وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا فَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱرْجُوا۟ ٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ 36
Translations
And to Madyan [We sent] their brother Shuʿayb, and he said, "O my people, worship Allāh and expect the Last Day and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption."
Transliteration
Wa ilaa Madyana akhahum Shuayban faqala ya qawmi oAAbudoo Allaha wairjoo alyawma alakhira wala taAAthaw fee alardi mufsideen
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah sent the Prophet Shuayb to the people of Midian, calling them to worship Allah alone, believe in the Day of Judgment, and cease their corruption and injustice on earth. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this ayah presents Shuayb's comprehensive message addressing both spiritual obligations (tawhid and faith in the hereafter) and moral conduct (forbidding earthly corruption), reflecting the holistic nature of prophetic guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-'Ankabut, which discusses various prophets and their struggles against their peoples' disbelief. The context is part of a broader narrative recounting how Allah sent messengers to different nations throughout history. Shuayb's mission to Midian is presented as another example of divine guidance being rejected, culminating in the people's punishment.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Verily, the best of your religion is piety' relates to Shuayb's call to righteousness and avoiding corruption. Additionally, the hadith about 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari) connects to the ethical dimension of Shuayb's message.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith encompasses both vertical devotion to Allah and horizontal responsibility toward society—believers must worship Allah sincerely while actively working against injustice and corruption. Modern readers are reminded that Islamic practice demands both spiritual commitment and ethical conduct in addressing societal wrongs.
Related Ayahs
أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَنُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَحْسَنَ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And those who believe and do righteous deeds - We will surely remove from them their misdeeds and will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do.
وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ
And Allāh will surely make evident those who believe, and He will surely make evident the hypocrites.
۞ وَلَا تُجَـٰدِلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَأُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَإِلَـٰهُنَا وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ وَٰحِدٌ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ
And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."