Have you ever imagined a place buzzing with trade, where caravans filled with exotic spices and shimmering silks passed through, making its people rich? This was Madyan, a bustling city situated between the lands of the Hijaz and Ash-Sham, near what is now Ma'an in Jordan. The people of Madyan, descended from Madyan, son of Prophet Ibrahim, were prosperous. Their markets overflowed, and their wealth grew. But beneath this glittering surface, a dark shadow lurked: injustice.
The Madyanis had forgotten their Creator. Instead of worshipping the One God, Allah, they turned to idols and even worshipped trees, earning them the nickname "people of Al-Aykah" (the woods), as Ibn Kathir tells us. Even worse, their wealth made them greedy. They cheated in every transaction, giving short measures and light weights, stealing from their customers, and spreading corruption throughout the land. Ma'arif-ul-Quran explains that they would even trim the edges of gold and silver coins, passing them off at full value. This wasn't just unfair; it was a grave sin, causing disorder on earth. To make matters worse, they were also highway bandits, blocking roads, threatening travelers, and robbing them of their belongings, especially if they dared to follow the path of truth.
Shu'ayb, the Eloquent Advisor
Into this wealthy, corrupt society, Allah sent a Prophet from among them, their own brother, Shu'ayb. He was known as "Speaker of the Prophets" (Ibn Kathir on madyan we sent their brother shu'ay...](7:85)), gifted with impressive oratory and wisdom. His heart ached for his people, seeing them stray so far from righteousness.
He stood before them, his voice clear and compassionate, calling them back to the straight path. "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord." madyan we sent their brother shu'ay...](7:85) He urged them to remember the blessings Allah had showered upon them. "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I see you in prosperity, but indeed, I fear for you the punishment of an all-encompassing Day." their brother shu'ayb. he said, "o m...](11:84).
Shu'ayb knew that true faith wasn't just about worship; it was about how they lived and treated others. He pleaded with them to stop their dishonest practices. "So fulfill the measure and weight and do not deprive people of their due and cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. That is better for you, if you should be believers." madyan we sent their brother shu'ay...](7:85). He explained that honesty in business was not just good for their reputation, but it was also a source of blessings. "What remains lawful from Allah is best for you, if you would be believers." from allah is best for you, if you wou...](11:86). He wasn't asking for personal gain; he simply intended to set things right. "I only intend reform as much as I am able. And my success is not but through Allah. Upon him I have relied, and to Him I return." .
He also warned them against their highway robbery and hindering people from the path of Allah, saying, "And do not sit in every path, threatening and preventing people from the path of Allah those who believe in Him, and seeking to make it crooked." 7:86. He reminded them of their humble beginnings: "And remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you." 7:86. Their strength and numbers were a gift from Allah, not a reason to become arrogant and oppressive.
A Storm of Arrogance and Rejection
But the wealthy, powerful chiefs of Madyan looked down on Shu'ayb. They dismissed his words, their hearts hardened by greed and pride. They saw his devotion to Allah, particularly his prayers, as strange and interfering. "O Shu'ayb, does your prayer command you that we should leave what our fathers worship or not do with our wealth what we please?" They scoffed, as if religion had no place in their business dealings or personal choices. Ibn Kathir explains that they were mocking him, asking if his prayer told him to abandon their ancestral idols and to stop cheating in their transactions, which they considered their right over their own property.
They accused him, saying, "You are only of those affected by magic," and "You are but a man like ourselves, and indeed, we think you are among the liars." . They couldn't imagine a mere human being like them being chosen by Allah as a Prophet.
Their arrogance grew into open hostility. The eminent ones, filled with pride, declared, "We will surely evict you, O Shu'ayb, and those who have believed with you from our city, or you must return to our religion." . Prophet Shu'ayb, unwavering, replied, "Even if we were unwilling?" , clarifying that a return to their false beliefs was impossible. They even conspired amongst themselves, saying, "If you should follow Shu'ayb, indeed, you would then be losers." .
Their threats became more severe. "And if not for your family, we would have stoned you to death; and you are not to us one respected." . They valued the power of his clan more than the majesty of Allah.
The Unwavering Prophet's Warning
Prophet Shu'ayb was firm. He challenged their misplaced fear: "O my people, is my family more respected for power by you than Allah? But you put Him behind your backs ." . He reminded them that Allah's knowledge encompassed all their deeds, and He would hold them accountable.
