Prophet Shu'aib ุนููู ุงูุณูุงู
Sent to the People of Madyan โ A Call for Honest Trade and Justice
"O my people! Worship Allah, you have no other god but Him. Give full measure and full weight, and wrong not men in their things, and do not commit mischief on the earth after it has been set in order."
โ Prophet Shu'aib (AS) โ Surah Al-A'raf 7:85
๐๏ธ A People Who Cheated in Trade
The people of Madyan were Arabs who lived in the region of Ma'an, part of which today lies in greater Syria. They were a greedy people, disbelieving in Allah and living wicked lives. Their primary sin was dishonesty in trade โ they gave short measure, praised their goods far beyond their worth, hid the defects of what they sold, and lied to their customers, cheating them at every opportunity.
Allah sent His Prophet Shu'aib (AS) โ a man from among them โ armed with miracles, to call them back to the worship of Allah and to honest dealing with one another.
๐ A Message of Justice and Fairness
Shu'aib (AS) preached to his people, reminding them of Allah's favours and warning them of the consequences of their evil ways. His message combined faith with practical justice โ worship Allah alone, and deal honestly with one another in business. He reminded them: "Sit not on every road, threatening and hindering from the Path of Allah those who believe in Him, and seeking to make it crooked. Remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you."
But they only mocked him. The chiefs among them, arrogant and unwilling to abandon their wealth, threatened: "We shall certainly drive you out, Shu'aib, and those who have believed with you from our town โ or else you all shall return to our religion." Shu'aib (AS) responded with unwavering resolve: "Even though we hate it! We should have invented a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion, after Allah has rescued us from it."
Honesty in Trade is Worship: Shu'aib (AS) is unique among the prophets for the specific focus of his message on commercial honesty. His story reminds Muslims that giving fair measure, avoiding fraud, and dealing justly in business is not separate from faith โ it is an essential part of worshipping Allah sincerely.
โ Their Mockery and Defiance
The disbelievers mocked Shu'aib (AS) with contempt: "You are only one of those bewitched! You are but a human being like us, and verily we think that you are one of the liars! So cause a piece of heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!" Shu'aib (AS) replied calmly: "My Lord is the Best Knower of what you do."
They seized the belongings of Shu'aib (AS) and his followers and drove them out of the city. The Messenger turned to his Lord in prayer: "Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth, for You are the Best of those who give judgement."
โก The Punishment of the Burning Cloud
His plea was answered. Allah sent scorching heat upon the people of Madyan, and they suffered terribly under the unbearable temperatures. When they saw a cloud gathering in the sky, they rushed outside joyfully, expecting cool, refreshing rain. Instead, the cloud burst โ hurling thunderbolts and fire. A thunderous sound shook the earth beneath their feet, and the evil-doers perished in horror.
"But they belied him, so the torment of the day of shadow โ a gloomy cloud โ seized them. Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day. Verily, in this is a sign, yet most of them are not believers. And verily, your Lord โ He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful."
โ Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:189-191
Shu'aib (AS) and his believing followers were spared, while the people who had cheated, mocked and oppressed them faced the consequences of rejecting Allah's clear message.
The story of Shu'aib (AS) reminds us that honesty in our dealings with others is an act of worship in itself. May Allah make us among those who give full measure, deal justly, and fear Him in both our worship and our worldly affairs.
ุนููู ุงูุณูุงู โPeace be upon him
Compiled from the Holy Quran, authentic hadith, and the seerah and qisas al-anbiya works of Ibn Kathir.