Reading the story of Hazrat Shuayb in the context of sirah

This study, based on the principle of examining Qur'anic narratives within the framework of sıra, revisits the story of Prophet Shu'ayb in the light of sıra. First, the verses concerning Prophet Shu'ayb and his people were identified with consideration of the period in which they were revealed. In determining the chronological order of the surahs containing these verses, Izzet Derveze's chronological arrangement was adopted. The introduction provides information on the topic, aim, significance, and methodology of the thesis. The first chapter offers a general overview of Qur'anic narratives and the relationship between Qur'anic exegesis and sıra. This chapter elaborates on the concept of narrative, its characteristics, historical value, main purposes, and the connection between Qur'anic exegesis and sıra studies. It also demonstrates how the life of the Prophet forms an integrated context with the revelation process of the verses. In the second chapter, the identified verses related to Prophet Shu'ayb and his people are examined. In this context, the story of Shu'ayb is analyzed in light of the social structure of the Meccan period, the attitudes of the polytheists, and the messages conveyed to the initial recipients of revelation. As all the verses concerning Shu'ayb are Meccan, this chapter is confined to surahs revealed during the Meccan period, with particular attention to their correlation with the sıra of Prophet Muhammad. Readings integrating exegesis and sıra reveal that Shu'ayb's struggle for monotheism and justice against the people of Midian bears numerous similarities to Prophet Muhammad's later struggle against the Meccan polytheists.