Page 231
qāla yā-qawmi ʾa-raʾaytum ʾin kuntu ʿalā bayyinatin min rabbī wa-razaqanī minhu rizqan ḥasanan wa-mā ʾurīdu ʾan ʾukhālifakum ʾilā mā ʾanhākum ʿanhu ʾin ʾurīdu ʾillā l-ʾiṣlāḥa mā staṭaʿtu wa-mā tawfīqī ʾillā bi-llāhi ʿalayhi tawakkaltu wa-ʾilayhi ʾunību
He said, ‘O my people! Have you considered, should I stand on a manifest proof from my Lord, who has provided me a good provision from Himself? I do not wish to oppose you by what I forbid you. I only desire to put things in order, as far as I can, and my success lies only with Allah: in Him I have put my trust, and to Him I turn penitently.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Hud – Verse 88
88. “He said: ‘O My people! Bethink you’ If I be upon a clear proof from my Lord, and He has provided me with fair sustenance from Him? And I desire not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you from it. I desire naught save reform so far as I am able. My success is only with Allah. On Him do I rely and unto Him I turn (repentant)’.”
In the previous verse, the idol worshippers protested as to why they could not be free to dispose of their own property for good or, in this case, for evil. Shu‘ayb (as) answered that if he had kept them from doing this, it would have been for the good of their own lives and their community, and it was not because of such things as hostility, envy, short sightedness or other things. Individual interests must not be detrimental to the public interest.
The verse says:
“He said: ‘O My people! Bethink you’ If I be upon a clear proof from my Lord, and He has provided me with fair sustenance from Him? And I desire not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you from it. I desire naught save reform so far as I am able...”
They had to stop thinking that a comfortable life could only be gained through crooked dealings and sinful activity, and Allah’s prophets are an example that one could live a decent life without being polluted by these sins. We must keep in mind that he who commands others to what is good and dissuades others from what is bad must be a man of practice himself. The prophets themselves were not only planners and leaders; they themselves were the best examples of men of practice.
Shu‘ayb continues saying:
“…My success is only with Allah. On Him do I rely and unto Him I turn (repentant)’.”