Shuaib

Historical context

The area to which Shuʿayb was sent to is named Madyan in the Qur'an, known in English as Midian, which is frequently referred to in the Hebrew Bible. The Midianites were said to be of Arab descent, though being neighbors of the Biblical Canaanites, they intermixed with them. It is said they were a wandering tribe, and that their principal territory at the time of Moses was the Sinai Peninsula. The historical region of Midian roughly corresponds to what is now province of Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

According to the Book of Genesis, the Midianites were the descendants of Midian, a son of Abraham and his wife Keturah: "Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah" (Genesis 25:1–2, King James Version).

Midian can be considered as being part of the Hejaz, which is significant for Muslims as the region of their two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina.

File:Midian.png|A map of Midian, the area where Shuʿayb was sent to prophesy, in Islamic belief File:مدائن شعيب.jpg|Maghayir Shu'ayb in what is now Tabuk Province in Saudi Arabia File:قلعة تبوك.jpg|The historical castle of Tabuk

Disputed identification with Jethro

Jethro is mentioned in the Bible (Exodus 3:1) as the father-in-law of Moses. Although Shuaib is frequently identified with the Midianite priest Jethro, some scholars reject this identification. Classical commentators, such as Ibn Kathir, say Shuʿayb was a great-grandson of Abraham: Shuʿayb is believed to have been the son of Mikil, son of Midian, son of Abraham.

Narrative in the Quran

The Qur'an states that Shuaib was appointed by God to be a prophet to the people of Midian. The people of this land were said to be especially notorious for cheating others through dishonesty and for idolatry. Shuʿayb's prophecy mainly involved calling the Midianites to the correct path of God, and forbidding them to worship false gods.

It is also said he told his people to stop being dishonest in their daily activities. Although he preached and prophesied for a sustained period of time, the majority of the people refused to listen to him. Shuayb, however, remained steadfast. He consistently preached powerfully against the wicked, telling them of the punishment that had befallen the sinful before them. Shuʿayb warned the people that their ignorance would lead to the destruction of Midian, giving historical examples of earlier prophets, including Noah, Hud, Saleh and Lot, all of whose people had been destroyed by God.

The people taunted Shuʿayb and told him that, were it not for the prestigious family he came from, he would surely have been stoned to death. Shuayb replied, "Is my family of more consideration with you than God?" When the Midianites refused to believe, they were destroyed by a mighty earthquake. The Qur'an, however, mentions that Shuʿayb, and his believing companions, were rescued from the thunderous punishment.

Parallels with other prophets

Shuayb's mission is often mentioned in the Qur'an with the mission of Noah, Hud, Saleh and Lot. Scholars have pointed out that these five prophets exemplify the early prophetic missions: The prophet would be sent to his community; the community would pay no attention to his warning and would instead threaten him with punishment; after years of preaching, God would ask him to leave his community, while his people were subsequently destroyed in a punishment. Scholars chronologically interpret the listing of the five prophets, so Shuʿayb was a descendant of Ibrahim and Nuh (Noah).

Claimed burial places of Shuayb

Wādī Shuʿayb, Jordan

One claimed tomb of Shuayb is found in Jordan, 2 km west of the town of Mahis, in an area called Wādī Shuʿayb ().

File:Shoaib Shrine.jpg |One of the claimed shrines of Shuayb, which is in Wadi Shuʿayb, Jordan, the Levant File:Nabi-shurayb.jpg |The shrine of Shuayb, as believed by the Druze and some Muslims, near Hittin in the Galilee

Galilee, Israel

The Galilean Shrine of Shu'ayb: the Druze believe the tomb of Nabi Shu'ayb is located near Hittin, in the Lower Galilee. Each year, on the 25th of April, the Druze gather at the site to discuss community affairs.

Guriyeh, Iran

There is also a tomb in the southwest of Iran, in the village Guriyeh, Shushtar, which has been recorded as the tomb of Shuayb.

References

References

1. Brandon M. Wheeler, ''Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam and Judaism'', ''Shuayb'', pg. 303
2. {{qref. 7. 85-91
3. {{qref. 15. 78-79
4. {{qref. 26. 176-189
5. {{qref. 38. 13-15
6. {{qref. 50. 12-14
7. Ibn Kathir, Ismail. "[[Qisas Al-Anbiya]]".
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13. (2017). "Une première mention de Madyan dans un texte épigraphique d'Arabie". Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.
14. Rothenberg, B.. (2003). "Egyptian Chariots, Midianites from Hijaz/ Midian (Northwest Arabia) and Amalekites from the Negev in the Timna Mines: Rock drawings in the Ancient Copper Mines of the Arabah – new aspects of the region's history II". Institute for Archaeo-Metallurgical Studies.
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16. That would render impossible the identification with Jethro, who purportedly lived hundreds of years after Abraham.Abdullah Yusuf Ali: ''Holy Quran: Text, Translation and Commentary''
17. {{qref. 7. 85
18. {{qref. 11. 61-94
19. {{qref. 23. 20
20. Wheeler, ''A-Z of Prophets in Islam and Judaism'', ''Shuayb''
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22. "Shuayb". The [[United States Naval Academy]].
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26. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150406043613/http://iranshahrpedia.ir/docs/Asar-e%20Sabti%20(Up%20to%2026666)%20(Version%2090%2008%2029).zip Documents, Asare-Sabti] web.archive.org Retrieved 17 Nov 2018