Prophet Shuaib, known in Biblical literature as Jethro, is oneof only four Arab prophets mentioned by name in the Quran. Many scholarsbelieve that Shuaib was the elderly man who offered Moses safety, security andthe hand of one of his daughters in marriage, when he fled Egypt. There are noauthentic sources either confirming or denying this, however the Quran tells usthat Prophet Shuaib was from the people of Midian, and it was there that Mosesfound refuge.
Combing the stories of both Prophets Moses and Shuaib wefind that Prophet Shuaib was one of the few truly good and upright men ofMidian. The people as a whole were bandits and robbers, deceiving one anotherand those who had the misfortune to pass through their townships and nomadiccamps. For the most part they led a happy and prosperous life due to thebounties from God. However instead of being grateful they wanted toaccumulate more and would lie and cheat in order to do so. They moved far awayfrom the religion of God, many were atheists, whilst others worshipped woodlandor nature gods.
As was the case with all the prophets of God, ProphetShuaib’s mission was to call his people to worship God alone and to follow Hiscommandments. He tried to do so by reminding them of the graces and favoursbestowed on them by God, but they were heedless. Those who had not completelyabandoned belief worshipped in the incorrect manner of their forefathers andsaid to Shuaib, "Would you have us abandon the religion of our forefathers? Canwe not do what we like with our own property", they sneered.
"And to the people of Midian We sent their brother Shuaib. Hesaid: ‘O my people! Worship God! You have no other God but Him’..." (Quran7:85)
Islamic historian Ibn Kathir tells us that the people ofMidian were the first people to impose fees and tolls on the people that passedthrough their territory. They insisted on a life of robbery and injustice eventhough Prophet Shuaib did his best to convince them that the punishment of Godwould befall them if they did not desist. They never exacted true measure andweight in their business dealings and Shuaib pleaded with them explaining thatGod would see them poor and destitute by taking away the bounties they had cometo expect.
"‘…so give full measure and full weight and wrong not men intheir things, and do not do mischief on the earth after it has been set in order,that will be better for you, if you are believers. And sit not on every road,threatening, and hindering from the Path of God those who believe in Him andseeking to make it crooked...’" (Quran 7:85-86)
Prophet Shuaib continued to remonstrate with his people;he insisted that he was not trying to better himself but he wanted what wasbest for them. He like all the others prophets that had come before himpracticed exactly what he preached and asked no more from those whom he sought toguide than what he asked from himself. As is the way with disbelievers theydid not practice what they preached and they mocked and belittled Prophet Shuaib.
"He said, ‘O my people! Tell me if I have a clear evidencefrom my Lord and He has given me a good sustenance from Himself (shall Icorrupt it by mixing it with the unlawfully earned money). I wish not, incontradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you. I only desire reform tothe best of my power. And my guidance cannot come except from God, in Him Itrust and unto Him I repent.’" (Quran 11:88)
Prophet Shuaib then went on to warn his people that werelikely to suffer a similar fate to the people of Prophets Noah, Hud and Saleh.Destruction was the end product of their disobedience. "…The people of Lotare not far from you" (Quran 11: 89), he admonished. Ibn Kathirsaid that this phrase means that the people of Midian committed vicious sinssuch as highway robbery, as did the people of Lot. Any other possible meaningsfor that phrase were also applicable because, he said, the people of Shuaibwere close to the people of Lot in time, place and behaviour.
Shuaib’s people were growing tired of his constantreproaches and said they would stone him if it were not for his family. Thisdid not stop Shuaib from delivering his message calling for repentance. Theleaders amongst the disbelievers asked Shuaib’s followers to return to thereligion of their forefathers but Shuaib supplicated to God calling on Him toprotect the righteous amongst them. Shuaib and his followers were driven outof the town. The disbelievers went on with their ignoble lifestyles andthought no more of the warnings from Shuaib.
God however was well aware of Shuaib and his followers’righteous behaviour and all the efforts made to dissuade the disbelievers fromtheir dishonesty and ungrateful behaviour. Shuaib warned of a terriblepunishment and in no less than three different chapters, Quran mentions thispunishment of the unrepentant people.
"…We saved Shuaib and those who believed with him, by mercy fromUs. And an awful cry seized the wrong-doers, and they lay (dead), prostrate intheir homes." (Quran 11: 94)
"So the earthquake seized them and they lay (dead), prostratein their homes." (Quran 7:91)
"But they belied him, so the torment of the day of shadow (agloomy cloud) seized them. Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day." (Quran26:189)
Ibn Kathir elaborates and tells us that they wereexposed to unbearable hot scorching sun for no less than seven days. Theytried to cool down by using water but to no avail. They escaped into a desertand found what they believed to be relief under a dark and gloomy cloud but thecloud rained drops of fire and the earth quaked under their feet. God said, "Thosewho belied Shuaib became as if they had never dwelt there (in their homes). Thosewho belied Shuaib, (they) were the losers."(Quran 7:92) Prophet Shuaibrefused to lament over a people to whom he gave good and honest counsel.
