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
ٱللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Allāh extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts for him. Indeed Allāh is, of all things, Knowing.
قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۖ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَكَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
Say, "Sufficient is Allāh between me and you as Witness. He knows what is in the heavens and earth. And they who have believed in falsehood and disbelieved in Allāh - it is those who are the losers."
إِنَّا مُنزِلُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَهْلِ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ رِجْزًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ
Indeed, we will bring down on the people of this city punishment from the sky because they have been defiantly disobedient."
وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـٰتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
But they say, "Why are not signs sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, "The signs are only with Allāh, and I am only a clear warner."