Stories
Prophets sent to Arabia
Three Arab peoples, three brothers sent to warn them, three warnings ignored.
4 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 3
Picture a powerful people in southern Arabia, proud of their tall buildings. These were 'Ad. Hud, "their brother", called them to God. They mocked him, and a cold, roaring wind destroyed them over seven nights and eight days.
Qur'an 7:65
۞ وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمۡ هُودࣱاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥٓۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ٦٥
65 To the people of ‘Ād We sent their brother Hūd. He said, “O my people, worship Allah; you have no god other than Him. Will you not then fear Him?”
Lesson
The power of 'Ad did not protect them.
Part 2 of 3
Another people, Thamud, carved homes into mountains. Their prophet Salih brought a she-camel as a sign and told them to let her graze and drink. They killed her, and an earthquake overtook them.
Qur'an 7:73
وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمۡ صَٰلِحࣱاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥۖ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكُم بَيِّنَةࣰ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡۖ هَٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمۡ ءَايَةࣱۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأۡكُلۡ فِيٓ أَرۡضِ ٱللَّهِۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءࣲ فَيَأۡخُذَكُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمࣰ ٧٣
73 And to the people of Thamūd [We sent] their brother, Sālih. He said, “O my people, worship Allah; you have no god other than Him. There has come to you a clear proof from your Lord: this is a she-camel of Allah, as a sign to you. So leave her to graze in Allah’s land, and do not harm her in any way, or else a painful punishment will seize you.
A long ayah: scroll within the card.
Lesson
Thamud were tested by one camel, and failed.
Part 3 of 3
The third people, Madyan, were traders who cheated on weights and measures. Shu'ayb told them to give full measure and not deprive people of their due. They threatened to expel him; they were destroyed.
Qur'an 11:84
۞ وَإِلَىٰ مَدۡيَنَ أَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبࣱاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥۖ وَلَا تَنقُصُواْ ٱلۡمِكۡيَالَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَۖ إِنِّيٓ أَرَىٰكُم بِخَيۡرࣲ وَإِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمࣲ مُّحِيطࣲ ٨٤
84 And to the people of Midian We sent their brother Shu‘ayb. He said, “O my people, worship Allah; you have no god besides Him. Do not give short measure or weight. I see that you are in prosperity, but I fear for you the punishment of an encompassing Day.
The passage continues in Read.
Lesson
To the Qur'an, honest trade is part of faith.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
Three Arab peoples, three brothers sent to warn them, three warnings ignored.