الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
Prophet Shu’ayb (AS) is one of only five Arab prophets mentioned by name in the Qur’an, the others being Hud, Salih, Isma’il, and Muhammad (S) – peace be upon them all.
Many scholars believe that Shu’ayb was the elderly man who offered Musa safety, security and the hand of one of his daughters in marriage, when he fled Egypt. There are no authentic sources either confirming or denying this, however the Qur’an tells us that Prophet Shu’ayb was from the people of Midian, and it was there that Musa found refuge. The people of Midian were Arabs who lived in an area, part of which today is Syria.
The people as a whole were crooks and robbers, deceiving one another and those who had the misfortune to pass through their townships. They gave short measure, praised their goods beyond their worth, and hid their defects. Shu’ayb (AS) was one of the few truly good and upright men of Midian. Allah sent him as a Prophet to the people of Midian.
Shu’ayb (AS) preached to them, begging them to be mindful of Allah’s favors and warning them of the consequences of their evil ways, but they only mocked him. Shu’ayb remained calm as he reminded them of his kinship to them and that what he was doing was not for his personal gain.
For the most part they led a happy and prosperous life due to the bounties granted to them by Allah (SWT). However, instead of being grateful they wanted to accumulate more and would lie and cheat in order to do so. They moved far away from Allah’s religion. Many were atheists, whilst others worshipped woodland or nature Allahs.
As was the case with all the prophets of Allah, Prophet Shu’ayb’s mission was to call his people to worship Allah alone and to follow His commandments. Allah says:
“And to the people of Midian We sent their brother Shu’ayb. He said: ‘O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Allah but Him’…” (Qur’an 7:85)
Prophet Shu’ayb reminded his people of the favors bestowed on them by Allah, but they were heedless. Those who had not completely abandoned belief worshipped in the incorrect manner of their forefathers and said to Shu’ayb, “Would you have us abandon the religion of our forefathers?”
According to the Islamic historian Ibn Kathir, the people of Midian were the first people to impose fees and tolls on the people that passed through their territory. They insisted on a life of robbery and injustice even though Shu’ayb (AS) did his best to convince them that Allah’s punishment would befall them if they did not stop their evil ways. They never exacted true measure and weight in their business dealings and when Shu’ayb pleaded with them to be fair and just in their dealings in business, they would say: “Can we not do what we like with our own property.”
Shu’ayb (AS) continued to argue with his people, and insisted that he wanted what was best for them. Like all the others prophets that had come before him, he practiced exactly what he preached. As is the way with disbelievers they did not practice what they preached and they mocked and belittled Prophet Shu’ayb. They said: “You are only one of those bewitched! You are but a human being like us and verily, we think that you are one of the liars! So cause a piece of heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!”
This did not stop Shu’ayb (AS) from delivering his message to his people calling them to repent to Allah. “He said, ‘O my people! Tell me if I have a clear evidence from my Lord and He has given me a good sustenance from Himself (shall I corrupt it by mixing it with the unlawfully earned money). I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you. I only desire reform to the best of my power. And my guidance cannot come except from Allah, in Him I trust and unto Him I repent.’” (Qur’an 11:88)
Prophet Shu’ayb then went on to warn his people that were likely to suffer a similar fate to the people of earlier Prophets. He said: “O my people! Do not let your opposition to me lead you to a fate similar to that of the people of Noah, or Hûd, or Ṣâliḥ. And the people of Lut are not far from you.” (Hud, 11:89)
The phrase “the people of Lut are not far from you” means that the people of Midian committed vicious sins such as highway robbery, as did the people of Lut.”
The leaders amongst the disbelievers asked Shu’ayb’s followers to return to the religion of their forefathers. They were growing tired of his constant preaching and criticism, and said they would stone him if it were not for his family. They seized his belongings and that of his followers, and then drove them out of the city. The disbelievers went on with their immoral lifestyles and thought no more of the warnings from Shu’ayb.
Allah was well aware of Shu’ayb and his followers’ righteous behavior and all the efforts made to discourage the disbelievers from their dishonesty and ungrateful behavior. Shu’ayb warned them of a terrible punishment. He turned to his Lord for help, and his plea was answered.
Allah sent down on them scorching heat and they suffered terribly. On seeing a cloud gathering in the sky, they thought it would bring cool, refreshing rain, and rushed outside in the hope of enjoying the rainfall. Instead the cloud burst, hurling thunderbolts and fire. They heard a thunderous sound from above which caused the earth under their feet to tremble. The evil doers perished in this state of horror. The Qur’an mentions this punishment of the unrepentant people.
“…We saved Shu’ayb and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us. And an awful cry seized the wrong-doers, and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes.” (Qur’an 11: 94)
“So the earthquake seized them and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes.” (Qur’an 7:91)
“But they belied him, so the torment of the day of shadow (a gloomy cloud) seized them. Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day.” (Qur’an 26:189)
Then he (Shu’ayb) turned from them and said: “O my people! I have indeed conveyed my Lord’s Messages unto you and I have given you good advice. Then how can I sorrow for the disbelieving people’s (destruction).” (Ch 7:85-93 Qur’an)
Finally, we have this ayah: “Those who belied Shu’ayb became as if they had never dwelt there (in their homes). Those who belied Shu’ayb, (they) were the losers.”(Qur’an 7:92).
