Mentions of Prophet Shu’aib (Jethro, PBUH) in the Qur’an
Prophet Shu’aib (peace be upon him) is mentioned several times in the Qur’an, primarily with the people of Madyan (Midian) and his warning to them regarding their corrupt business practices and moral decay.
1. Surah Al-A’raf (7:85-93)
- Arabic (7:85):
وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشْيَآءَهُمْ وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَٰحِهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Translation (7:85):
“And to [the people of] Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu’aib. He said, ‘O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. 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.'”
- Arabic (7:86):
وَلَا تَقْعُدُوا۟ بِكُلِّ صِرَٰطٍۢ تُوعِدُونَ وَتَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِۦ وَتَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا ۖ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلًۭا فَكَثَّرَكُمْ ۖ وَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
Translation (7:86):
“And do not sit on every path, threatening and averting from the way of Allah those who believe in Him, seeking to make it [seem] deviant. And remember when you were few and He increased you. And see how was the end of the corrupters.”
- Arabic (7:87-88):
وَإِن كَانَ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنكُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِۦ وَطَآئِفَةٌۭ لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ فَٱصْبِرُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ بَيْنَنَا ۚ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَٰكِمِينَ ٧٨ فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ يَٰشُعَيْبُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَكَ مِن قَرْيَتِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَا۟ ۚ قَالَ أَوَلَوْ كُنَّا كَٰرِهِينَ
Translation (7:87-88):
“And if there should be a group among you who has believed in that with which I have been sent and a group that has not believed, then be patient until Allah judges between us. And He is the best of judges.’ Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people, ‘We will surely evict you, O Shu’aib, and those who have believed with you from our city, or you must return to our religion.’ He said, ‘Even if we were unwilling?'”
- Arabic (7:89-90):
قَدِ ٱفْتَرَيْنَا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا إِنْ عُدْنَا فِى مِلَّتِكُم بَعْدَ إِذْ نَجَّىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ مِنْهَا ۚ وَمَا يَكُونُ لَنَآ أَن نَّعُودَ فِيهَآ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا ۚ وَسِعَ رَبُّنَا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا ۚ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا ٱفْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْفَٰتِحِينَ ٩٠ وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ لَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتُمْ شُعَيْبًا إِنَّكُمْ إِذًۭا لَّخَٰسِرُونَ
Translation (7:89-90):
“We would have invented a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion after Allah had saved us from it. And it is not for us to return to it except that Allah, our Lord, should will. Our Lord has encompassed all things in knowledge. Upon Allah do we rely. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who give decisions.’ Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, ‘If you should follow Shu’aib, indeed, you would then be losers.'”
- Arabic (7:91-92):
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دَارِهِمْ جَٰثِمِينَ ٩١ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ شُعَيْبًۭا كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا۟ فِيهَآ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ شُعَيْبًۭا كَانُوا۟ هُمُ ٱلْخَٰسِرِينَ
Translation (7:91-92):
“So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone. Those who denied Shu’aib – it was as though they had never resided there. Those who denied Shu’aib – it was they who were the losers.”
- Arabic (7:93):
فَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَٰلَٰتِ رَبِّى وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ فَكَيْفَ ءَاسَىٰ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍۢ كَٰفِرِينَ
Translation (7:93):
“And he turned away from them and said, ‘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?'”
2. Surah Hud (11:84-95)
- Arabic (11:84):
وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًۭا قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ وَلَا تَنقُصُوا۟ ٱلْمِكْيَالَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكُم بِخَيْرٍۢ وَإِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍۢ مُّحِيطٍۢ
Translation (11:84):
“And to [the people of] Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu’aib. He said, ‘O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. And do not decrease from the measure and the scale. Indeed, I see you in prosperity, but indeed, I fear for you the punishment of an all-encompassing Day.'”
The story of Prophet Shu’aib (known as Jethro in the Bible) holds a significant place in Islamic teachings. Shu’aib (PBUH) was sent by Allah to the people of Midian (known as Madyan) and to the people of the wood (Aykah) to guide them to the truth. His story emphasizes the importance of honesty, fair trade, and obedience to God.
