Quran Universe
26:151

وَلَا تُطِيعُوٓاْ أَمۡرَ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ

Wala tuteeAAoo amra almusrifeena

And do not obey the order of the transgressors,

Word by word
  1. وَلَاAnd (do) not
  2. تُطِيعُوٓاْobey
  3. أَمۡرَ(the) command
  4. ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ(of) the transgressors
Ash-Shu'ara · 26:151Makkah

Do not follow those who go beyond limits.

Choosing whose orders you take

Two voices in Thamud
Salihfear Allah, obey me
the chiefscalled to shirkopposed the truth
Who to follow
the powerfulthey lead, so follow
the truthfuleven if alone

Salih warns Thamud not to obey the extravagant. Ibn Kathir says these were their chiefs and leaders, who called them to shirk, disbelief and opposition to the truth. The people had to choose whose command to follow.

The loudest people in your office, your friend group, your feed, set the tone. You start laughing at what they laugh at and wanting what they want. Whose orders are you really following?

Everyone important is going this way, so it must be right.

Status does not make someone worth obeying; truth does.

Try this

Notice one opinion you picked up just from someone popular. Decide if you actually agree.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 26:146)

"Will you be left secure in that which you have here? (146)"In gardens and springs. (147)"And crops and date palms with soft clusters. (148)"And you hew out in the mountains, houses with great skill. (149)"So, have Taqwa of Allah, and obey me. (150)"And follow not the command of the extravagant, (151)Who make mischief in the land, and reform not. (152)

A Reminder to Them of Their Circumstances and the Blessings They Enjoyed

Salih preached to them, warning them that the punishment of Allah could overtake them and reminding them of the blessings that Allah had bestowed upon them, by giving them ample provision and making them safe from all kinds of dangers, giving them gardens and flowing springs, and bringing forth for them crops and fruits.

وَنَخْلٍ طَلْعُهَا هَضِيمٌ

(and date palms with soft clusters.) Al-'Awfi narrated from Ibn 'Abbas, "Ripe and rich." 'Ali bin Abi Talhah narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that this meant growing luxuriantly. Isma'il bin Abi Khalid narrated from 'Amr bin Abi 'Amr – who met the Companions – from Ibn 'Abbas that this means, "When it becomes ripe and soft." This was narrated by Ibn Abi Hatim, then he said: "And something similar was narrated from Abu Salih."

وَتَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا فَارِهِينَ

(And you hew out in the mountains, houses with great skill.) Ibn 'Abbas and others said, "With great skill." According to another report from him: "They were greedy and extravagant." This was the view of Mujahid and another group. There is no contradiction between the two views, because they built the houses which they carved in the mountains as a form of extravagant play, with no need for them as dwelling places. They were highly skilled in the arts of masonry and stone-carving, as is well known to anyone who has seen their structures. So, Salih said to them:

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

(So, have Taqwa of Allah, and obey me.) Pay attention to that which could benefit you in this world and the Hereafter; worshipping your Lord Who created you, who granted you provisions so that you could worship Him alone and glorify Him morning and evening.

وَلَا تُطِيعُوا أَمْرَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ - الَّذِينَ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ

(And follow not the command of the extravagant, who make mischief in the land, and reform not.) meaning, their chiefs and leaders, who called them to Shirk, disbelief and opposition to the truth.