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.
Sahih International · EN
Et ne vous placez pas sur tout chemin, menaçant, empêchant du sentier d'Allah celui qui croit en Lui et cherchant à rendre ce sentier tortueux. Rappelez-vous quand vous étiez peu nombreux et qu'Il vous a multipliés en grand nombre. Et regardez ce qui est advenu aux fauteurs de désordre.
Muhammad Hamidullah · FR
Tafsir
'Do not sit in wait on every road, threatening the people travelling there in order to steal their possessions, and preventing those who want to be guided from the path of Allah, wanting the path of Allah to be crooked so that people would not follow it. Remember the blessings of Allah upon you so that you might be thankful, for you had been few in the land and He increased your numbers. Reflect on what had been the end of those who caused corruption in the earth before you, since their end had been destruction and ruin!'
Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir al-Quran · Tafsir Center for Quranic StudiesRead Ibn Kathir (Ibn Kathir (abridged, English))
"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 mischief-makers (86)"And if there is a party of you who believes in that with which I have been sent and a party who does not believe, so be patient until Allah judges between us, and He is the best of judges. (87)
Prophet Shu'ayb forbade his people from setting up blockades on the roads, saying,
وَلَا تَقْعُدُوا بِكُلِّ صِرَاطٍ تُوعِدُونَ
("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:
وَلَا تَقْعُدُوا بِكُلِّ صِرَاطٍ تُوعِدُونَ
("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,
بِكُلِّ صِرَاطٍ
("on every road...") He then mentioned the second meaning,
وَتَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِهِ وَتَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا
("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,
وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلًا فَكَثَّرَكُمْ
("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.
وَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
("And see what was the end of the mischief-makers.") from the previous nations and earlier generations. See the torment and punishment they suffered, because they disobeyed Allah and rejected His Messengers. Shu'ayb continued;
وَإِن كَانَ طَائِفَةٌ مِّنكُمْ آمَنُوا بِالَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ وَطَائِفَةٌ لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا
("And if there is a party of you who believes in that with which I have been sent and a party who does not believe,") that is, if you divided concerning me,
فَاصْبِرُوا
("so be patient") that is, then wait and see,
حَتَّىٰ يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَنَا
("until Allah judges between us,"), and you,
وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ
("and He is the best of judges.") Surely, Allah will award the best end to those who fear and obey Him and He will destroy the disbelievers.
Arabic text: Tanzil (Uthmani). Translations: Sahih International (en), Muhammad Hamidullah (fr). tanzil.net