শোয়ায়েব (আঃ) বললেন-হে দেশবাসী, তোমরা কি মনে কর! আমি যদি আমার পরওয়ারদেগারের পক্ষ হতে সুস্পষ্ট দলীলের উপর কায়েম থাকি আর তিনি যদি নিজের তরফ হতে আমাকে উত্তম রিযিক দান করে থাকেন, (তবে কি আমি তাঁর হুকুম অমান্য করতে পারি?) আর আমি চাই না যে তোমাদেরকে যা ছাড়াতে চাই পরে নিজেই সে কাজে লিপ্ত হব, আমি তো যথাসাধ্য শোধরাতে চাই। আল্লাহর মদদ দ্বারাই কিন্তু কাজ হয়ে থাকে, আমি তাঁর উপরই নির্ভর করি এবং তাঁরই প্রতি ফিরে যাই।
He said: ”O my people! Tell me, if I have a clear evidence from my Lord, and He has given me a good sustenance from Himself (shall I corrupt it by mixing it with the unlawfully earned money). I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you. I only desire reform so far as I am able, to the best of my power. And my guidance cannot come except from Allâh, in Him I trust and unto Him I repent.
قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىَ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّي وَرَزَقَنِي مِنْهُ رِزْقًا حَسَنًا وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَى مَا أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلاَّ الإِصْلاَحَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِي إِلاَّ بِاللّهِ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ
Qala ya qawmi araaytum in kuntu AAala bayyinatin min rabbee warazaqanee minhu rizqan hasanan wama oreedu an okhalifakum ila ma anhakum AAanhu in oreedu illa al-islaha ma istataAAtu wama tawfeeqee illa biAllahi AAalayhi tawakkaltu wa-ilayhi oneebu
YUSUFALI: He said: “O my people! see ye whether I have a Clear (Sign) from my Lord, and He hath given me sustenance (pure and) good as from Himself? I wish not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you to do. I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power; and my success (in my task) can only come from Allah. In Him I trust, and unto Him I look.
PICKTHAL: He said: O my people! Bethink you: if I am (acting) on a clear proof from my Lord and He sustaineth me with fair sustenance from Him (how can I concede aught to you)? I desire not to do behind your backs that which I ask you not to do. I desire naught save reform so far as I am able. My welfare is only in Allah. In Him I trust and unto Him I turn (repentant).
SHAKIR: He said: O my people! have you considered if I have a clear proof from my Lord and He has given me a goodly sustenance from Himself, and I do not desire that in opposition to you I should betake myself to that which I forbid you: I desire nothing but reform so far as I am able, and with none but Allah is the direction of my affair to a right issue; on Him do I rely and to Him do I turn:
KHALIFA: He said, “O my people, what if I have solid proof from my Lord; what if He has provided me with a great blessing? It is not my wish to commit what I enjoin you from. I only wish to correct as many wrongs as I can. My guidance depends totally on GOD; I have put my trust in Him. To Him I have totally submitted.