A group of them took heed of Shuaib's preaching, whilst the majority arrogantly rejected.
The arrogant chiefs of his people threatened, “O Shu’aib! We will certainly expel you and your fellow believers from our land, unless you return to our faith.” He replied, “Even if we hate it?7:88
We would surely be fabricating a lie against Allah if we were to return to your faith after Allah has saved us from it. It does not befit us to return to it unless it is the Will of Allah, our Lord. Our Lord has encompassed everything in ˹His˺ knowledge. In Allah we trust. Our Lord! Judge between us and our people with truth. You are the best of those who judge.”7:89
In response to those who believed, the chiefs of Shuaib's people tried to force them to return back to the religion of their forefathers, a religion of ignorance. Shuaib emphasised that once imaan has firmly placed itself within someone, it cannot be uprooted by greed, anger or fear - it is, by Allah's will, there to stay forever.
Shuaib made prayers, asking Allah for his help. Allah does not reject the prayer of his prophets and messengers when their people have persistently disbelieved after multiple chances. Despite hearing this dua, his people continued to taunt him.
The disbelieving chiefs of his people threatened, “If you follow Shu’aib, you will surely be losers!”7:90
Nevertheless, Allah's punishment overtook them.
They were overcome by an earthquake so violent that their souls immediately left their bodies. The context of this is that Shuaib's people shook him and his followers, threatening their expulsion from the town if they did not return back to their religion of ignorance (mentioned in Surah Al-A'raf). So, Allah sent an earthquake to shake them - lifeless.
Then an ˹overwhelming˺ earthquake struck them and they fell lifeless in their homes.7:91
A tremendous blast, followed by a shadowing gloom wherein ashes rained upon them. The context of the blast was mentioned in 11:87 (in Surah Hud), when the people of Midian were shouting at Shuaib sarcastically asking why they should follow the goodness he is suggesting to them. So their shout met 'Allah's shout' (blast) which destroyed them.
In relation to the overshadowing glome that followed, the context is mentioned in Surah Ash-Shu'ara.
They replied, “You are simply bewitched!26:185
Also, you are only a human being like us, and we think you are indeed a liar.26:186
So they rejected him, and ˹so˺ were overtaken by the torment of the day of the ˹deadly˺ cloud. That was really a torment of a tremendous day.26:189
Shu’aib responded, “My Lord knows best whatever you do.”26:188
So cause ˹deadly˺ pieces of the sky to fall upon us, if what you say is true.”26:187
Furthermore, they were paralysed by extreme heat and wind that did not stop blowing for 7 days. No water or shade was given to them to relieve them from the heat. Then it gathered into a cloud which began to have sparks and shower down ashes.
Perhaps first there was severe heat, then the clouds, ashes and finally the blast and Allah knows best. After this destruction, Shuaib went there explaining that he had given them, clearly, the truth of which there was no denial. They were given sufficient chances to abstain from their evil deeds, but in the end only those who follow the way of goodness will prosper.
He turned away from them, saying, “O my people! Indeed, I have delivered to you the messages of my Lord and gave you ˹sincere˺ advice. How can I then grieve for those who chose to disbelieve?”7:93
