Who was Prophet Shuayb? His life and story

Full story

1. 1

   His mission to Madyan

   Shuayb (peace be upon him) was sent as a Prophet to the people called Madyan. He first called them to Tawhid: "O my people, worship Allah. You have no god other than Him" (Al-A'raf, 85).

   The people of Madyan were engaged in trade, but they cheated people in their dealings. Shuayb (peace be upon him) called them to both faith and honesty.

2. 2

   Honesty in measure and weight

   Shuayb (peace be upon him) opposed the trade fraud that was his people's greatest wrongdoing: "Give full measure and weight in justice, do not withhold from people their due, and do not spread corruption in the land" (Hud, 85).

   He explained that shortchanging others was a grave sin, and that honest earning was better in Allah's sight (Hud, 84-86).

3. 3

   The people's obstinacy and their fate

   The people of Madyan mocked Shuayb's (peace be upon him) call and did not give up their unjust practices. They turned away arrogantly and opposed him.

   In the end, the punishment of the "Day of the Shadow", the terrible punishment of a dark cloud, seized them, and the people who persisted in wrongdoing were destroyed (Ash-Shu'ara, 189); only Shuayb (peace be upon him) and those who believed with him were saved. This story shows that religious calling encompasses not only worship but also justice and honest trade.

The story of Shuayb (peace be upon him) is narrated mainly in Surah Al-A'raf (7) and Surah Hud (11). The Quran presents him as a Prophet sent to the people of Madyan, who commanded, alongside Tawhid, honesty in measure and weight and integrity in trade. His call emphasizes that religion is not only worship but also everyday justice and honesty.

• Religious calling encompasses not only worship but also justice and honest trade.
• Shortchanging others in measure and weight is a grave wrong.
• Honest earning is better in Allah's sight than unjust gain.
• Turning away from the truth in arrogance leads a people to ruin.

This page is based on Quran verses and authentic hadith sources.

• QuranSurah Al-A'raf, 85

  This verse narrates Shuayb's (peace be upon him) call of the people of Madyan to Tawhid and honesty in measure and weight.

• QuranSurah Hud, 84

  This verse describes Shuayb's (peace be upon him) call to his people not to shortchange in measure and weight.

• QuranSurah Ash-Shu'ara, 189

  This verse narrates the destruction of the people of Madyan by the punishment of the "Day of the Shadow".

• Classical sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Şuayb"

  Referenced for academic information about Prophet Shuayb's call to the people of Madyan and his story.

Other Prophets connected with this story.

• Prophet Musa

  The Prophet who stood against Pharaoh and received the Torah (Kalimullah)

• Prophet Lut

  A Prophet sent to a depraved people

Common questions about this Prophet.

• Who was Prophet Shuayb?

  Shuayb (peace be upon him) is the Prophet sent to the people of Madyan. He called people to Tawhid, honesty in measure and weight, and integrity in trade (Al-A'raf, 85).

• What did Prophet Shuayb call his people to?

  He called his people to worship Allah alone, to give full measure and weight, not to withhold people's due, and not to cheat one another in trade (Hud, 84-85).

• What became of the people of Madyan?

  The people of Madyan did not accept Shuayb's (peace be upon him) call, and because they persisted in wrongdoing, they were destroyed by the punishment that came; only Shuayb and those who believed with him were saved.

• What punishment destroyed the people of Madyan?

  The Quran describes their punishment as that of the "Day of the Shadow", the terrible punishment of a dark cloud (Ash-Shu'ara, 189).