Yunus (AS)
Prophet Yunus (AS) was sent to a community in a place called Nineveh close to Mosul, in Iraq. As is the case with all the Prophets of Allah, Yunus came to Nineveh to call the people to worship One Allah. He spoke of a God free from any partners, sons, daughters or co-equals and implored the people to stop worshipping idols and engaging in evil behavior. However, the people refused to listen, and tried to ignore Yunus and his words of admonishment. They found the words of Prophet Yunus irritating.
The conduct of his people infuriated and frustrated Yunus and he decided to leave. He gave a final warning that Allah would punish their arrogant behavior but the people jeered and claimed that they were not afraid. The heart of Prophet Yunus was filled with anger towards his foolish people. He decided to leave them to their misery. He gathered a few meager belongings and decided to put as much distance as possible between himself and the people he had come to despise. Allah says in the Qur’an: “And remember when he (Yunus) went off in anger.” (al-Anbiya’, 21:87)
It is reported that immediately after Yunus left, the sky began to change color, and turned red. The people were filled with fear and understood that they were only moments from destruction. The entire population of Nineveh gathered on a mountaintop and begged for Allah’s forgiveness. Allah accepted their repentance and removed the wrath that was hanging ominously over their heads. The sky returned to normal, and the people returned to their homes. They prayed that Yunus would come back to them and guide them to the straight path.
In the meantime, Yunus had boarded a ship in the hope that it would take him as far as possible from his heedless people. The ship and its many passengers sailed into the calm seas. As the darkness fell around them, the sea suddenly changed. The wind began to blow violently and whipped up a storm of great magnitude. The boat shuddered and felt as if it were about to split into pieces.
The people decided to throw their luggage overboard but it made no difference. The wind blew and the boat trembled. The passengers decided the weight was contributing to their problem. So they decided to cast lots to throw one of the passengers overboard.
The waves were as high as mountains and the wild storm plunged the boat up and down as if it were as light as a matchstick. It was a seafaring tradition to cast lots by writing down all the names and drawing one person to be thrown overboard. The name was drawn and it was Yunus, but the people were shocked. Yunus was known to be a pious and righteous man and they did not want to throw him into the sea. They cast again and yet again, but both times the name drawn was that of Yunus.
Yunus, the Prophet of Allah knew that this was not random. He understood that this was in destiny as predetermined by Allah so he looked at his fellow passengers and flung himself over the side of the boat. The passengers gasped in horror as Yunus fell into the water to be swallowed up in the enormous jaws of a giant fish.
When Yunus awoke from unconsciousness, he thought that he was dead and realized that this was not a grave but the belly of a giant fish. He was afraid. He felt his heart beating deep in his chest. He had all around him strong, acidic, digestive juices that were eating away at his skin and he cried out to Allah. In the darkness of the fish, in the darkness of the sea and in the darkness of the night Yunus raised his voice and called out his distress to Allah.
لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِين
“None has the right to be worshipped but you oh Allah, glorified are you and truly I have been one of the wrongdoers!” (al-Anbiya’, 21:87)
Yunus continued praying and repeating his supplication to Allah. He realized his wrongdoing that he had left his people before Allah allowed him to. He begged Allah to forgive him for this lapse on his part.
We learn through Prophetic traditions that the angels are drawn to humankind when they remember Allah. This is what happened to Prophet Yunus. The angels heard his cry in the darkness and recognized his voice. They knew of Prophet Yunus, and approached Allah saying, “Isn’t that the sound of your righteous servant? Allah answered yes. He had heard the call made by Yunus and saved him from his distress. Yunus remembered Allah in times of ease, so Allah remembered Yunus in his time of distress.
The supplication that Yunus used can be repeated by anybody in times of distress. Allah says in the Qur’an:
فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِين
“We responded to him and saved him from his grief. This is how we save the believers.” (al-Anbiya’, 21:88)
At Allah’s command the giant fish surfaced and ejected Yunus on to the shore. His body had been burned by the digestive juices; his skin could not protect him from the sun and the wind. He was in pain and continued to cry out for protection. He continued to repeat his supplication and Allah caused a vine/tree to grow over him offering him protection from and providing him with food.
As Yunus slowly became well again he realized that he needed to return to his people and continue the work Allah had prescribed for him.
When Yunus recovered he returned to Nineveh and was amazed at the change in his people. They informed Yunus of their fear when the sky had turned blood red and how they had gathered on the mountain to beg Allah’s forgiveness. Yunus lived amongst his people and taught them to worship One Allah and to live lives of piety and righteousness and more than 100,000 people living in Nineveh lived in tranquility.
The story of Prophet Yunus teaches us to have patience, especially in the face of adversity. It teaches us to remember Allah in the good times and the bad. It teaches us to remember Allah in this life so that He will remember us when we die. If we remember Allah when we are young He will remember us when we are old and if we remember Allah when we are healthy He will remember us when we are sick, sad, or tired. Distress can be relieved only, by turning to Allah with sincerity.
Resources and References:
Imam Ibn Kathir – Stories of the Prophets
Mufti Menk – Lessons from the Stories of the Prophets in the Qur’an (https://muslimahlifestyle.com/lessons-stories-prophets-quraan-mufti-menk-creation-of-aadam-as/)
Anwar Al-Awlaki – The Lives of the Prophets (https://www.kalamullah.com/anwar-alawlaki.html)
Aisha Stacey – The Religion of Islam (islamreligion.com)
