سُوْرَةُ الشُّعَرَآءِ

Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 111

The Poets · Meccan · Juz 19 · Page 371

۞ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَٱتَّبَعَكَ ٱلْأَرْذَلُونَ ﴿111﴾
They said: "Shall we believe in you, when the meanest (of the people) follow you?"
۞ قَالُوٓا۟ qālū They said
أَنُؤْمِنُ anu'minu Should we believe
لَكَ laka in you
وَٱتَّبَعَكَ wa-ittabaʿaka while followed you
ٱلْأَرْذَلُونَ l-ardhalūna the lowest

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 111) {قَالُوْۤا اَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ …: ’’ الْاَرْذَلُوْنَ ‘‘ ’’أَرْذَلُ‘‘} is the sound plural of (اسم تفضیل), meaning the lowest, base, despicable, those who do not possess status or wealth, the poor, the needy. This also includes those people who are associated with professions considered lowly. The ones saying this were the chiefs of the people of Noah (peace be upon him). See Surah Hud (27). From this, it is understood that most of those who believed in Noah (peace be upon him) were poor people, small tradesmen, or such youths who had no status among their people. Those who believed in our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were also such people. In the hadith of Heraclius, he asked Abu Sufyan: [ فَأَشْرَافُ النَّاسِ يَتَّبِعُوْنَهُ أَمْ ضُعَفَائُهُمْ ؟ ] "Do the high-ranking people follow him or the weak ones?" Abu Sufyan replied: "The weak ones." So Heraclius said: "These are the followers of the messengers." [ بخاري، بدء الوحي، باب کیف کان بدء الوحي… : ۷ ] Because for people of wealth and status, their wealth and status, their sense of honor and rank, and worldly interests become obstacles in accepting faith, because in accepting faith, instead of giving orders, they have to obey orders, whereas the weak are free from these obstacles. In this conversation, there is also comfort for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because the people of his nation also considered only the wealthy deserving of Allah's grace. In their view, instead of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), some wealthy chief of Mecca or Taif should have been given prophethood. In Surah Az-Zukhruf it is said: «{ وَ قَالُوْا لَوْ لَا نُزِّلَ هٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنُ عَلٰى رَجُلٍ مِّنَ الْقَرْيَتَيْنِ عَظِيْمٍ [ الزخرف : ۳۱ ] "And they said, 'Why was this Quran not sent down upon a great man from [one of] the two towns?'" It should be clear that it is not permissible to consider or call a believer base or despicable; rather, regarding every believer, one should think that perhaps he is better than me, as it is said: «{ يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّنْ قَوْمٍ عَسٰۤى اَنْ يَّكُوْنُوْا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ } » [ الحجرات : ۱۱ ] "O you who have believed! Let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them."

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

1. "الارذلون" is the plural of "ارذل". These are those who lack status and wealth, and because of this, are considered inferior in society. Included among them are also those people who are associated with professions that are considered lowly.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

They said, "Shall we believe in you when the lowest of people [75] have followed you?"

[75]
The First Opponents of the Prophets Are Always the Affluent:

From this, two things are understood. First, that those who always oppose the call of every prophet are the very people who have some influence and authority in society. They are generally called chieftains, nobles, or elders, and the Quran refers to them with the words "mala’" and "mutrafeen." And these people oppose the prophets merely because, if they were to believe in the prophet, they would have to become obedient instead of being obeyed. Therefore, in the beginning, only those people believe in the prophets who have no influence or authority in society, and whom these nobles generally consider to be lowly and despicable creatures.

The Statement of the Affluent: "Your Companions Are Lowly People":

Secondly, these nobles consider it an insult and humiliation to believe and thus join these lowly and despicable people, coming down to their level as equals. That is, this also becomes a reason for their reluctance to believe, and in this way, their ego is wounded. Since the Quraysh of Makkah used to do the same, it is as if they are being mentioned in this question and answer as well. In fact, they even demanded from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that if you would, at some time, remove such people from your gathering, then we would be willing to listen to your words. [تفصيل كے لئے سورة انعام كي آيت نمبر 52 كا حاشيه ملاحظه فرمائيے]