As if, the punishment seized them at night when they were asleep.

As if, the punishment seized them at night when they were asleep. They woke up, but they had neither enough time to save themselves nor any ability to escape. So, they were destroyed while they were in the state of half-raised. Most of the opponents of divine prophets were from the kind of rich notables. “And the chiefs of those who disbelied from among his people said…” One of the methods of disbelievers is threat by means of economical siege.

“…’If you follow Shu‘ayb, you will indeed be losers’.” When they became like that, they increased their own aberration by persisting on leading others astray. There was no hope that they might believe. Therefore, basing on the decree of the law of effacing the effects of corruption, the divine punishment fell upon them.

The great loss belongs to the idolaters. Instead of belief in one God, they ascribe partners, and instead of accepting the guidance of the immaculates, they refer to others supposing to be led. Therefore, instead of a secured life, they will be destroyed of everything; and instead of being admitted into Heaven, they will enter Hell Fire, since, instead of Allah’s pleasure, they have incurred His Wrath.

Thus, the plots of the people of Shu‘ayb, who were the followers of falsehood, were of no avail. They wanted to expel Shu‘ayb from their town, but they themselves were destroyed in their own houses. That is why that sometimes it happens that the places of refuge change to places of massacre. (The town of the people of Shu‘ayb, for example, was a pleasant place for them and also it was used as a means of threat against Shu‘ayb by them.

But that town was ruined upon them and became a means of their destruction. It is at the time of incurring the Wrath of Allah that the real losers are recognized. The above verse is its Qur’ānic evidence. It says: “Those who belied Shu‘ayb became (perished) as if they had never dwelt therein.