Ash-Shu'ara · Makki · ayah 190 of 227

Ash-Shu'ara 26:190

إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

“Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.”

Saheeh International

Essence

The refrain of 26:8 is heard for the eighth and last time, over a people ruined for cheating at the scale.

A reflection

The eighth time, and then the sign turns to you

This line was first met at 26:8, and its full treatment lives there. Here it is heard for the last time. It closes the seventh story, of Shuʿayb and the people of the thicket.

Why seven stories? One commentator mentions the view that seven is a complete number. Then he declines to press it, leaving the secret of the number and the order to the Knower of the unseen. That restraint is itself worth learning.

Another commentator hears the refrain addressed past the ruins to the Prophet's own listeners. In this there is a sign for your people. Our way with them, if they deny you, is our way with the people of the thicket.

That is why the next ayah does not open another story. It turns to the Book itself (26:192). The stories are over. The sign is now in the reader's hands.

The full entry has 2 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.