The people
of Madyan were Arabs who dwelled in the city of Madyan which was in the land of
Mu’an near the border of al-Sham. They were
disbelievers and worshipped Al-Aikah, a kind of tree. The people of Madyan were sometimes referred
to as the Companions as the Wood (Ashabul Aikah).
Allah
s.w.t. sent Shu’aib a.s. to the disbelieving and corrupt people of Madyan. He began his call by asking them to believe
and fear the One True God, Allah s.w.t.
He forbade them from their evil practices and commanded them to be fair
and h=just in dealing with people. One of
their evil practices was cheating in the use of weights and measures.
In the
markets, it was common for them to short change others when they weighed and
measured other people’s goods. Prophet
Shu’aib a.s. commanded them to stop these evils. Shu’aib a.s. humbly but clearly exemplified
some major principles to be observed. Firstly,
practice and be steadfast with what they preach. Secondly, sincerely seek the betterment of
the people they are trying to guide by advising and teaching them the best of
their abilities. Thirdly, despite the
best effort, success in guiding people can only come from Allah s.w.t. Lastly, put their full trust in Allah s.w.t.
They
gave Shu’aib a.s. and his followers an ultimatum. Prophet Shu’aib a.s. had done his best to
convince his people with persuasive arguments.
The matter was now with Allah s.w.t.
Like the people of Nuh a.s., Hud a.s., Salih a.s., and Lut a.s., Allah
s.w.t. sent His punishment upon the people of Madyan.
Allah
s.w.t. had combines different forms of punishment upon them, befitting their
wicked characteristics. They were
inflicted with a severe earthquake, a great Shout and a day of overshadowing
gloom that seized them.
When
they challenged Shu’aib a.s. to cause the sky to fall on them, an intense heat
afflicted them together with a fierce wind that raged for seven days. Then Allah s.w.t. sent a gloomy cloud in the
countryside. Many fled their homes to
seek shelter and shade under the cloud. When
they had all gathered under it, Allah s.w.t. caused it to cause sparks and
flames of fire on them, while the earth shook beneath them and the great Shout
came which extracted from them their souls.
Before the next morning they were all still and dead lying face down.
STORIES
OF THE PROPHETS IN AL-QURAN
(Lessons that we can
extract, lessons that we can apply)
(Teaser extraction
from the book)
To be continued…
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