134. Madyan is the name of the tribe and also the name of a region. This tribe descended from the offsprings of prophet Ibrahim’s son, Madyan, who was born of his third wife, Qatura. In the Bible, it is stated–

“Abraham took another wife, whose name was Ketu’rah. She bore him ....................Mid’ian.” (Gen 25:1)

The region got its “name from the name of the tribe.

Madyan is situated on the banks of the Red Sea in north-west of Arabia. Its time is 1600 B.C. (circa) that is before the time of prophet Moosa.

135. Prophet Shuaib belonged to the tribe of Madyan. Allah had sent him as a prophet to his people.

136. A Prophet has a very high position on account of his virtuous character, and when he presents Allah’s message, which is received by him as revelation, then his very existence becomes a convincing proof of Allah’s message, and the, people who hold on to their healthy, normal nature find no difficulty in recognising him (the prophet).

137. The Madyan people were a business community, in whom the evil of dishonesty had become rampant. They used to interfere with the measures and weights and to sell short to the consumer, deceiving him in all their dealings. Selling short or deceiving the consumer is a great sin, the seriousness of which can be judged by reading the earlier verses of Surah Mutaffifeen.

138. This has been explained in Note No.89.

139. That is: If you accept faith, you will clearly realize that in the affairs of life the attitude or the policy which you have been directed to adopt by God is better for you and in your own interest.
The nobles of his people, who were vainglorious, said: “Surely, we will drive you O Shuaib and those who believe with you, out of our township unless you return to our religion. “He replied: “Even though we hate it? (Al-Quran)

140. It seems that the people of Madyan were professional criminals; they used to squat on the road, waiting for travellers, and used to threaten any passerby or a caravan and loot them.

141. The family of Madyan in the beginning was a small one. But Allah increased the number of its members to such an extent that it became a tribe and a community. But instead of being grateful to Allah for this divine favour, they became ungrateful.

142. Whether it is wealth or power, it creates conceit and pride in a man’s mentality. In such a state the man considers truth as insignificant and looks down on the followers of truth. This type of mentality which was seen in the leaders and nobles of the past is also seen in the present day leaders and big capitalists.

143. That is: Why this compulsion, just because it is your national religion? If a person thinks that the religion of the people of his community or nation is false, and if he does not want to attach himself to that relegion, then will he be forced to stick to that religion? If this is done, then what about the freedom of conscience, which is the natural right of a man, and in the matter of belief and faith, what weight has force in the scale of intelligence!

144. It does not mean that prophet Shuaib was earlier following a polytheistic religion and subsequently embraced Islam, but that he uttered these words in view of his companions who were first idolaters and later on accepted the true faith, because so far as a prophet is concerned he believes in the religion of nature even before conferment of prophethood; he does not soil himself with the impurity of polytheism.

145. That is: It is our firm decision that we would not give up our belief in the Unity of Allah at any cost, but in this connection we do not rely on ourselves but on Allah, because in the tussle between rejection and faith, firmness in faith , depends on the guidance from Allah only.

146. That is: Your world will be ruined. The materialists and the world-loving people always consider following the teachings of the prophets and leading a life of truth and purity as a hinderance in the material progress and a means of loss in the world.

147. At another place in Quran, this catastrophe has been termed as ‘Saihah’ (terrific explosion). It seems that lightning had struck them a terrific noise and it shook them so terribly that they fell to the ground face down and could not rise again.

148. They had said that those who would follow Shuaib would be lost or destroyed, but in actuality it was they who were lost and were destroyed.

The punishment which overtook the community of Shuaib struck only those people who had belied Shuaib and had refused to accept Allah’s message.

149. Allah had informed prophet Shuaib of the coming catastrophe, and therefore, he went away with his followers before the punishment was unleashed. And while leaving his community what pathetic words were uttered by prophet Shuaib for his community!