And to Madyan, their BROTHER Shu’ayb (al-A’raf 7:85)

Asalaam alaikum Warahmatulah Wabarakatuh.

Bonds of Brotherhood

Bismillah.

In surah Shu’ara (26:106), Allah ta’ala mentions the stories of many Prophets, and He says:

إِذْ  قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ نُوحٌ

When their brother Nuh (alayhi salaam) said to them [Shu’ara 26:106], and this format repeats for Saalih, Lut and Hud (alayhum assalaam). Whenever a nation is mentioned, Allah says “ أَخُوهُمْ” their brother about the specific Prophet mentioned.

However, when Allah ta’ala mentions Shu’ayb alayhi salaam, He says:

كَذَّبَ أَصْحَابُ الْأَيْكَةِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
The companions of the thicket/forest/trees denied the messengers

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ شُعَيْبٌ
When Shu’ayb (alayhi salaam) said to them.

(Shu’ara 26: 176-177)

Why see that the other Prophets receive the title; “their brother”, and Shu’ayb (alayhi salaam) does not. However, in another ayah/verse, Allah says about Shu’ayb;

وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا
And to Madyan, their brother Shu’ayb (al-A’raf 7:85). Allah mentions Shu’ayb being their ‘their brother’ in this ayah.

So why is Shu’ayb mentioned as brother in one ayah and not in another?

To understand this, we need to look at the city of Madyan itself. There are two names of Madyan in the Qur’an:

The first one is Madyan and the second one is As-haabul Aykah (companions of the tree/forest). Aykah refers to a giant tree that they used to worship.

So, when it comes to location, the city is referred to as Madyan. When it comes to the people, the city is referred to as As-haabul Aykah.
 

How does Allah ta’ala refer to them in Surah Shu’ara, where “their brother” is not mentioned? He says:

كَذَّبَ أَصْحَابُ الْأَيْكَةِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

As-haabul Aykah denied the messengers. (Shu’ara 26:176)

When Allah ta’ala mentions the location (such as 7:85), He ta’ala says أَخَاهُمْ their brother. 

When it comes to their religious identity, Allah ta’ala does not say “أَخَاهُمْ“ [their brother].

When it comes to the location, Shu’ayb alayhi salaam is their brother. But when it comes to the religion, they are not brothers even though they have the same blood line, the same citizenship, the same identity and the same geographical location.

The precision of the Qur’an, SubhanAllah!

October 21, 2008 · 2 Comments
source
http://tayyibaat.wordpress.com/

And (with) Thamud (people), who cut (hewed) out rocks in the valley (to make dwellings)? [Al-Fajr 89:9] (WITH PICS!)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh162/speed2kx/madain-saleh1.gif

In the Qur’an, ‘Ad and Thamud are always mentioned together. Moreover, the verses advise Thamud to take warning from the destruction of ‘Ad.

To the Thamud people (We sent) Salih, one of their own brethren: He said: “O my people! worship Allah: ye have no other God but Him” “And remember how He made you inheritors after the ‘Ad people and gave you habitations in the land: ye build for yourselves palaces and castles in (open) plains, and carve out homes in the mountains; so bring to remembrance the benefits (ye have received) from Allah, and refrain from evil and mischief on the earth.

—Qur’an 7:73–74

image links;
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Thamudi.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh162/speed2kx/Thamudi.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh162/speed2kx/010_L.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh162/speed2kx/009-1.jpg

From the Sealed Nectar (Raheeq al Makhtoom) by Mubarakpuri:

On their way to Tabuk, the army of Islam (of the Messenger of Allah) passed by Al-Hijr — which was the native land of Thamud who cut out (huge) rocks in the valley; that is “Al-Qura Valley” of today. They watered from its well but later the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] told them not to drink of that water, nor perform the ablution with it. The dough they made, he asked them to feed their camels with. He forbade them to eat anything whatsoever of it. As an alternative he told them to water from that well which Prophet Salih’s she-camel used to water from.

On the authority of Ibn ‘Umar: “Upon passing by Al-Hijr the Prophet [pbuh] said:

“Do not enter the houses of those who erred themselves lest what had happened to them would afflict you, but if you had to do such a thing let it be associated with weeping.”

Then he raised his head up and accelerated his strides till he passed the valley out.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/637]

http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/ch7s3.html#The%20Muslim%20Army%20is%20leaving%20for%20Tabuk

More pictures and information on the people Thamud:
http://www.zubeyr-kureemun.com/SaudiArabia/MadainSaleh.htm

http://www.iqrasense.com/islamic-history/madain-saleh-cities-inhabited-by-the-people-of-thamud.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thamud

Or simply do a search on Thamud.