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
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http://tayyibaat.wordpress.com/

..and when I fall ill, He is the One who restores me to health. (Shu’ara 26:80)

 وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ

..and when I fall ill, He is the One who restores me to health.

(ash-Shu’ara 26:80)

 
مَرِضْتُ 

I fall ill, There is a very delicate point here; the respect and care that the Prophets’/Messengers’ of Allah pay towards Allah (swt.)

Abraham/Ibraheem (peace be upon him) does not say “when Allah makes me ill” rather he says “when I fall ill“, therefore not directly attributing his illness to Allah swt. Though he knows well that both health and illness is from Allah (swt). However because we all look at illness as a test, a trial, something difficult, so from the amount of respect he has for Allah (swt), he does not say when Allah makes me sick, but rather he acknowledges his illness as his fault.

فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ

Then he continues, to say that Allah (swt) is the one who restores his health (i.e. attributing the good to Allah). Giving Allah (swt) the prestige, and position of goodness. يَشْفِينِ this is in a tense that demonstrate that it will happen more than once. So on the one hand Abraham/Ibraheem says when I fall ill, meaning he knows he will, then he acknowledges that Allah (swt) will give him shifa [cure] more than once.

It is due to the goodness of his heart and the goodness that he exhibited in his character, that Allah (swt) chose him – Abraham/Ibrahim – as His khaleel [close friend].

All these mannerisms of Prophet Ibrahim/Abraham towards Allah are described in just 5 words!