And when our decree came to be executed we turned those cities upside down, and we rained down upon them blocks of claystone one after another, marked16 by thy Lord himself.  Nor are they far distant from the wicked Meccans.

And we sent to Madian17 their brother Shoaib.  He said, “O my people! worship God:  no other God have you than He:  give not short weight and measure:  I see indeed that ye revel in good things; but I fear for you the punishment of the all-encompassing day.

O my people! give weight and measure with fairness; purloin not other men’s goods; and perpetrate not injustice on the earth with corrupt practices: 

A residue,18 the gift of God, will be best for you if ye are believers: 

But I am not a guardian over you.”

They said to him, “O Shoaib! is it thy prayers which enjoin that we should leave what our fathers worshipped, or that we should not do with our substance as pleaseth us?  Thou forsooth art the mild, the right director!”

He said, “O my people!  How think ye?  If I have a clear revelation from my Lord, and if from Himself He hath supplied me with goodly supplies, and if I will not follow you in that which I myself forbid you, do I seek aught but your amendment so far as in me lieth?  My sole help is in God.  In Him do I trust, and to Him do I turn me.

O my people! let not your opposition to me draw down upon you the like of that which befel the people of Noah, or the people of Houd, or the people of Saleh:  and the abodes of the people of Lot are not far distant from you!

Seek pardon of your Lord and be turned unto Him:  verily, my Lord is Merciful, Loving.

They said, “O Shoaib! we understand not much of what thou sayest, and we clearly see that thou art powerless among us:  were it not for thy family we would have surely stoned thee, nor couldest thou have prevailed against us.”

He said, “O my people! think ye more highly of my family than of God?  Cast ye Him behind your back, with neglect?  Verily, my Lord is round about your actions.

And, O my people! act with what power ye can for my hurt:  I verily will act:  and ye shall know

On whom shall light a punishment that shall disgrace him, and who is the liar.  Await ye; verily I will await with you.”

And when our decree came to pass, we delivered Shoaib and his companions in faith, by our mercy:  And a violent tempest overtook the wicked, and in the morning they were found prostrate in their houses

As if they had never dwelt in them.  Was not Madian swept off even as Themoud had been swept off?

Of old sent we Moses with our signs and with incontestable power to Pharaoh, and to his nobles-who followed the behests of Pharaoh, and, unrighteous were Pharaoh’s behests.

He shall head his people on the day of the Resurrection and cause them to descend into the fire:  and wretched the descent by which they shall descend!