The People of al-Ayka

The people of al-Ayka ('the Thicket') were the people of the prophet Shu'ayb. Merchants, they cheated on weights and measures. Shu'ayb called them to honesty and faith, but they called him a liar and were punished.

The people of al-Ayka lived from trade, but frauded: they cheated on the scales, gave less than was owed, and spread injustice. The prophet Shu'ayb called them to worship God and to be honest in their dealings, for faith cannot be separated from uprightness in business.

They refused and called him a liar. The punishment came at 'the Day of the Shadow': a cloud appeared that they thought would bring rain, but which brought a devastating punishment. It was, says the Quran, the punishment of a terrible day.

The people of al-Ayka teach that faith is inseparable from concrete honesty. Cheating on the scales is to betray God as much as people: uprightness in dealings is part of the religion.

كَذَّبَ أَصْحَابُ الْأَيْكَةِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

Les adorateurs d’Al-Aykah ont également traité les Messagers d’imposteurs,

26:176

فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ

Pour l’avoir traité d’imposteur, ils furent saisis par le châtiment du jour de la Nuée, châtiment d’un jour terrifiant.

26:189