سُوْرَةُ هُوْدٍ
Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 88
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَرَزَقَنِى مِنْهُ رِزْقًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنْهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ ۚ إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلْإِصْلَـٰحَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُ ۚ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ ﴿88﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He said: "O my people! Tell me if I have a clear evidence from my Lord and He has given me a good sustenance from Himself (shall I corrupt it by mixing it with the unlawfully earned money). I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you. I only desire reform to the best of my power. And my guidance cannot come except from Allâh, in Him I trust and unto Him I repent.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
يَـٰقَوْمِ
yāqawmi
O my people
أَرَءَيْتُمْ
ara-aytum
Do you see
إِن
in
if
كُنتُ
kuntu
I am
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
بَيِّنَةٍۢ
bayyinatin
a clear evidence
مِّن
min
from
رَّبِّى
rabbī
my Lord
وَرَزَقَنِى
warazaqanī
and He has provided me
مِنْهُ
min'hu
from Himself
رِزْقًا
riz'qan
a good provision
حَسَنًۭا ۚ
ḥasanan
a good provision
وَمَآ
wamā
And not
أُرِيدُ
urīdu
I intend
أَنْ
an
that
أُخَالِفَكُمْ
ukhālifakum
I differ from you
إِلَىٰ
ilā
in
مَآ
mā
what
أَنْهَىٰكُمْ
anhākum
I forbid you
عَنْهُ ۚ
ʿanhu
from it
إِنْ
in
Not
أُرِيدُ
urīdu
I intend
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱلْإِصْلَـٰحَ
l-iṣ'lāḥa
the reform
مَا
mā
as much as I am able
ٱسْتَطَعْتُ ۚ
is'taṭaʿtu
as much as I am able
وَمَا
wamā
And not
تَوْفِيقِىٓ
tawfīqī
(is) my success
إِلَّا
illā
except
بِٱللَّهِ ۚ
bil-lahi
with Allah
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
Upon Him
تَوَكَّلْتُ
tawakkaltu
I trust
وَإِلَيْهِ
wa-ilayhi
and to Him
أُنِيبُ
unību
I turn
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
88. Shu‘ayb said, "O my people! Tell me, if I am upon a clear proof from my Lord and He has provided me with good sustenance from Himself, (how could I act otherwise)? I do not wish to do what I forbid you from. I only desire reform as much as I am able. My success is only through Allah. In Him I trust, and to Him I turn in repentance."
[99] This clear proof is the same innate urge that exists in the subconscious of every human being. Then, those who reflect upon the signs of Allah spread all around, this urge rises from the subconscious to consciousness within them, and they attain true recognition of Allah the Exalted.
[100]
The Meaning of "Good Provision":
Here, "good provision" refers to prophethood and the knowledge of revelation. And if "provision" is taken to mean outwardly lawful and pure sustenance or wealth, then even so, it would mean: How can I become your supporter in your dishonest dealings? How could I possibly do things that I am forbidding you from? I desire your reform as well, so why would I do such things? And I seek from Allah the ability to remain firm upon this resolve, and in every difficulty, I rely upon Him and turn to Him alone.
[99] This clear proof is the same innate urge that exists in the subconscious of every human being. Then, those who reflect upon the signs of Allah spread all around, this urge rises from the subconscious to consciousness within them, and they attain true recognition of Allah the Exalted.
[100]
The Meaning of "Good Provision":
Here, "good provision" refers to prophethood and the knowledge of revelation. And if "provision" is taken to mean outwardly lawful and pure sustenance or wealth, then even so, it would mean: How can I become your supporter in your dishonest dealings? How could I possibly do things that I am forbidding you from? I desire your reform as well, so why would I do such things? And I seek from Allah the ability to remain firm upon this resolve, and in every difficulty, I rely upon Him and turn to Him alone.
