English Translation of Al-Quran
[29].Surah Al-Ankabut [The Spider]
Ayat 36. And to (the people of) Madyan (Midian), We sent their brother Shoaib AS (Shuaib). He said: “O my people! Worship Allah, and hope for (the reward of good deeds by worshipping Allah Alone, on) the last Day, and commit no mischief on the earth as Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).
Ayat 37. And they belied him [Shuaib AS (Shuaib)], so the earthquake seized them, and they lay (dead), prostrate in their dwellings.
Tafseer of Surah Al-Ankabut (The Spider) Ayat 36. To the Madyan (people) (We sent) their brother Shuaib. Then he said: “O my people! serve Allah, and fear the Last Day: nor commit evil on the earth, with intent to do mischief.” 37. But they rejected him: Then the mighty Blast seized them, and they lay prostrate in their homes by the morning. The story of Shuaib and the Madyan people is only referred to here. It is told in 11:84-95. Their besetting sin was fraud and commercial immorality. Their punishment was a mighty Blast, such as accompanied volcanic eruptions. The point of the reference here is that they went about doing mischief on the earth, and never thought of the Ma’ad or the Hereafter, the particular theme of this Surah. The same point is made by the brief references in the following two verses to the ‘Ad and the Thamud, and to Qaroon, Pharaoh, and Haman, though the besetting sin in each case was different. The Midianites were a commercial people and trafficked from land to land; their frauds are well described as spreading “mischief on the earth”.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) was speaking to us when, a Bedouin came and asked him: “When will the Last Day be?” The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) continued his talk. Some of those present thought that he had heard him but disliked the interruption and the other said that he had not heard him. When the Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) concluded his speech he asked, “Where is the one who inquired about the Last Day?” The man replied: “Here I am.” The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) replied, “When the practice of honoring a trust is lost, expect the Last Day.” He asked: “How could it be lost?” He replied, “When the government is entrusted to the undeserving people, then wait for the Last Day.”
[Al-Bukhari Vol-1, Book 3, Hadith # 56].
Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Al- Ankabut Ayat 37. they belied him [Shuaib AS (Shuaib)], so the earthquake seized them, and they lay (dead), prostrate in their dwellings. Here a very important sign of the nearness of the Day of Judgment has been mentioned: The affairs of the world will be in the hands of wicked and undeserving people. The sinners and wicked people will become the leaders of the world. The preaching pulpits would also be occupied by people who would be greedy and ignorant. They will be devoid of piety and abstinence.