Background: The People of Midian
The Midianites were wealthy people who lived in a region close to the Red Sea. Allah had bestowed great prosperity upon them, but despite their wealth, they were morally corrupt. Their primary sins included:
- Cheating in trade: They had developed a habit of deceiving others by using false weights and measures.
- Worship of idols: They worshipped multiple gods and were polytheists.
- Oppression and robbery: They oppressed travelers and passersby by robbing them or extorting them.
Shu’aib’s (PBUH) Mission
Shu’aib (PBUH) was sent by Allah as a prophet to guide these people back to the right path. As with all prophets, his mission was to call his people towards monotheism (Tawheed), believing in the oneness of Allah, and abandoning their unjust practices.
In the Qur’an, Shu’aib’s (PBUH)message is recorded in various chapters, particularly in Surah Al-A’raf (7:85–93) and Surah Hud (11:84–95). His approach was patient, logical, and compassionate.
- Call to Worship One God: Shu’aib (PBUH)urged the people of Midian to stop worshipping false gods and to turn to Allah, the Creator and Sustainer.
“O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.” (Qur’an 11:84)
- Warning Against Cheating in Trade: Shu’aib (PBUH)specifically addressed the issue of cheating in trade, reminding them of the dangers of dishonesty and urging them to conduct fair business.
“Give full measure and do not be of those who cause loss, and weigh with an even balance.” (Qur’an 26:181–182)
- Condemnation of Robbery and Corruption: Shu’aib (PBUH) warned them about the consequences of their immoral actions, including robbery and corruption, and told them that Allah’s punishment was near if they did not repent.
“And do not sit on every path, threatening and averting from the way of Allah those who believe in Him, seeking to make it (seem) deviant.” (Qur’an 7:86)
Rejection of Shu’aib’s (PBUH) Message
Despite his sincere efforts, the people of Midian rejected Shu’aib’s message. They ridiculed him, accused him of being foolish, and even threatened him with violence and exile. Their arrogance and attachment to their corrupt ways blinded them to the truth.
The people would often say mockingly:
“O Shu’aib, does your prayer command you that we should leave what our forefathers worshipped, or that we should not deal with our wealth as we please?” (Qur’an 11:87)
Shu’aib remained patient and continued to warn them, stressing that his only intention was to reform and that he was not seeking personal gain. He reminded them that they should be grateful for the wealth Allah had given them and use it responsibly.
The Consequences
Like many other prophets before him, Shu’aib (PBUH)warned his people that if they did not repent, Allah’s punishment would befall them. Despite these warnings, they remained defiant.
Finally, Allah’s decree came to pass. The people of Midian were destroyed by a terrible punishment known as the “cry” (Sa’ihah), which was accompanied by an earthquake. The Qur’an describes this event:
“So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their homes (corpses) fallen prone.” (Qur’an 7:91)
In another verse, it says:
“And the Shriek seized those who had wronged, and they became (corpses) in their homes.” (Qur’an 11:94)
The people of Midian were destroyed, leaving only a few survivors who had heeded Shu’aib’s (PBUH) message. Shu’aib (PBUH) and the believers were spared from this calamity as Allah had promised to protect them.
Shu’aib’s (PBUH) Legacy
The story of Shu’aib (PBUH) teaches several important lessons:
- The Importance of Honesty and Fair Trade: Islam strongly emphasizes justice and fairness in all aspects of life, especially in business dealings. Cheating and fraud are condemned.
- Warnings Against Oppression: Oppression and extortion, especially against the vulnerable or travelers, are major sins in Islam.
- Patience in the Face of Rejection: Prophets like Shu’aib (PBUH) showed incredible patience when faced with opposition. Despite ridicule and threats, Shu’aib (PBUH)remained steadfast in his mission.
- The Consequences of Rejecting Divine Guidance: Shu’aib’s (PBUH) story, like that of other prophets, serves as a reminder of the inevitable consequences for those who reject God’s guidance and continue in their corrupt ways.
Connection with Other Prophets
Shu’aib (PBUH) is believed to be related to Prophet Moses (Musa, PBUH). Some Islamic traditions suggest that Shu’aib’s daughter later married Musa during his time in Midian. However, this is not directly mentioned in the Qur’an but is found in other Islamic sources.
Also, read Story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) (Pbuh)