Shuaib,Shoaib,ShuayborShuʿayb(Arabic:شُعَيْب,IPA:[ʃuʕajb];meaning: "who shows the right path" ) is an ancientMidianiteProphetin Islam, and the most revered prophet in theDruzefaith.[1]Shuaib is traditionally identified with the biblicalJethro,Moses' father-in-law. Shuaib is mentioned in theQurana total of 11 times.[2]He is believed to have lived afterAbraham,and Muslims believe that he was sent as a prophet to a community: the Midianites,[3]who are also known as theAṣḥāb al-Aykah( "Companions of the Wood" ),[4][5][6][7]since they used to worship a large tree. To the people, Shuaib proclaimed thestraight pathand warned the people to end their fraudulent ways. When the community did not repent,Goddestroyed the community.[3][5]
Shuaib | |
|---|---|
| شُـعَـيْـب | |
| Other names | Jethro |
| Predecessor | Ayyub |
| Successor | Musa |
| Relatives | Issachar(grandfather) |
AlongsideHud,SalehandMuhammad,Shuaib is understood byMuslimsas one of the four Arabian prophets sent by God. It is said that he was known by Muslims as "the eloquent preacher amongst the prophets", because he was, according to tradition, granted talent and eloquence in his language.[8]
The Druze revere Shuaib as an important figure in their faith, and hold an annual pilgrimage toNabi Shu'ayb,the purported location of his tomb, in theLower Galilee.[1]
Historical context
editThe area to which Shuʿayb was sent to is namedMadyanin the Qur'an, known in English asMidian,which is frequently referred to in theHebrew Bible.The Midianites were said to be of Arab descent, though being neighbors of theBiblical Canaanites,they intermixed with them. It is said they were a wandering tribe, and that their principal territory at the time ofMoseswas theSinai Peninsula.
Disputed identification with Jethro
editJethro is mentioned in theBible(Exodus 3:1) as the father in law of Moses. Although Shuaib is frequently identified with the Midianite priest Jethro, most modern scholars reject this identification. Classical commentators, such asibn 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.[8]That would render impossible the identification with Jethro, who lived at the time of Moses, purportedly hundreds of years after Abraham.[9]
Prophecy in Midian
edit
The Qur'an states that Shuaib was appointed byGodto 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,[10]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, includingNoah,Hud,SalehandLot,[11]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 beenstonedto 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.[3]The Qur'an, however, mentions that Shuʿayb, and his believing companions, were rescued from the thunderous punishment.[11][12]
Parallels with other prophets
editShuayb's mission is often mentioned in the Qur'an with the mission of Noah, Hud, Saleh and Lot. Scholars have pointed out that these fiveprophetsexemplify the early prophetic missions:[13]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.[13]Scholars chronologically interpret the listing of the five prophets, so Shuʿayb was a descendant of Noah (preached about theGreat Flood) and Abraham.
Claimed burial places of Shuayb
editWādī Shuʿayb, Jordan
edit
One claimed tomb of Shuayb is found inJordan,[16]2 km (1.2 mi) west of the town ofMahis,in an area calledWādī Shuʿayb(Arabic:وَادِي شُعَيْب).[17]
Galilee, Palestine
editThe GalileanShrine of Shu'ayb:theDruzebelieve the tomb of Nabi Shu'ayb is located nearHittin,in theLower Galilee.[14][15]Each year, on the 25th of April, the Druze gather at the site to discuss community affairs.[18]
Guriyeh, Iran
editThere is also a tomb in the southwest ofIran,in the villageGuriyeh,Shushtar,which has been recorded as the tomb of Shuayb.[19]
See also
edit- Biblical and Quranic narratives
- Hejaz
- Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb
- Legends and the Qur'an
- Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyāʾ( "Stories of the Prophets" )
References
edit- ^abSandra Mackey (16 March 2009).Mirror of the Arab World: Lebanon in Conflict(illustrated, reprint ed.). W. W. Norton & Company. p. 28.ISBN9780393333749.
- ^Brandon M. Wheeler,Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam and Judaism,Shuayb,pg. 303
- ^abcQuran7:85-91
- ^Quran15:78-79
- ^abQuran26:176-189
- ^Quran38:13-15
- ^Quran50:12-14
- ^abIbn Kathir, Ismail.Qisas Al-Anbiya.p. 220.
- ^Abdullah Yusuf Ali:Holy Quran: Text, Translation and Commentary
- ^Quran7:85"And to the people of Midian We sent their brother Shu’aib. He said, “O my people! Worship Allah—you have no other god except Him. A clear proof has already come to you from your Lord. So give just measure and weight, do not defraud people of their property, nor spread corruption in the land after it has been set in order. This is for your own good, if you are ˹truly˺ believers."
- ^abQuran11:61-94
- ^Quran23:20
- ^abWheeler,A-Z of Prophets in Islam and Judaism,Shuayb
- ^abFirro, K. M. (1999).The Druzes in the Jewish State: A Brief History.Leiden,TheNetherlands:Brill Publishers.pp.22–240.ISBN90-04-11251-0.
- ^abDana, N. (2003).The Druze in the Middle East: Their Faith, Leadership, Identity and Status.Sussex Academic Press. pp.28–30.ISBN9781903900369.
- ^"Tomb of the Prophet Shoaib".Google Maps.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-12-28.Retrieved2007-04-27.(31°57′35″N35°42′57″E/ 31.95972°N 35.71583°E)
- ^"Shuayb".TheUnited States Naval Academy.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-03-12.Retrieved2006-10-30.
- ^"Druze Revered Sites in Palestine".Druzehistoryandculture.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2006-05-10.
- ^Documents, Asare-Sabtiweb.archive.org Retrieved 17 Nov 2018