To which people was Shu‘ayb, may Allaah exalt his mention, sent?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds.  I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Allaah The Almighty sent Shu‘ayb to As'haab Al-Aykah (the companions of the thicket), also known as the People of Madyan. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

•        {And to Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu‘ayb. He said, "O my people, worship Allaah; you have no deity other than Him. And do not decrease from the measure and the scale. Indeed, I see you in prosperity, but indeed, I fear for you the punishment of an all-encompassing Day."}[Quran 11:84]

•        {The companions of the thicket denied the messengers. When Shu‘ayb said to them, "Will you not fear Allaah?"}[Quran 26: 176-177]

Ibn Katheer mentioned that As'haab Al-Aykah were the people of Madyan. Prophet Shu‘ayb was one of them. They used to worship a thicket of intertwined trees. Therefore, when Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {The companions of the thicket denied the messengers}[Quran 26:176], He does not mention that Shu‘ayb is their brother. In this way He cut the relationship of brotherhood between them because of what they used to do. This happened even though he was their brother in kinship. Some people do not notice this point and so they think that As'haab Al-Aykah are different from the People of Madyan and claim that Shu‘ayb was sent to two different groups of people. Others say that he was sent to three different groups of people. The sound opinion is that they were one and the same people who are described differently in each verse.

Therefore, Shu‘ayb advised As'haab Al-Aykah and ordered them to give full measure and weight in justice and in doing so   ordered the People of Madyan. This means that they were one people.

Allaah Knows best.