Surah Hud Tafseer in English: Ibn Kathir Verse 1-68
Hud – (Prophet Hud)
Verse Number 1-4
Which was revealed in Makkah
Surah Hud made the Prophet’s Hair turn Gray
Abu `Isa At-Tirmidhi recorded from Ibn `Abbas that Abu Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allah, verily your hair has turned gray.” The Prophet replied,
«شَيَّبَتْنِي هُودٌ وَالْوَاقِعَةُ وَالْمُرْسَلَاتُ وَعَمَّ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ وَإِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَت»
(Surahs Hud, Al-Waqi`ah, Al-Mursalat, `Amma Yatasa’lun An-Naba’ and Idhash-Shamsu Kuwwirat At-Takwir have turned my hair gray.) In another narration he said,
«هُودٌ وَأَخَوَاتُهَا»
(Surah Hud and its sisters…)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Qur’an and its Call to (worship) Allah Alone
A discussion concerning the letters of the alphabet (which appear at the beginning of some chapters of the Qur’an) has already preceded at the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah. That discussion is sufficient without any need for repetition here. Concerning Allah’s statement,
أُحْكِمَتْ ءايَـتُهُ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ
(The Ayat whereof are perfect and then explained in detail) This means perfect in its wording, detailed in its meaning. Thus, it is complete in its form and its meaning. This interpretation was reported from Mujahid and Qatadah, and Ibn Jarir At-Tabari preferred it. Concerning the meaning of Allah’s statement,
مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ
(from One (Allah), Who is All-Wise, Well-Acquainted.) This means that it (the Qur’an) is from Allah, Who is Most Wise in His statements and His Laws, and Most Aware of the final outcome of matters.
أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ
((Saying) worship none but Allah.) This means that this Qur’an descended, perfect and detailed, with the purpose of Allah’s worship alone, without any partners. This is similar to the statement of Allah, the Exalted,
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ
(And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying): There is no God but I, so worship Me.) 21:25 It is similar to Allah’s statement,
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الْطَّـغُوتَ
(And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming): `Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid Taghut (calling false deities.)’)16:36 In reference to Allah’s statement,
إِنَّنِى لَكُمْ مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ
(Verily, I am unto you from Him a warner and a bringer of glad tidings.) This means, “Verily, I am unto you a warner of the punishment if you oppose Him (Allah), and a bringer of the good news of reward if you obey Him.” This meaning has been recorded in the authentic Hadith which states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ascended mount As-Safa and called out to his near relatives of the Quraysh tribe. When they gathered around him, he said,
«يَا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ أَنَّ خَيْلًا تُصَبِّحُكُمْ أَلَسْتُمْ مُصَدِّقِيَّ؟»
(O people of Quraysh, if I informed you that a cavalry was going to attack you in the morning, would you not believe me) They replied, “We have not found you to be a liar.” He said,
«فَإِنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَي عَذَابٍ شَدِيد»
(Verily I am a warner unto you before a severe punishment.) Concerning His statement,
وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُمْ مَّتَاعًا حَسَنًا إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ
(And (commanding you): `Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding grace to every owner of grace.) This means, “I am commanding you to seek forgiveness from previous sins and to turn to Allah from future sins, and thereafter you abide by that.”
يُمَتِّعْكُمْ مَّتَاعًا حَسَنًا
(that He may grant you good enjoyment,) This is in reference to this worldly life.
إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ
(for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding grace to every owner of grace.) This refers to the Hereafter, according to Qatadah. “This is like the statement of Allah,
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَـلِحاً مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَوةً طَيِّبَةً
(Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while a true believer, verily to him We will give a good life.)16:97 Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ كَبِيرٍ
(But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a Great Day.) This is a severe threat for whoever turns away from the commandments of Allah, the Exalted, and rejects His Messengers. Verily, the punishment will afflict such a person on the Day of Resurrection and there will be no escape from it.
إِلَى الله مَرْجِعُكُمْ
(To Allah is your return,) This is means your return on the Day of Judgement.
وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
(and He is able to do all things.) This means that He is capable of doing whatever He wishes, whether it be goodness towards His Awliya’ (friends and allies), or vengeance upon His enemies. This also includes His ability to repeat the creation of His creatures on the Day of Resurrection. This section encourages fear, just as the previous section encourages hope.
