This passage tells the story of the Prophet Shu`ayb which, from a historical point of view, comes before that of Moses, but it is told here for the lessons involved in all the stories given in this sūrah. The dwellers of the ‘wooded dales’ were most probably the people of Madyan. It seems that Madyan was close to this wooded land, thick with trees, as the Qur’ānic description implies. Madyan lies close to the Gulf of `Aqaba, in the area between the Ĥijāz province of Saudi Arabia and Palestine.

Shu`ayb began in the same way as other prophets calling on people, explaining to them the basic essentials of faith, and making it clear that he sought no gain in return for his advocacy. He then spoke to them about the ills that plagued their own society:

“Give full measure, and be not of those who give others less [than their duel; and weigh with even scales; and do not deprive others of what rightfully belongs to them; and do not act wickedly on earth spreading corruption.” (Verses 181-183)

As clearly mentioned in Sūrahs 7 and 11, The Heights and Hūd respectively, they used to give people short measure whenever they weighed things out for them. They also used their power to take more than what was rightly theirs, while they would give people less than what was due to them. They would buy things for less than their fair price, but would sell for higher prices. It appears that they lived close to the caravan trade routes, and this enabled them to dictate their terms. The messenger God sent them counselled them to pursue fairness in all such dealings. He preached the true faith which inevitably requires good treatment of others, and which cannot overlook injustice in dealings and interactions between people.

Shu`ayb then appealed to their sense of the fear of God as he reminded them of the Creator who brought them into existence as He did with all past generations:

“Fear Him who has created you as well as the countless generations of old.” (Verse 184)

Their response was absurd. They accused him of being bewitched, speaking all sorts of nonsense without knowing what he said: “They said: You are but one who has been bewitched.” (Verse 185) They also questioned the fact that he was God’s messenger, since he was a man of their own kind. To them, a messenger of God should be different. Hence, they accused him of telling lies: “You are only a human being like us! And, indeed, we believe that you are lying.” (Verse 186) They further challenged him to put his warnings into effect, bringing God’s punishment upon them, demanding that he should cause the sky to fall upon them: “Cause, then, fragments of the sky to fall down on us, if you are a man of truth.” (Verse 187)

Such a challenge could only be made by careless people who think little of the consequences. It is akin to the challenge the idolaters in Makkah put to the Prophet when he called on them to believe. But Shu`ayb chose not to answer their thoughtless challenge. He limited his reply to simply saying: “My Lord knows fully well all that you do.” (Verse 188)

The sūrah moves straight on to tell us about the end they met, but without adding any detail: “But they denied him. Thus suffering overtook them on the day of the darkening cloud. It was indeed the suffering of an awesome day.” (Verse 189)

It is reported that they first suffered very hot weather that made breathing difficult and which weighed heavily on their lungs. Then they saw a cloud, which they welcomed and sought the shade it provided, feeling the coolness it initially gave them. But soon a great thunderbolt destroyed them all. This was the ‘day of the darkening cloud’, as the cloud was its most distinctive mark.

This is followed by the same conclusion given in the sūrah after each of the stories of past communities it mentions: “Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe. And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.” (Verses 190- 191)