The companions of Al-Aykah were the people of Madyan, according to the most
correct view. The Prophet of Allah Shu`ayb was one of them, but it does not say
here, their brother Shu`ayb, because they called themselves by a name denoting
their deification of Al-Aykah, which was a tree which they used to worship; it
was said that it was a group of trees which were tangled, like trees in a
thicket. For this reason, when Allah said that the companions of Al-Aykah denied
the Messengers, He did not say, "When their brother Shu`ayb said to them.''
Rather, He said:
[إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ
شُعَيْبٌ]
(When Shu`ayb said to them) He is not described as belonging to them because
of the meaning that was inherent in the name given to them even though he was
their brother by blood. Some people did not notice this point, so they thought
that the dwellers of Al-Aykah were different from the people of Madyan, and
claimed that Shu`ayb was sent to two nations; some said that he was sent to
three.
[أَصْحَـبُ
لْـَيْكَةِ]
(The companions of Al-Aykah) were the people of Shu`ayb. This was the view of
Ishaq bin Bishr. Someone besides Juwaybir said, "The dwellers of Al-Aykah and
the people of Madyan are one and the same.'' And Allah knows best. Although
there is another opinion that they were different nations with two identities,
the correct view is that they were one nation, but they are described
differently in different places. Shu`ayb preached to them and commanded them to
be fair in their weights and measures, the same as is mentioned in the story of
Madyan, which also indicates that they were the same nation.
[أَوْفُواْ الْكَيْلَ
وَلاَ تَكُونُواْ مِنَ الْمُخْسِرِينَ - وَزِنُواْ بِالْقِسْطَاسِ الْمُسْتَقِيمِ
]
وَلاَ تَبْخَسُواْ
النَّاسَ أَشْيَآءهُمْ وَلاَ تَعْثَوْاْ فِى الاْرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ-]
وَاتَّقُواْ الَّذِى
خَلَقَكُمْ وَالْجِبِلَّةَ الاْوَّلِينَ-]
(181. "Give full measure, and cause no loss (to others).'') (182. "And weigh
with the true and straight balance.'') (183. "And defraud not people by reducing
their things, nor do evil, making corruption and mischief in the land.'') (184.
"And have Taqwa of Him Who created you and the generations of the men of
old.'')
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