Verse Number 5
Allah is Aware of All Things
Ibn `Abbas said, “They used to dislike facing the sky with their private parts, particularly during sexual relations. Therefore, Allah revealed this verse.” Al-Bukhari recorded by way of Ibn Jurayj, who reported from Muhammad bin `Abbad bin Ja`far who said, “Ibn `Abbas recited, (أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ تَثْنَونِي صُدُورُهُمْ) “Behold their breasts did fold up.” So I said: `O Abu Al-`Abbas! What does -their breasts did fold up- mean’ He said, `The man used to have sex with his woman, but he would be shy, or he used to have answering the call of nature (in an open space) but, he would be shy. Therefore, this verse,
أَلا إِنَّهُمْ يَثْنُونَ صُدُورَهُمْ
(No doubt! They did fold up their breasts,) was revealed.”‘ In another wording of this narration, Ibn `Abbas said, “There were people who used to be shy to remove their clothes while answering the call of nature in an open space and thus be naked exposed to the sky. They were also ashamed of having sexual relations with their women due to fear of being exposed towards the sky. Thus, this was revealed concerning them.” Al-Bukhari reported that Ibn `Abbas said that
يَسْتَغْشُونَ
(they cover themselves) means that they cover their heads.
Verse Number 6
Allah is Responsible for the Provisions of All Creatures
Allah, the Exalted, informs that He is responsible for the provisions of all the creatures that dwell in the earth, whether they are small, large, sea-dwelling or land-dwelling. He knows their place of dwelling and their place of deposit. This means that He knows where their journeying will end in the earth and where they will seek shelter when they wish to nest. This place of nesting is also considered their place of deposit. `Ali bin Abi Talhah and others reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said concerning the statement,
رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ
(And He knows its dwelling place) that it means where it resides. In reference to the statement,
مُسْتَقَرَّهَا
(and its deposit.) he (Ibn `Abbas) said it means where it will die. Allah informs us that all of this is written in a Book with Allah that explains it in detail. This is similar to Allah’s statement,
وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَلاَ طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَـلُكُمْ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى الكِتَـبِ مِن شَىْءٍ ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ
(There is not a moving creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered.) 6:38, and
وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لاَ يَعْلَمُهَآ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلاَّ يَعْلَمُهَا وَلاَ حَبَّةٍ فِى ظُلُمَـتِ الاٌّرْضِ وَلاَ رَطْبٍ وَلاَ يَابِسٍ إِلاَّ فِى كِتَـبٍ مُّبِينٍ
(And with Him are the keys of the Ghayb (all that is hidden and unseen), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.) 6:59
Verse Number 7-11
Allah created the Heavens and the Earth in Six Days
Allah, the Exalted, informs of His power over all things, and that He created the heavens and the earth in six days. He mentions that His Throne was over the water before that, just as Imam Ahmad recorded that `Imran bin Husayn said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«اقْبَلُوا الْبُشْرَى يَا بَنِي تَمِيم»
(Accept the glad tidings, O tribe of Tamim!) They said, `Verily you have brought us glad tidings and you have given us.’ Then he said,
«اقْبَلُوا الْبُشْرَى يَا أَهْلَ الْيَمَن»
(Accept the glad tidings, O people of Yemen!) They said, `We accept. Therefore, inform us about the beginning of this matter and how it was.’ He said,
«كَانَ اللهُ قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ، وَكَتَبَ فِي اللَّوْحِ الْمَحْفُوظِ ذِكْرَ كُلِّ شَيْء»
(Allah was before everything and His Throne was over the water. He then wrote in the Preserved Tablet mentioning everything.) Then a man came to me and said, “O `Imran, your she camel has escaped from her fetter.” I then went out after her and I do not know what was said after I left.” This Hadith has been recorded in the Two Sahihs of Al-Bukhari and Muslim with a variety of wordings. In Sahih Muslim, it is recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«إِنَّ اللهَ قَدَّرَ مَقَادِيرَ الْخَلَائِقِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ السَّموَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِخَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاء»
(Verily Allah measured the amount of sustenance of the creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and His Throne was over the water.) Under the explanation of this verse, Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: أَنْفِقْ أُنْفِقْ عَلَيْك»
(Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said, `Spend and I will spend on you.’) And he said,
«يَدُ اللهِ مَلْأَى لَا يَغِيضُهَا نَفَقَةٌ، سَحَّاءُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَار»
(Allah’s Hand is full, and it is not diminished by spending throughout the night and the day.) He also said,
«أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا أَنْفَقَ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ السَّموَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَغِضْ مَا فِي يَمِينِهِ، وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ، وَبِيَدِهِ الْمِيزَانُ يَخْفِضُ وَيَرْفَع»
(Have you seen what has been spent since the creation of the heavens and the earth Verily it does not diminish what is in His Right Hand (in the slightest) and His Throne was over the water. In His Hand is the Scale and he lowers and raises it.) Concerning Allah’s statement,
لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً
(that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds.) This means that He created the heavens and the earth for the benefit of His servants, whom He created so that they may worship Him and not associate anything with Him as a partner. Allah did not create this creation (of the heavens and the earth) out of mere frivolity. This is similar to His statement,
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَآءَ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَـطِلاً ذَلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنَ النَّارِ
(And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire!) 38: 27 Allah the Exalted, said,
أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَـكُمْ عَبَثاً وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لاَ تُرْجَعُونَ – فَتَعَـلَى اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
(Did you think that We created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us So Exalted is Allah, the True King: there is no God but He, the Lord of the Supreme Throne!) 23:115-116 Allah, the Exalted, said,
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإِنسَ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِ
(And I (Allah) created not the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).) 51:56 Concerning the statement of Allah,
لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ
(that He might try you,) It means so that He (Allah) may test you. Concerning the statement,
أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً
(which of you is the best in deeds.) It is important to note here that Allah did not say, “Which of you has done the most deeds.” Rather, He said, “Best in deeds.” A deed cannot be considered a good deed until it is done sincerely for Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, and it must be in accordance with the legislation of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Whenever a deed lacks one of these conditions, then it is null and void.
