The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 416
CH. 15 AL-HIJR 80. So "We chastised them also. And they both lie on a manifest Way. 1783 "26:190; 38:15; 50:15. Midian, son of Keturah. They were good businessmen and carried on trade with India through Bahrain or Aden. When, however, their business flourished, they resorted to illicit methods in trade (26:184). The fact that, according to the Quran, the Prophet Shu'aib was sent both to i. e. People of the Wood (26:177, 178) and i. e. People of Midian (11:85) shows that both are the names of the same people or, rather, of two sections of the same people who had adopted two different kinds of trade, one living on commerce and the other keeping herds of camels and sheep and selling milk, wool, etc. Two sections of the same people living in the same town are generally seen to be following different trades in such towns as are situated on the borders of jungles and forests. So the people of al-Aikah is another section of the tribe of Shu'aib (26:177, 178) who has also been spoken of as having been sent to the people of Midian (7:86, 11:85 & 29:37). Further evidence of the close relationship of the "People of the Wood" with the "People of Midian" is furnished by the fact that identical faults have been ascribed in the Quran to both. Speaking of the latter, the Quran says: So give full measure and full weight, and diminish not unto PT. 14 فَانْتَقَمْنَا ^gis Khatt people their things, and create not disorder in the earth after it has been set in order (7:86), while Shu'aib addresses the former in the following words: Give full measure, and be not of those who give less. And weigh with the true balance. And diminish not to men their things, nor act corruptly in the earth, making mischief (26:182-184). This shows that the "People of the Wood" and the "People of Midian" (to whom Prophet Shu'aib was sent) belonged to the same parent tribe and had adopted different forms of trade. It may also be noted here that Midian was both the name of the tribe and the town they lived in, at the head of the gulf of 'Aqabah, and near it was situated the wilderness or Aikah abounding in dwarf trees of the species of wild plums and affording shelter to camels, sheep and goats. For a description of the aor wood near Midian, see "The Gold Mines of Midian" by Sir Richard 1624 Francis Burton. 1783. Important Words: (way) is derived from (amma). They say ad i. e. he repaired to or directed his course to him or it. inter alia, means, a road or way; a manifest road or way (Lane). (manifest) means, distinct from others; apparent; manifest; plain (Lane). See also 2:169.