“So We saved him,” that is, Lot, “and his family,” the believers. It was also said that his family were his two daughters. “Except for his wife; she was among those who remained behind,” that is, among those left behind to suffer the punishment. It was also said that this means she was among those who had remained alive for a long time; many years had passed over her, and she perished along with those of Lot’s people who perished. The expression “among those who remained behind” is in the masculine form because it refers to those men who remained; when her mention was joined to that of the men, the masculine form was used.
“And We rained upon them a rain,” that is, stones of baked clay. Wahb said: sulfur and fire. “So observe how the end of the criminals was.” Abu Ubaydah said: The verb amṭara is used when rain denotes punishment, whereas maṭara is used when it denotes mercy.
His saying, exalted is He: “And to Midian We sent their brother Shuayb”—that is, We sent to the descendants of Midian, who was Midian son of Abraham, the intimate friend of the Most Merciful, peace be upon him—and they were the people of the Thicket—their brother Shuayb, their brother in lineage, not in religion. Ata said: He was Shuayb son of Tawbah son of Midian son of Abraham. Ibn Ishaq said: He was Shuayb son of Michael son of Yashkhar son of Midian son of Abraham, and Michael’s mother was a daughter of Lot. It was also said that he was Shuayb son of Yathrun son of Midian. Shuayb was blind, and he was called the Orator of the Prophets because of the eloquence with which he addressed his people. His people were given to disbelief and to cheating in measure and weight.
“My people, worship Allah; you have no god other than Him. Clear evidence has come to you from your Lord.” If it is asked: What is meant by His saying, exalted is He, “Clear evidence has come to you from your Lord,” when they had no sign? The answer is: They did have a sign, but it was not mentioned; not every sign is mentioned in the Quran. It was also said that the clear evidence meant the coming of Shuayb.
“So give full measure,” meaning, complete the measure, “and weight, and do not deprive people of what is rightfully theirs,” meaning, do not wrong people with regard to their rights or diminish them. “And do not spread corruption in the land after it has been set aright,” that is, after the sending of messengers and the command to establish justice; every prophet sent to a people is a source of their rectification. “That,” namely, what I have mentioned to you and commanded you to do, “is better for you, if you are believers,” affirming the truth of what I say.
“Do not sit along every path, threatening and turning away from the way of Allah those who believe in Him, seeking to make it crooked; and remember when you were few and He multiplied you, and observe how the end of the corrupters was.” (86)
“Do not sit along every path,” that is, upon every road; “threatening,” that is, menacing; “and turning people away from the way of Allah”