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
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ فَإِذَآ أُوذِىَ فِى ٱللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَةَ ٱلنَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَئِن جَآءَ نَصْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَكُمْ ۚ أَوَلَيْسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِمَا فِى صُدُورِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allāh," but when one [of them] is harmed for [the cause of] Allāh, he considers the trial [i.e., harm] of the people as [if it were] the punishment of Allāh. But if victory comes from your Lord, they say, "Indeed, We were with you." Is not Allāh most knowing of what is within the breasts of the worlds [i.e., all creatures]?
وَلَيَحْمِلُنَّ أَثْقَالَهُمْ وَأَثْقَالًا مَّعَ أَثْقَالِهِمْ ۖ وَلَيُسْـَٔلُنَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
But they will surely carry their [own] burdens and [other] burdens along with their burdens, and they will surely be questioned on the Day of Resurrection about what they used to invent.
فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَأَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلسَّفِينَةِ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
But We saved him and the companions of the ship, and We made it a sign for the worlds.
وَقَـٰرُونَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مُّوسَىٰ بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ سَـٰبِقِينَ
And [We destroyed] Qārūn and Pharaoh and Hāmān. And Moses had already come to them with clear evidences, and they were arrogant in the land, but they were not outrunners [of Our punishment].