Al-Qur'an Surah Al-A'raf Verse 88

Mufti Taqi Usmani

The chiefs of his people, who were arrogant, said, “O Shu‘aib, we will expel you and those who believe with you from our town, or you shall have to turn to our faith.” He said, “Even if we hate it?

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

The arrogant chiefs of his people threatened, “O Shu’aib! We will certainly expel you and your fellow believers from our land, unless you return to our faith.” He replied, “Even if we hate it?

Ruwwad Translation Center

The arrogant chiefs of his people said, “O Shu‘ayb, we will surely drive you and those who believe with you out of our town unless you return to our faith.” He said, “Even if we detest it?

A. J. Arberry

Said the Council of those of his people who waxed proud, 'We will surely expel thee, O Shuaib, and those who believe with thee, from our city, unless you return into our creed.' He said, 'What, even though we detest it?

Abdul Haleem

His people’s arrogant leaders said, ‘Shuayb, we will expel you and your fellow believers from our town unless you return to our religion.’ He said, ‘What! Even if we detest it?

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

The chiefs of those who were stiff-necked amongst his people said: surely we shall drive you forth, Shu'aib! and those who have believed with thee from our city, or else ye shall return unto our faith. He said: what! even though we be averse!

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The leaders, the arrogant party among his people, said; "O Shu'aib! we shall certainly drive thee out of our city - (thee) and those who believe with thee; or else ye (thou and they) shall have to return to our ways and religion." He said; "What! even though we do detest (them)?

Abul Ala Maududi

The haughty elders of his people said: 'O Shu'ayb! We shall certainly banish you and your companions-in-faith from our town, or else you shall return to our faith.' Shu'ayb said: 'What! Even though we abhor [your faith]?

Ahmed Ali

The arrogant leaders of the people replied: "We shall drive you away from our land, O Shu'aib, and those who are with you, unless you come back to your faith." But he remarked: "Even if we are disgusted with it?

Ahmed Raza Khan

The proud leaders of his people said, “O Shuaib, we swear we will banish you and the Muslims who are with you, from our town or you must return to our religion”; he said, “Even though we detest it?”

Ali Quli Qarai

The elite of his people who were arrogant said, ‘O Shu'ayb, we will surely expel you and the faithful who are with you from our town, or else you shall revert to our creed.’ He said, ‘What! Even if we should be unwilling?!

Ali Ünal

The leading ones among his people who were arrogant and oppressed the others said: "We will surely banish you, O Shu‘ayb, and those who believe in your company from our township, or else you will return to our way (of faith and life)." He (Shu‘ayb) said: "What? Even though we abhor it?

Amatul Rahman Omar

The chiefs who considered themselves strong and great among his people said, `We will certainly turn you O Shu`aib! and also those who believe with you, out of our township or else you (all) shall have to revert to our creed.´ He said, `What! (shall we be forced to accept your creed) even though we are unwilling (at heart)?

English Literal

The nobles/assembly, those who became arrogant from his nation said: "We will bring/drive you out (E) you Shu`aib and those who believed with you from our village/urban city or you return (E) in our religion/faith." He said: "Or even if we were hating (it)?"

Faridul Haque

The proud leaders of his people said, "O Shuaib, we swear we will banish you and the Muslims who are with you, from our town or you must return to our religion"; he said, "Even though we detest it?"

Hamid S. Aziz

The chieftains of his people, inflated with arrogance said, "We will of a surety turn you out, O Shu´heyb, and those who believe with you, from our communities, unless you return unto our faith." Said he, "What! Even if we be averse to it?"

Hilali & Khan

The chiefs of those who were arrogant among his people said: "We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu'aib, and those who have believed with you from our town, or else you (all) shall return to our religion." He said: "Even though we hate it!

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And if there is a party of you who believe in that wherewith I am sent and another party who believe not, then wait patiently till Allah judges between us; and He is the Best of Judges.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

The chiefs, those who were proud from among his people said: We will most certainly turn you out, O Shu'aib, and (also; those who believe with you, from our town, or you shall come back to our faith. He said: What! though we dislike (it)?

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

The chieftains of his people, who were scornful, said: Surely we will drive thee out, O Shu'eyb, and those who believe with thee, from our township, unless ye return to our religion. He said: Even though we hate it?

Muhammad Sarwar

A proud group among Shu'ayb's people said, "We must expel you (Shu'ayb) and your followers from our town unless you give-up your faith and live as our own people." Shu'ayb asked them, "Will you use force against us?

Qaribullah & Darwish

The proud assembly of his nation said: 'We will expel you Shu'aib and those who believe with you from our village unless you return to our creed' He replied: 'Even though we hate it?

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

The chiefs of those who were arrogant among his people said: "We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu`ayb and those who have believed with you from our town, or else you (all) shall return to our religion." He said: "Even though we hate it"

Wahiduddin Khan

The arrogant leaders of his people said, "Shu'ayb, we will expel you and your fellow believers from our town unless you return to our faith." He said, "Even though we detest it?

Talal Itani

The arrogant elite among his people said, “O Shuaib, We will evict you from our town, along with those who believe with you, unless you return to our religion.” He said, “Even if we are unwilling?”

Tafsir jalalayn

Said the council of those of his people who were disdainful, of believing; `Surely we will expel you, O Shu`ayb, and those who believe with you, from our city, unless you return to our creed', our religion (the plural person predominates over the singular in their address [to Shu`ayb] because Shu`ayb was never part of their religious community; and so in the same [plural] way he responded;) He said, `What, should we return to it, even though we are averse, to it? (the interrogative is meant as a disavowal).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah describes the way the disbelievers answered His Prophet Shu`ayb and those who believed in him, by threatening them with expulsion from their village, or with forceful reversion to the disbeliever's religion.

Allah tells,

قَالَ الْمَلُ الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ مِن قَوْمِهِ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ يَا شُعَيْبُ وَالَّذِينَ امَنُواْ مَعَكَ مِن قَرْيَتِنَا أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِي مِلَّتِنَا


The chiefs of those who were arrogant among his people said;"We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu`ayb and those who have believed with you from our town, or else you (all) shall return to our religion."

The chiefs spoke the words mentioned here to the Messenger Shu`ayb, but intended it for those who followed his religion too.

The statement,

قَالَ أَوَلَوْ كُنَّا كَارِهِينَ



He said;"Even though we hate it!"

means, would you force us to do that, even though we hate what you are calling us to