The Objectives of Qur’anic Narratives: The Story of Prophet Shuʿayb (Peace Be Upon Him) as a Case Study

Abstract

This research aimed to explore the purposes of Qur’anic narratives through the story of Prophet Shuʿayb (peace be upon him) and to examine its theological, economic, educational, and social dimensions. The research employed an inductive approach to trace the Qur’anic verses related to the story of Prophet Shuʿayb and a descriptive-analytical approach to analyze their content and identify their underlying purposes. The findings revealed that the story presents an integrated Qur’anic model of reform, beginning with the call to the oneness of God and the reinforcement of faith-based values, and extending to the treatment of economic corruption, particularly fraud, cheating in measure, and depriving people of their rights, while emphasizing justice and honesty in transactions. The story also highlights the importance of God-consciousness, reliance on God, integrity, consistency between words and actions, social reform, and combating corruption. The research concludes that the purposes embedded in the story of Prophet Shuʿayb are characterized by integration and interconnectedness, offering a comprehensive Qur’anic framework for human development and social reform.