Hud, Salih and Shu'ayb: the cards as text

Stories. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.

1. Card 1

   Three Arab peoples, three brothers sent to warn them, three warnings ignored.

2. Card 2

   Hud and the people of 'Ad

   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.

3. Card 3

   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?”

4. Card 4

   Lesson: The power of 'Ad did not protect them.

5. Card 5

   Salih and the she-camel

   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.

6. Card 6

   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.

7. Card 7

   Lesson: Thamud were tested by one camel, and failed.

8. Card 8

   Shu'ayb and honest trade

   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.

9. Card 9

   Qur'an 11:84-85

   ۞ 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.

10. Card 10

    Lesson: To the Qur'an, honest trade is part of faith.

11. Card 11

    Reflect: What did the people of Madyan do wrong, according to Shu'ayb?

    Answer: Cheated on weights and measures. They cheated on weights and measures, depriving people of their due.

12. Card 12

    The end of Hud, Salih and Shu'ayb.

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