The Prophet Shu'ayb (1/2)

To Midian, Their Brother Shu'ayb

In the Qur'an, is the story of the Prophet of Allah, Shu'ayb, whom He sent to Midian and the People of the Thicket. These people were merchants, and controlled the great trade routes between Yemen and Syria, and between Iraq and Egypt on the shores of the Red Sea.

They associated other gods with Allah as did the communities to whom other Prophets were sent in every age. Furthermore, they cheated in their dealings and gave short measure. Also, they interfered with the caravans and threatened and alarmed them. They caused havoc in the land, as people will who seek only power and riches in this life, and expect no reckoning nor fear any punishment in the Hereafter.

‘Allah sent His Messenger Shu'ayb to them to call them and warn them.  He said to them:  'O my people! Worship Allah. You have no god but Him. Do not diminish the measure and the balance. I see you are prosperous and I fear for you the punishment of an encompassing day.’

‘O my people!  Fill up the balance and the measure justly and do not diminish the goods of the people and do not make havoc in the land, working corruption.'  (Surah Hud, 11: 84-5)

Shu'ayb's call

Shu'ayb spoke to them at length and loosened the knot in their souls, the knot of love of poverty and worldly increase.

He said:  'The profit you receive after giving full measure and weight is better for you than taking people's property unjustly and through trickery. When you examine your  life and  the  life of  those who  were  wealthy  and amassed riches,  you  will  find  that  the  actual  result of everything they obtained through shortening, lessening and trickery was destruction, ruin, corruption  and affliction. It was either stolen from them, or looted, or spent in ways which do not please Allah, or else someone gained control of it who wasted and squandered it. A small amount that brings true contentment is better than an abundance that does not.'

Say: 'The corrupt and the wholesome are not equal, even if the great amount of the corrupt pleases you.' (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:  100)

'My advice to you is pure and sincere. Allah Alone is the One who watches over you.'

He spoke with compassion and wisdom, and from knowledge and insight:

'What remains with you from Allah is better for you if you are believers. I am not a guardian over you.  (Surah Hud, 11: 86)

A Merciful Father And A Wise Teacher

Shu'ayb spoke to them on many occasions and gave them advice as does any compassionate father and wise teacher.

He said: 'O my people! Serve Allah!  You have no god but Him.  A clear sign has come to you from your Lord. So fill up the measure and the balance, and do not diminish the goods of the people.  Do not work corruption in the land after it has been set right. That is better for you if you are believers.  Do not sit in every path   threatening and barring those who believe in Allah from the path of Allah desiring to make it crooked.  Remember when you were few and He multiplied you. See what was the end of those who worked corruption.’  (Surah Al-A’raf, 7: 85-6)

His People's Response

Those among Shu'ayb's people who were thought to be clever looked for bad motives in his words.  They said in arrogant pride, as if they had discovered a secret or solved a riddle:

'Shu'ayb, does your prayer command you that we should abandon what our fathers worshipped or forbid us to do whatever we like with our own property? You are the forbearing, sensible.’ (Surah Hud, 11: 87)

Shu'ayb Explains His Summons

Shu'ayb was kind to them, not harsh or angry. He told them that he had only taken it upon himself to deliver this summons and good counsel after a long time of bearing silently their corrupt morals and unjust behaviour.  Then Allah had honoured him with prophethood and revelation, and opened his breast and given him a light from Him.   

Envy was not the reason he spoke up. Allah had made him wealthy and given him wholesome, lawful provision. He was happy with that, cheerful and content, and thankful to Allah.

He did not forbid them from doing anything that he himself did, nor did he deny them anything that he himself   indulged    in.   He   was   not   one   of   those   who command   others to piety while they forget themselves, nor one of those who speak but do not act.  He sought only to put them right, to direct them to contentment,   and rescue them from the punishment which was hovering above their heads.  All bounty returns to Allah and depends on Him.

He said:  'O my people!  What do you think? If I stand upon a clear sign from my Lord, and He has given me an excellent provision from Him, and I do not desire to come behind you, taking myself to what I forbid you. I only desire to set things right as far as I can. My success is only  with Allah.  I have put my trust in Him and I turn to Him in repentance.’   (Surah Hud, 11: 88)

(Continued)