He warned them again, gently at first, then more sternly. He told them to learn from the tragic fates of nations before them: the people of Noah, Hud, Salih. He even pointed out that the destroyed habitations of the people of Lot were "not from you far away" dissension from me cause you...](11:89), both in time and location, as Ma'arif-ul-Quran explains. These ruins, nearby, stood as a clear warning. He urged them, "And ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is Merciful and Affectionate." .
But they remained stubborn, refusing to listen. With their hearts sealed, Prophet Shu'ayb, losing all hope for their guidance, delivered his final message. "O my people, work according to your position; indeed, I am working. You are going to know to whom will come a punishment that will disgrace him and who is a liar. So watch; indeed, I am with you a watcher, ." .
The Roar of Judgment
And then, Allah's command came. A terrifying punishment descended upon the people of Madyan.
First, an intense heat engulfed their land, as if the gates of Hell itself had opened, suffocating them. They sought refuge in their basements, but it was even hotter there. Desperate, they fled from the city into a nearby forest. Then, a dense cloud appeared, offering a cool shade and a gentle breeze. Relieved, the Madyanis rushed towards it, gathering together, hoping for respite. But this was no ordinary cloud. As Ibn Kathir and Ma'arif-ul-Quran describe, sparks of fire and flames rained down from it, followed by a piercing cry, a "shriek" from the sky, as well as a mighty earthquake that convulsed the earth beneath them.
The various forms of punishment—the scorching heat, the fire from the cloud, the awful cry, and the severe earthquake—all struck at once. Their souls were taken, their lives extinguished. They fell dead within their homes and where they had gathered, "fallen prone" 7:91.
"And when Our command came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us. And the shriek seized those who had wronged, and they became within their homes corpses fallen prone." .
Their prosperous city, once so full of life, became eerily silent. "Those who denied Shu'ayb - it was as though they had never resided there." . Their arrogance had led to their destruction. "Those who denied Shu'ayb - it was they who were the losers." .
Prophet Shu'ayb, having witnessed the devastating end of his people, turned away from the desolate city. He had delivered Allah's message fully and advised them sincerely. His prophetic heart might have grieved, but he understood the consequences of their disbelief. "O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the messages of my Lord and advised you, so how could I grieve for a disbelieving people?" . He and the believers left that land, moving towards Makkah, according to most commentators (Ma'arif-ul-Quran on ).
A Chance Encounter at the Well
Years later, a young man, tired and thirsty, arrived at the well of Madyan. He was Musa (Moses), peace be upon him, who had fled Egypt. He found a crowd of shepherds watering their flocks, but off to the side, he noticed two women struggling to keep their sheep back. "What is your circumstance?" he asked. They explained, "We do not water until the shepherds dispatch ; and our father is an old man." . They were modest and preferred to avoid the bustling men.
Musa, strong and compassionate, helped them, watering their flocks with ease. When the women returned home earlier than usual, their father, a very old man, asked why. They told him about the kind stranger. The father, wanting to reward Musa, sent one of his daughters to invite him. She approached Musa "walking with shyness" , as Ibn Kathir notes, covering her face with her garment, an example of a good woman's natural modesty even before Hijab was formally enjoined.
"Indeed, my father invites you that he may reward you for having watered for us." , she said. Musa went with her, and when he arrived, he recounted his story of fleeing Egypt. The old man reassured him, "Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people." .
One of the daughters, observing Musa's strength and trustworthiness (she noted how he lifted a heavy rock at the well and also how he asked her to walk behind him to preserve modesty, as Ibn Kathir mentions), advised her father, "O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy." .
The wise old man, who was none other than Prophet Shu'ayb himself, saw the virtues in Musa. He proposed to Musa, "Indeed, I wish to wed you one of these, my two daughters, on that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten, it will be from you. And I do not wish to put you in difficulty. You will find me, if Allah wills, from among the righteous." . Musa accepted, taking on the role of a shepherd as dowry for one of Shu'ayb's daughters. And thus, Prophet Shu'ayb, after the destruction of his disobedient people, found a new family and became the father-in-law to another great Prophet of Allah, Musa.
Reflection
The story of Prophet Shu'ayb and the people of Madyan teaches us powerful lessons. It highlights the importance of believing in Allah alone and upholding justice in all our dealings. Dishonesty in business, arrogance, and mocking the truth can bring severe consequences, both in this life and the next. But it also shows the unwavering patience and compassion of Allah's Prophets, who call people to goodness even when faced with rejection and threats. And in the wisdom of Allah, a humble, righteous person like Musa, even when fleeing danger, finds refuge, sustenance, and a blessed family through unexpected turns of fate, guided by Allah's divine plan.