Surah Al-A'raf — Verse 93

Word Meanings:

• تَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ — turned away from them, distanced himself from them.
• رِسَالَاتِ رَبِّي — the messages of my Lord (the divine commissions He entrusted me to convey).
• نَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ — I gave you sincere counsel, wishing you well and guiding you to what is best for you.
• آسَىٰ — grieve, feel deep sorrow and regret over someone's loss or fate.

Tafsir (Explanation):

After the punishment of Allah descended upon the people of Prophet Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) — the dwellers of Madyan who had persisted in disbelief, fraud, and corruption — the Prophet turned away from them, leaving their midst as the divine decree took hold. He then addressed them with words that carried both the weight of his fulfilled duty and the sorrow of a compassionate guide whose call had been rejected.

He said: "O my people, I have indeed conveyed to you the messages of my Lord — every command, every prohibition, every truth I was sent with — I held nothing back. And I gave you sincere counsel; I wished for you what I wished for myself, guiding you to the path of salvation, warning you against the consequences of your deeds, and calling you to the worship of the One God. But you did not listen, and you did not respond."

Then, with a heart that had done everything possible, he asked: "How could I grieve over a people who persisted in their disbelief after all this?" This was not a statement of indifference, but rather a profound expression of a clear conscience. He had delivered the truth, exhausted every means of guidance, and left no excuse for them. Their destruction was the natural consequence of their own choice, and no sorrow could change what they had brought upon themselves.

This verse teaches us a timeless lesson: the duty of the believer is to convey the truth with sincerity and patience, but the outcome rests entirely with Allah. A caller to the truth must not let grief or despair overwhelm them when people reject the message, for they have fulfilled their obligation. The Prophet Shu'ayb's words echo the sentiment of every sincere guide who can stand before their people and say: "I did my part; the choice was yours."

It also reminds us of the beauty of Islam — that its messengers were not harsh or coercive, but compassionate advisors who loved their people and wished only good for them. Yet, when truth is rejected with arrogance, the believer finds peace in submission to Allah's decree, knowing that guidance and misguidance are in His Hands alone.