“The eminent ones among his people who were arrogant said, ‘We will surely drive you out of our town, O Shuayb, along with those who have believed with you, unless you return to our religion.’ He said, ‘Even if we are unwilling? (88) We would surely have fabricated a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion after Allah has saved us from it. It is not for us to return to it unless Allah, our Lord, wills. Our Lord encompasses all things in His knowledge. In Allah we place our trust. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, for You are the best of those who decide.’ (89)”

“If a group among you has believed in that with which I have been sent, while another group has not believed,” that is, if you have differed concerning my message and become two parties: deniers and believers, “then be patient until Allah judges between us,” by punishing the deniers and saving the believers. “And He is the best of judges.”

“The eminent ones among his people who were arrogant”—that is, the leaders who considered themselves too great to believe in him—said, “We will surely drive you out, O Shuayb, along with those who have believed with you, from our town, unless you return to our religion,” that is, unless you return to the religion which we follow. Shuayb said, “Even if we are unwilling?” That is: even if we detest it, would you compel us to do so?

“We would surely have fabricated a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion after Allah has saved us from it. It is not for us to return to it,” after Allah has delivered us from it, “unless Allah, our Lord, wills.” That is, unless it has already preceded in Allah’s knowledge and will that we should return to it; then Allah’s decree concerning us would come to pass, and He would carry out His judgment upon us.

If it is asked: What is the meaning of His words, “unless you return to our religion” and “it is not for us to return to it,” when Shuayb had never been upon their religion, such that their statement, “You return to our religion,” would be valid?