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The story of Prophet Shu’ayb
may Allaah exalt his mention with his people is mentioned in the seventh
chapter of the Noble Quran.
The people of Madyan,
to whom he was sent by Allaah Almighty, were Arabs who lived in a place
called "Ma'aan" (in Jordan). They were a greedy people who did
not believe that Allaah existed and who led wicked lives.
They gave short
measure, praised their goods beyond their worth, and hid their defects.
They lied to their customers, thereby cheating them.
Allaah, the Almighty,
Says (what means): "…And to [the people of] Madyan [We sent] their
brother Shu’ayb. He said, 'O my people, worship Allaah; you have no deity
other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. So
fulfill the measure and weight and do not deprive people of their due and
cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. That is better
for you, if you should be believers. And do not sit on every path,
threatening and averting from the way of Allaah those who believe in Him,
seeking to make it [seem] deviant. And remember when you were few and He
increased you. And see how the end of the corrupters was. And if there
should be a group among you who has believed in that with which I have been
sent and a group that has not believed, then be patient until Allaah judges
between us. And He is the best of judges.'
Said the eminent ones
who were arrogant among his people, 'We will surely evict you, O Shu’ayb,
and those who have believed with you from our city or you must return to
our religion.' He said, 'Even if we were unwilling? We would have invented
against Allaah a lie if we returned to your religion after Allaah had saved
us from it. And it is not for us to return to it except that Allaah, our
Lord, should will. Our Lord has encompassed all things in knowledge. Upon
Allaah we have relied. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth,
and You are the best of those who give decision.' Said the eminent ones who
disbelieved among his people, 'If you should follow Shu’ayb, indeed, you
would then be losers.' So the earthquake seized them, and they became
within their home [corpses] fallen prone. Those who denied Shu’ayb --it was
as though they had never resided there. Those who denied Shu’ayb — it was
they who were the losers. And he [i.e. Shu’ayb] turned away from them and
said, ‘O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the messages of my Lord
and advised you, so how could I grieve for a disbelieving
people?'"[Quran 7:85-93]
Allaah, the Exalted,
sent His Prophet Shu’ayb may Allaah exalt his mention armed with many
miracles. Prophet Shu’ayb may Allaah exalt his mention preached them,
begging them to be mindful of Allaah's favors and warning them of the
consequences of their evil ways, but they only mocked him. Prophet Shu’ayb
remained calm as he reminded them of his kinship to them and that what he
was doing was not for his personal gain.
They seized the
belongings of Prophet Shu’ayb may Allaah exalt his mention and his
followers and drove them out of the city. So, he turned to his Lord for
help, and his plea was answered. Allaah sent down on them scorching heat
from which they suffered terribly. On seeing a cloud gathering in the sky,
they thought it would bring cool, refreshing rain, so they rushed outside
in the hope of enjoying the rainfall. Instead, the cloud burst, hurling
thunderbolts and fire. They heard a thunderous sound from above, which
caused the earth under their feet to tremble. The evil-doers perished in
this state of horror.
Allaah, the Exalted,
States (what means): "The companions of the thicket [i.e. the people
of Madyan] denied the messengers, when Shu’ayb said to them, ‘Will you not
fear Allaah? Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger. So fear Allaah
and obey me. And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only
from the Lord of the worlds. Give full measure and do not be of those who
cause loss. And weigh with an even [i.e. honest] balance. And do not
deprive people of their due and do not commit abuse on earth, spreading
corruption. And fear He who created you and the former creation.'
They said, 'You are
only of those affected by magic. You are but a man like ourselves, and
indeed, we think you are among the liars. So cause to fall upon us
fragments of the sky, if you should be of the truthful.'
He said, 'My Lord is
Most Kknowing of what you do. O my people! Work according to your position;
indeed, I am working. You are going to know to whom will come a punishment
that will disgrace him and who is a liar. So watch; indeed, I am with you a
watcher, [awaiting the outcome].' And when Our command came, We saved
Shu’ayb and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us. And the shriek
seized those who had wronged, and they became within their homes [corpses]
fallen prone. As if they had never prospered therein. Then, away with
Madyan as Thamud (the people of Madyan) was taken away.”[Quran 84:95]
This is the fatal end
of the disbelieving People of Prophet Shu'ayb may Allaah exalt his mention
as was the end of every people before and after them who rejected the
Divine Message and belied Allaah's Messengers and Prophets.
Source: "Stories
of the Prophets" by Ibn Katheer
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