Surat Al-A‘raf Verse No. 90: Reading and listening
Translation of the verse 90 from Surah Al-A‘raf : Number of verses 206 - - page 162 - Part 9.
﴾وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦ لَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعۡتُمۡ شُعَيۡبًا إِنَّكُمۡ إِذٗا لَّخَٰسِرُونَ ﴿
[ الأعراف: 90]
The chiefs of those who disbelieved among his people said (to their people): "If you follow Shu'aib, be sure then you will be the losers!"
English - Sahih International
Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, "If you should follow Shu'ayb, indeed, you would then be losers."
Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi
(7:90) The elders of his people who disbelieved said: 'Should you follow Shu'ayb, you will be utter losers. *74
Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi
*74). One should not pass cursorily over this short sentence; instead one must reflect upon it. What the leaders of Midian in effect told their people was that Shu'ayb's exhortations to practise honesty and righteousness, and to strictly adhere to moral values, would spell their disaster. They implied that they could not succeed in the business carried on by the people of Midian if they were totally honest and straightforward in their dealings. Were they to let trading caravans pass by unmolested, they would lose all the advantages of being located at the crossroads of the major trade routes and by their proximity to the civilized and prosperous countries such as Egypt and Iraq. Also, if they were to become peaceful and to cease their attacks upon the trade caravans, they would no longer be held in awe by neighbouring countries.
Such attitudes have not, however, been confined to the tribal chiefs of Shu'ayb. People who stray away from truth, honesty and righteousness, regardless of their age and clime, have always found in honesty a means of great loss. People of warped mentalities in every age have always believed that trade, politics, and other worldly pursuits can never flourish unless they resort to dishonest and immoral practices. The main objection against the Message of truth in all ages has been that the pursuit of truth spells material doom.