. Ye have no other deity but Him. And give not short measure and weight. V erily I see you [to be] in a state of prosperity that placeth you above the need of doing so ; and verily I fear for you, i f ye believe not, the punishment of a day that will encompass you with destruc tion. And, O my people, give full measure and weight with equity; and diminish not unto men aught of their things nor commit injustice in the earth, acting corruptly, by murder or other offences. The residue of God (His supply that remaineth to you after the completion of the measure) will be better for you than diminution, if ye be believers. And I am not a guardian over you, to recompense you for your actions: I have only been sent as an admonisher.— They replied, in mockery, O Sho’eyb, do thy prayers command thee that we are to leave what our fathers worshipped, or cease to do with our riches what we please ? V erily thou art the mild, the right director. This they said in mockery.— He said, O my people, tell me, if I act according to an evident proof from my Lord, and He hath supplied me with a good lawful provision, shall I mix it up with what is forbidden, and shall I not desire to
oppose you, and shall I betake myself to that which I forbid you ? I desire not [aught] but your reformation, as far as I am able [to effect it], and my help is not [in any] but in G od: on Him do I rely, and unto Him do I turn me. And, O my people, let not the opposition of me pro cure for you the befalling you of the like of that which befell the people of Noah or the people of Hood or the people of Salih. And the abodes of the people of Lot [are] not distant from y o u : (or the time of their destruction was not long ago;) therefore be admonished. And ask ye forgive ness of your Lord, and turn unto Him with repentance; for my Lord is merciful to the believers, loving to them. They replied, O Sho’eyb, we understand not much of what thou sayest, and verily we see thee to be w eak1 among us ; and were it not for thy family, we had stoned thee; for thou art not, in our estimation, an honourable person : thy family only are the honourable. He said, O my people, are my family more honourable in your estimation than God, and do ye abstain from slaying me for their sake, and not preserve me for God, and have ye cast Him behind you as a thing neglected? V erily my Lord comprehendeth that which ye do, and He will recompense you. And, O my people, act ye according to your condition: verily I will act according to mine. Ye shall know on whom shall come a punishment that shall render him vile, and who is a liar: and await ye the issue of your case: verily I await with you.— And when Our degree for their destruction came [to be executed], we delivered Sho’eyb and those who believed with him, in our mercy, and the cry of Gabriel assailed those who had offended, so that in the morning they were in their abodes prostrate and dead, as though they had not dwelt therein. Was not Midian removed as Thamood had been removed? (xi. 85-98.)
