Al-A'raf 7:86
SAHIHوَلَا تَقْعُدُوا۟ بِكُلِّ صِرَٰطٍۢ تُوعِدُونَ وَتَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِۦ وَتَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًۭا ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلًۭا فَكَثَّرَكُمْ ۖ وَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
And do not sit on every path, threatening and averting from the way of Allah those who believe in Him, seeking to make it [seem] deviant. And remember when you were few and He increased you. And see how was the end of the corrupters.
Wa laa taq'udoo bikulli siraatin too'idoona wa tasuddoona 'an sabeelil laahi man aamana bihee wa abghoonahaa 'iwajaa; waz kurooo iz kuntum qaleelan fakassarakum wanzuroo kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul mufsideen
Tafsir (Commentary)
<h2>Prophet Shu`ayb forbade his people from setting up blockades on the roads, saying,</h2><div class="arabic uthmani">وَلاَ تَقْعُدُواْ بِكُلِّ صِرَطٍ تُوعِدُونَ</div><p>("And sit not on every road, threatening,") threatening people with death if they do not give up their money, as they were bandits, according to As-Suddi. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and several others commented: </p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَلاَ تَقْعُدُواْ بِكُلِّ صِرَطٍ تُوعِدُونَ</div><p>("And sit not on every road, threatening.") the believers who come to Shu`ayb to follow him." The first meaning is better, because Prophet Shu`ayb first said to them, </p><div class="arabic uthmani">بِكُلِّ صِرَطٍ</div><p>("on every road...") He then mentioned the second meaning, </p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَتَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِ وَتَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا</div><p>("and hindering from the path of Allah those who believe in Him, and seeking to make it crooked.") meaning, you seek to make the path of Allah crooked and deviated, </p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَاذْكُرُواْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلاً فَكَثَّرَكُمْ</div><p>("And remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you.") meaning, you were weak because you were few. But you later on became mighty because of your large numbers. Therefore, remember Allah's favor. </p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَانظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ</div><p>("And see what was the end of the mischief-makers. ") from the previous nations and earlier generations. …
Other Translations
Lurk not on every road to threaten (wayfarers), and to turn away from Allah's path him who believeth in Him, and to seek to make it crooked. And remember, when ye were but few, how He did multiply you. And see the nature of the consequence for the corrupters!
"And squat not on every road, breathing threats, hindering from the path of Allah those who believe in Him, and seeking in it something crooked; But remember how ye were little, and He gave you increase. And hold in your mind's eye what was the end of those who did mischief.
"And sit not on every road, threatening, and hindering from the Path of Allah those who believe in Him. and seeking to make it crooked. And remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you. And see what was the end of the Mufsidun (mischief-makers, corrupts, liars).
“And do not lurk on every path, making threats and turning away from the path of God those who believe in Him, seeking to distort it. And remember how you were few, and how He made you numerous. So note the consequences for the corrupters.”