Lives of the Noble Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام

Prophet ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم (Fourth and Final Part)

Mawlana Adnan Ahmad Attari Madani

Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم arrived at the home of Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم had grown old, so his daughters would go out to graze the goats, and upon returning they would come to a well. They would not draw near to the well as long as there were men around it. Those people would extract water from the well and pour it into a basin, allowing their animals to drink from it. When they would leave, his daughters would approach it. As they did not have the strength to draw water from the well, they would allow their goats to drink the remnant water in the basin.

When Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم arrived from Egypt to Madyan, he saw both daughters standing aside near the well. Upon asking them, he removed a huge, weighty rock from another well, extracted water from it and gave it to their goats to drink. When both of them reached home quickly, Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم enquired about the reason for their early arrival, so they informed him of the entire account. Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم requested for Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم to be brought to him, thus one of his daughters went and brought him to their home.[1]

Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم ate with Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم

Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم had not yet been sent forth as a prophet and messenger. When he arrived, food had already been placed before Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, and he said to him, “Sit and eat.”

Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم did not accept this, and said, “I seek refuge in Allah Almighty.”

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم enquired, “What is the reason for not eating? Are you not hungry?”

Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم replied, “I fear lest this food be recompense for giving water to your goats, because we are people who do not accept requital for an act of kindness.”

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم responded, “O young man! It is not like this. This food is not a recompense for your action, rather it is my custom and that of my forefathers; we are hospitable to guests and feed them.”

Hearing this, Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم sat and ate with Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم.[2]

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم kept Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم with him

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم was in need of such a person who could tend to his goats properly. However, his heart had not settled upon anyone. When he heard about Sayyidunā Mūsā’s trustworthiness and strength from his daughters [3], he said to him, “I wish to give you one of these two daughters of mine in marriage upon the dowry that you work for me for eight years. If you then complete ten full years, it will be a favour from your side, and not binding upon you. I do not wish to put you into hardship. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه Soon you will find me to be amongst the righteous. From my side, I must show good conduct and fulfil my covenant.”[4]

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم granted Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم the blessed staff

When the agreement had been concluded, he said to his daughter, “Bring a staff, so I can give it to him to assist him in his work.” His daughter brought him a staff, which was the same staff that Sayyidunā Ādam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم brought down with him from Paradise, and was now in the possession of Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم as a trust. He had that blessed staff returned and said, “Bring another.” His daughter entered and whichever other staff she tried to take hold of, it would fall from her hand. Finally, she returned with that same heavenly staff to Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم. Again, he had it returned. This happened repeatedly, and eventually Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم gave that same staff to Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم.[5]

The staff would spring up and come to Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم

In one narration it is stated:

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم said to Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, “Enter, and take any staff, so that you can drive away any predators, and shake down leaves for the goats to eat.” Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم entered and took a staff and came out. When Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم saw the staff, he said, “Place this one back, and take another.” When he did so, the same staff sprang up into his hand. He repeatedly returned it, tried to take another, but the same staff would spring into his hand. Eventually, he exited with the very same staff. When Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم saw the staff, he said, “Did I not request you to take a different staff?” Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم explained the entire account about the staff springing up into his hands. Having heard all this, Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم understood that his affair was lofty and Allah Almighty willed that the staff remain with Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم. Therefore, he granted him that staff.[6]

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb’s advice to Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم advised Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, saying, “This is a heavenly staff. It has been passed down from Sayyidunā Ādam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم to Sayyidunā Shīth عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, then to Sayyidunā Nūḥ عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, subsequently to Sayyidunā Hūd عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, thereafter to Sayyidunā Ṣāliḥ عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, next to Sayyidunā Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, afterwards to Sayyidunā IsmāꜤīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, after that to Sayyidunā Isḥāq عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم and later to Sayyidunā YaꜤqūb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم. Never part with it.”[7]

Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم killed a snake

Then, Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم informed him, “There are envious people in my nation. When they see that you have favoured me by tending to my goats, they will envy me in regards to your affair, and they will send you to such and such valley claiming there is good pasture there. If they send you there, do not go as there is a great serpent there, which will devour the goats. I fear lest you and my goats come to harm.” Forty days passed, and Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم thought, “Killing this snake will be a very good deed.” So, he took the goats to that valley. When he arrived, that very serpent launched itself at the goats. Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم killed it and returned to inform Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, who was overjoyed. When the people of the city heard, they were elated too and began to greatly respect Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم. In this way, he remained grazing the goats of Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام and giving them water until the agreed duration came to pass, and the sheep reached 400 in number.[8]

Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام returned from Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام

When Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم intended to part from Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, he said to his wife, “Ask your father for some goats, so that provision is easy for us (enroute).”[9] Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم said, “O Mūsā! My wealth is from Allah Almighty, place your hand upon whichever you wish.”

Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم replied, “A small amount of wealth upon which I can pass the days of my life is preferrable to me.” Then he chose an animal as a conveyance for his wife and a second to carry his provisions.

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام asked, “Do you not desire anything else?”

He replied. “This is enough.”[10]

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb’s عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام miracle

Then, Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم granted Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم some goats and said, “These (black or white) goats, which produce offspring (black or white) that opposes the colour of their mother, are for you.”[11]

Advice to his daughter

When Prophet Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم began to leave, Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم began to cry, saying, “I am advanced in age, I am weak, and those who envy me are many. Stopping you does not appeal to me either. Then, he counselled his daughter, “Never disobey your husband.”[12]

Account

It is related that Allah Almighty revealed to Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم: O ShuꜤayb! Lower your neck in humility to me, and develop concentration in your heart. Shed tears from your eyes, and supplicate to me for proximity.[13]

SharīꜤah of Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم

According to one view, scriptures were also revealed to Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم.[14] According to one report, he would recite the scriptures revealed to Sayyidunā Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم.[15]

The glory of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in the scriptures of Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم

The rank of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is described in the following way in the scriptures revealed to Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم: “My servant is of a most dignified rank. When My revelation descends upon him, he will manifest my justice amongst creation. He will not laugh loudly. He will open blind eyes and deaf ears, and he will revive veiled hearts. Whatever I grant him, I will not grant to another.”

In another place in these scriptures, it is mentioned: “He will praise Allah Almighty in a way that no one has done. He is Allah’s light, which cannot be extinguished. His seal (of Prophethood) will be upon his shoulder.”[16]

Passing away

Sayyidunā ShuꜤayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم passed away at the age of 140 years.[17] According to the well-known view, his blessed grave is in Ḥiṭṭīn, Palestine. Ḥiṭṭīn is a settlement on the coast of al-Shām. There is a dome over the blessed resting place, and people travel from afar to visit it and attain blessings.[18]