📜 Introduction

Prophet Shu‘ayb (AS) is regarded as one of the noble messengers of Allah. His lineage is debated among scholars, with different views on his ancestry:

Viewpoint Description
First Opinion Shu‘ayb’s name was Yathrūn bin Ṣayfūn bin ‘Unuqā bin Thābit bin Madyan bin Ibrāhīm (AS).
Second Opinion He was Shu‘ayb bin Mīkīl, a descendant of Madyan.
Third Opinion He was not from the descendants of Ibrāhīm (AS) but was the son of a believer who migrated with Ibrāhīm (AS) to Shām (the Levant). His grandmother was the daughter of Lūṭ (AS).

Shu‘ayb (AS) was known for his eloquence and was referred to by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as "The Orator of the Prophets" 🗣️ due to his persuasive way of addressing his people.

🌍 The People of Madyan & Aṣḥāb al-Ayka

Shu‘ayb (AS) was sent as a messenger to two communities:

  1. Madyan – Descendants of Madyan, son of Ibrāhīm (AS), who engaged in dishonest trade practices 📉 and rejected divine guidance.
  2. Aṣḥāb al-Ayka – A group of disbelievers living in an area with dense trees 🌳, known for corruption and injustice.

Despite being blessed with abundant provisions, these people engaged in economic fraud, reducing weights and measures ⚖️, exploiting others, and persisting in disbelief.

📖 Shu‘ayb’s (AS) Message

Shu‘ayb (AS) called his people to:

🔹 Worship Allah alone – “O my people! Worship Allah; you have no god other than Him.” (Hud 11:84)

🔹 Maintain honesty in trade – "Do not reduce the measure and weight."

🔹 Fear divine punishment – "I fear for you the torment of an overwhelming day."

However, his people rejected his message, mocked him, and persisted in their corruption.

⚡ The Divine Punishment

When the people refused to heed his warnings, Allah sent two forms of punishment:

Community Punishment
Aṣḥāb al-Ayka Day of the Shadow ☁️🔥 – A scorching heat wave ☀️ struck them, and when they sought relief under a cloud, it rained fire upon them. (Ash-Shu‘ara 26:189)
Madyan The Earthquake 🌍⚡ – A severe tremor destroyed them, leaving them lifeless in their homes. (Al-A‘raf 7:91)

🏆 Lessons from the Story of Shu‘ayb (AS)

✅ Honesty in Trade – Business dealings must be fair and just.