The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

142
The Quran 11: 82
will suffer the fate that befalls the others. Their appointed time is the
morning: is the morning not near?’ 82 And so when what We had
ordained came about, We turned their town upside down and rained
down stones of baked clay on it, layer upon layer, 83 marked from
your Lord. It is not far from the evildoers. a
84 And to Midian, We sent their brother Shuayb. He said, ‘My
people, worship God. You have no god other than Him. Do not give
short measure nor short weight. I see you are prospering, but I fear
you will have torment on an overwhelming Day. 85 My people, in
fairness, give full measure and weight. Do not withhold from people
things that are rightly theirs, and do not spread corruption in the
land. 86 What lasts with God is best for you, if you are believers: I am
not your keeper.’ 87 They said, ‘Shuayb, does your prayer tell you
that we should abandon what our forefathers worshipped and refrain
from doing whatever we please with our own property? Indeed you
are a tolerant and sensible man.’ 88 He answered, ‘My people, can you
not see? What if I am acting on clear evidence from my Lord? He
Himself has given me good provision: I do not want to do what I am
forbidding you to do, I only want to put things right as far as I can. I
cannot succeed without God’s help: I trust in Him, and always turn
to Him. 89 My people, do not let your opposition to me bring upon
you a similar fate to the peoples of Noah or Hud or Salih; the people
of Lot are not far away from you. b 90 Ask forgiveness from your Lord,
and turn to Him in repentance: my Lord is merciful and most
loving.’
91 They said, ‘Shuayb, we do not understand much of what you
say, and we find you very weak in our midst. But for your family, we
would have stoned you, for you have no great status among us.’ 92 He
said, ‘My people, is my family stronger in your estimation than God?
And have you put Him behind you? My Lord surrounds everything
you do. 93 My people, do whatever is within your power, and I will
do likewise. Soon you will know who will receive a disgraceful
punishment and who is a liar. Watch out, and so will I.’ 94 When what
We had ordained came about, in Our mercy We saved Shuayb and
his fellow believers, but a mighty blast struck the wrongdoers. By
a This town is not far from the evildoers of Mecca, within their trading range (see
37: 137–8), nor is the punishment far from them.
b In time or place. See 7: 85; 7: 93.