Shu'aib was a messenger of God sent to the people of Midyan. The Quran calls him "their brother" (7:85, 11:84, 29:36), which means he was one of them. Midyan is also called "the People of the Woods," and one verse joins the two names: "the dwellers of the Woods (of Midyan)" (38:13). His people were prosperous traders (11:84). They had been few, and God had multiplied them (7:86).
His message began with what every messenger brought: "O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him" (7:85). Then he turned to the sins of their marketplace. He told them to give full weight and full measure and to weigh with an equitable scale. They must not cheat people out of their rights or corrupt the earth after it had been set straight (7:85, 26:181-183). He told them to stop blocking the path of God and turning believers away from it (7:86). He also told them to seek the Last Day (29:36). He asked for no wage, since his wage came only from the Lord of the universe (26:180). And he reminded them that whatever God provides, however small, is better than dishonest gain (11:86).
His people mocked him. They asked whether his religion required them to give up their parents' religion and run their businesses however they liked (11:87). He answered that he had solid proof from his Lord. He did not do what he told them not to do, and he only wanted to correct as many wrongs as he could (11:88). He warned them not to suffer the fate of the people of Noah, Hûd, Sãleh and Lot, and he urged them to repent (11:89-90). They called him bewitched and a liar, "no more than a human being like us" (26:185-186). They said they would have stoned him if not for his tribe (11:91), and they dared him to bring masses down from the sky (26:187). Some of them believed and some did not. So the arrogant leaders threatened to drive Shu'aib and the believers out of town unless they came back to the old religion. He refused, saying that going back would be blasphemy against God. He put his trust in God and prayed for a decisive victory (7:88-89). He told them to keep doing what they wished and to wait: they would find out who the liar was (11:93).
Then God's judgment came. He saved Shu'aib and those who believed with him, by mercy (11:94). An earthquake destroyed the disbelievers and left them dead in their homes by morning (7:91, 29:37). Sura 26 calls it "the retribution of the Day of the Canopy" (26:189). Shu'aib turned away from them, saying he had delivered his Lord's messages and advised them, and asking how he could grieve over disbelieving people (7:93).
The Quran draws its lessons plainly. "Those who rejected Shu'aib vanished, as if they never existed. Those who rejected Shu'aib were the losers" (7:92). The leaders had warned that following Shu'aib would make people losers (7:90), and in the end the rejecters were the ones who lost. Midyan perished just as Thamûd had perished before it (11:95). The story "should be a lesson, but most people are not believers" (26:190). In the Quran's telling, worshiping God alone and dealing honestly with people are one message. Cheating in trade is treated as part of turning away from God, not as a separate matter.
Verses
SubmissionAI can make mistakes. Check the sources.
To Midyan we sent their brother Shu'aib. He said, "O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. Proof has come to you from your Lord. You shall give full weight and full measure when you trade. Do not cheat the people out of their rights. Do not corrupt the earth after it has been set straight. This is better for you, if you are believers.
"Refrain from blocking every path, seeking to repel those who believe from the path of GOD, and do not make it crooked. Remember that you used to be few and He multiplied your number. Recall the consequences for the wicked.
"Now that some of you have believed in what I was sent with, and some have disbelieved, wait until GOD issues His judgment between us; He is the best judge."
The arrogant leaders among his people said, "We will evict you, O Shu'aib, together with those who believed with you, from our town, unless you revert to our religion." He said, "Are you going to force us?
"We would be blaspheming against GOD if we reverted to your religion after GOD has saved us from it. How could we revert back to it against the will of GOD our Lord? Our Lord's knowledge encompasses all things. We have put our trust in GOD. Our Lord, grant us a decisive victory over our people. You are the best supporter."
The disbelieving leaders among his people said, "If you follow Shu'aib, you will be losers."
The quake annihilated them, leaving them dead in their homes.
Those who rejected Shu'aib vanished, as if they never existed. Those who rejected Shu'aib were the losers.
He turned away from them, saying, "O my people, I have delivered to you the messages of my Lord, and I have advised you. How can I grieve over disbelieving people."
To Midyan we sent their brother Shu'aib. He said, "O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. Do not cheat when you measure or weigh. I see that you are prosperous, and I fear for you the retribution of an overwhelming day.
"O my people, you shall give full measure and full weight, equitably. Do not cheat the people out of their rights, and do not roam the earth corruptingly.
"Whatever GOD provides for you, no matter how small, is far better for you, if you are really believers. I am not a guardian over you."
They said, "O Shu'aib, does your religion dictate upon you that we must abandon our parents' religion, or running our businesses in any manner we choose? Surely, you are known for being clement, wise."
He said, "O my people, what if I have solid proof from my Lord; what if He has provided me with a great blessing? It is not my wish to commit what I enjoin you from. I only wish to correct as many wrongs as I can. My guidance depends totally on GOD; I have put my trust in Him. To Him I have totally submitted.
"And, O my people, do not be provoked by your opposition to me into incurring the same disasters as the people of Noah, or the people of Hûd, or the people of Sãleh; and the people of Lot are not too far from you.
"You shall implore your Lord for forgiveness, then repent to Him. My Lord is Most Merciful, Kind."
They said, "O Shu'aib, we do not comprehend many of the things you are telling us, and we see that you are powerless among us. If it were not for your tribe, we would have stoned you. You have no value for us."
He said, "O my people, does my tribe command a greater respect than GOD? Is this why you have been heedless of Him? My Lord is fully aware of everything you do.
"O my people, go on doing what you wish, and so will I. You will certainly find out which of us will incur shameful retribution; you will find out who the liar is. Just wait in anticipation, and I will wait in anticipation along with you."
When our judgment came, we saved Shu'aib and those who believed with him, by mercy from us. As for the evil ones, they were struck by a disaster that left them dead in their homes.
It was as though they never existed. Thus, Midyan perished, just like Thamûd had perished before that.
The People of the Woods disbelieved the messengers.
Shu'aib said to them, "Would you not be righteous?
"I am an honest messenger to you.
"You shall reverence GOD, and obey me.
"I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe.
"You shall give full measure when you trade; do not cheat.
"You shall weigh with an equitable scale.
"Do not cheat the people out of their rights, and do not roam the earth corruptingly.
"Reverence the One who created you and the previous generations."
They said, "You are bewitched.
"You are no more than a human being like us. In fact, we think you are a liar.
"Let masses from the sky fall on us, if you are truthful."
He said, "My Lord is the One who knows everything you do."
They disbelieved him and, consequently, they incurred the retribution of the Day of the Canopy. It was the retribution of an awesome day.
