Tafsir Ibn Kathir -> Surah Hud -> Shu`ayb's Refutation of His People

﴿قَالَ يقَوْمِ أَرَهْطِى أَعَزُّ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ﴾

(He said: "O my people! Is then my family of more weight with you than Allah'')( He says: You would leave me alone out of respect for my people but not out of respect for the greatness of the Lord, the Most Blessed and Exalted Does not your awe of Allah prevent you from harming His Prophet Indeed you have placed the fear of Allah,

﴿وَرَآءَكُمْ ظِهْرِيّاً﴾

(behind your backs.) This means that you have thrown it behind you. You do not obey it, nor do you respect it.

﴿إِنَّ رَبِّى بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ﴾

(Verily, my Lord is surrounding all that you do.) This means that He knows all of your actions and He will reward you according to them.

﴿وَيقَوْمِ اعْمَلُواْ عَلَى مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّى عَـمِلٌ سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ وَارْتَقِبُواْ إِنِّى مَعَكُمْ رَقِيبٌ - وَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبًا وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ الصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُواْ فِى دِيَـرِهِمْ جَـثِمِينَ - كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْاْ فِيهَآ أَلاَ بُعْدًا لِّمَدْيَنَ كَمَا بَعِدَتْ ثَمُودُ ﴾

(93. "And O my people! Act according to your ability, and I am acting. You will come to know who it is on whom descends the torment that will cover him with ignominy, and who is a liar! And watch you! Verily, I too am watching with you.'') (94. And when Our commandment came, We saved Shu`ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us. And As-Sayhah (awful cry) seized the wrongdoers, and they lay (Jathimin) in their homes.) (95. As if they had never lived there! So away with Madyan just as Thamud went away!)