People of Madyan

People of Madyan were settled in an area in the northwest Arabian Peninsula, on the east shore of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea. They were prosperous people who were involved in trade and commerce. They used to cheat people in measurement and weighing of the goods of trade. They were polytheists and used to deny the teachings of the messengers of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Prophet Shuaib عليه السلام was sent to them to warn them of the consequences of their deeds and he advised them to worship Allah سبحانه وتعالى and fear His anger. The people of his nation refused to accept him as a true messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and refused to change their daily practices of cheating. They asked him and a few of his followers to leave their locality and threatened to kill them. They challenged him to bring forth the wrath of Allah سبحانه وتعالى if he was a true messenger. Because of their persistent denial, they were subjected to a sudden severe earthquake from which Prophet Shuaib عليه السلام and his companions were saved. The story of the people of Madyan depicts the result of malpractice in trading and financial matters thus causing deliberate loss to fellow human beings. Persistence with these deeds without fear of Allah سبحانه وتعالى results in destruction in this world and attracts the torment of Allah سبحانه وتعالى in the hereafter.