Long ago a nation colonized in the northern Arabia. This nation had an
ancestral link withMadian, the son of Prophet Ibrahim(peace be upon
him). The name of the habitation where he resided was also Madian. It
was a fertile land which produced rich crops. Most of the people had
adopted trade as their profession and earned a lot of money by fair or
foul means. They hankered after wealth from dawn to dusk. They used to
give short measures and weight to their customers. They
weredishonestanddeceitfulin their dealings.
In addition to malpractices in commerce and trade the People indulged
in theft, debauchery, fornication and numerous unlawful acts. The
abundance of wealth had made those people refractory and wayward. They
were not afraid of God even and did whatever they liked. They ignored
allmoral values. Allah sentShu'aib(Shoaib) for the reformation of His
people. The Holy Quran says:
"And unto Madian We sent their brother Shu'aib who said: O' my people!
serve Allah, you have no god save Him. There has come to you a
manifest sign from your Lord: then give good weight and measure, and
be not niggardly of your gifts to men and do not do evils in the earth
after it has been righted. That is better for you if you are
believers." ( Surah 7: Verse 85)
The Prophet Shu'aib Preaches and is Tortured
According to the research of Ibn Khaldun, the mother of Prophet
Shu'aib (peace be upon him) was the pious daughter of the Prophet
Lut(peace be upon him). His genealogy joins with Madian son of Prophet
Ibrahim(peace be upon him). The Prophet Shu'aib (peace be upon him)
was aneloquent orator. He had the surname ofKhatibul Anbiya(the
Preacher to the Prophets).
He advised the people to mend their ways and give up wrangling in evil
ways. The people turned a deaf ear to his advice and ridiculed him
whenever they had got an opportunity. They began to torture him. The
mischief makers used to sit in the way towards the residence of the
Prophet Shu'aib (peace be upon him) and threatened his visitors of
dire consequences. They disgraced those who followed him. He continued
preaching and warned the evil doers by saying:
"And sit not down in every path, threatening and turning from the path
of God those who believe in Him and craving to make it crooked.
Remember when you were few and He multiplied you; and see what was the
end of the evil doers. "
Some haughty chiefs of the Madian tribe threatened the Prophet Shu'aib
(peace be upon him) and his followers to be banished from that
locality. The Holy Quran affirms:
"Said the crowd of those who were big with pride amongst his people:
We Will surely turn you out, O' Shu'aib and those who believe with
thee from our village, or else you should return to our faith'' (
Surah 7: Verse 88)
The Prophet Shu'aib (peace be upon him) was not coerced by such
threats and went onconveying the messageof Allah. He reminded them of
dreadful calamities which befell upon the previous nations The Holy
Quran affirms:
"And, O' my people! let not the schism with me cause you to sin so
that there befall you that which befell the folk of Nuh? and the folk
of Hod and the folk of Salih and the folk of Lut are not far off from
you." ( Surah 11: Verse 89)
Visitation Befalls upon them
The people jocularly rejected the veracity and truth of the religion
of Allah. They tortured Prophet Shu'aib (peace be upon him) and his
followers bytransgressingall moral limits. When they did not give up
their obstinacy in doing evil actions,Allah destroyed themby
descendingdreadfulchastisementupon them. The Holy Quran says:
"And when Our Commandment came to pass, We saved Shu'aib and those who
believed with him by a mercy from Us, and the awful cry seized those
who did injustice and morning found them prostrate in their dwellings
As though they had not dwelt there. A far removal for Madian, even as
Thamud had been removed afar." ( Surah 11: Verses 94-95)
"But they denied him, so there came on them the retribution of the day
of gloom. LO! it was the retribution of an awful day." ( Surah 26:
Verse 189)
Death and Burial
After the perdition of that sinful nation. Prophet Shu'aib (peace be
upon him) settled in Hadramaut where he passed away after some time.
He was buried inShabannear theValley of Ibn 'ALI. The people came from
far and wide to visit his sacred grave.
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