74. One should not pass cursorily over this short sentence; instead one must
reflect upon it. What the leaders of Midian in effect told their people was
that Shu'ayb's exhortations to practise honesty and righteousness, and to strictly
adhere to moral values, would spell their disaster. They implied that they could
not succeed in the business carried on by the people of Midian if they were
totally honest and straightforward in their dealings. Were they to let trading
caravans pass by unmolested, they would lose all the advantages of being located
at the crossroads of the major trade routes and by their proximity to the civilized
and prosperous countries such as Egypt and Iraq. Also, if they were to become
peaceful and to cease their attacks upon the trade caravans, they would no longer
be held in awe by neighbouring countries.
Such attitudes have not, however, been confined to the tribal chiefs of Shu'ayb.
People who stray away from truth, honesty and righteousness, regardless of their
age and clime, have always found in honesty a means of great loss. People of
warped mentalities in every age have always believed that trade, politics, and
other worldly pursuits can never flourish unless they resort to dishonest and
immoral practices. The main objection against the Message of truth in all ages
has been that the pursuit of truth spells material doom.