The Polytheists hasten their Torment by arguing against Resurrection after Death
Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُمْ مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِن بَعْدِ الْمَوْتِ
(But if you were to say to them: “You shall indeed be raised up after death.”) Allah, the Exalted, is saying, “O Muhammad, if you were to inform these polytheists that Allah is going to resurrect them after their death, just as He created them originally (they would still reject).” Even though they know that Allah, the Exalted, is the One Who created the heavens and the earth, just as He said,
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ
(And if you ask them who created them, they will surely say: “Allah.”)43:87 Allah says,
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ
(And if you were to ask them: “Who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon” They will surely reply: “Allah.”) 29:61 Even after their awareness of this (Allah’s creating), they still reject the resurrection and the promised return on the Day of Judgement. Yet, in reference to ability, the resurrection is easier (for Allah to perform) than the original creation. As Allah said,
وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ
(And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it (after it has perished); and this is easier for Him.) 30:27 Allah also said,
مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلاَ بَعْثُكُمْ إِلاَّ كَنَفْسٍ وَحِدَةٍ
(The creation of you all and the resurrection of you all are only as (the creation and resurrection of) a single person.) 31:28 Concerning the statement,
إِنْ هَـذَا إِلاَّ سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
(This is nothing but obvious magic.) The polytheists say this due to their disbelief and obstinacy. They say, “We do not believe your claim that resurrection will occur.” They also say, “He (Muhammad) only says this (resurrection of the dead) because he is bewitched, and he wants you to follow him in what his bewitchment tells him. Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابَ إِلَى أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ
(And if We delay the torment for them till a determined term,) Allah, the Exalted, is saying “If We delay the torment and the destruction of these polytheists until an appointed time and a period determined, and We promise them a specific time period (of life), they would still say, in rejection and haste;
مَا يَحْبِسُهُ
(What keeps it back) They mean by this, “What delays this torment from overtaking us” Both rejection and doubt are their very nature. Therefore, they have no escape or refuge from the torment.
The Meanings of the Word Ummah
The word Ummah is used in the Qur’an and Sunnah with a number of different meanings. Sometimes when it is used it means a specified period of time. An example is the statement of Allah, the Exalted, in this verse,
إِلَى أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ
(till a determined Ummah (term),) This is also the meaning in the statement of Allah in Surah Yusuf,
وَقَالَ الَّذِى نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَادَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ
(Then the man who was released, now after Ummah (some time) remembered.) 12:45 The word Ummah is also used to refer to the Imam (leader) who is followed. An example of this is in the statement of Allah,
إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَـنِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
(Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah, obedient to Allah, Hanif, and he was not of those who were polytheists.) 16:120 The word Ummah is also used to mean religion and religious creed. This is as Allah mentions concerning the polytheists, that they said,
إِنَّا وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى ءَاثَـرِهِم مُّقْتَدُونَ
(Verily, we found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps. ) 43:23 The word Ummah is also used to mean a group (of people). This is as Allah says,
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ
(And when he arrived at the water (well) of Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks).) 28:23 Allah also said,
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الْطَّـغُوتَ
(And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid Taghut.”) 16:36 Allah also said,
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولٌ فَإِذَا جَآءَ رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ
(And for every Ummah there is a Messenger; when their Messenger comes, the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged.) 10:47 The meaning of Ummah here is those people who have had a Messenger sent among them. The meaning of Ummah in this context includes the believers and the disbelievers among them. This is like what has been recorded in Sahih Muslim,
«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَا يَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ يَهُودِيٌّ وَلَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ ثُمَّ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِي إِلَّا دَخَلَ النَّار»
(By He in Whose Hand is my soul! there is no one of this Ummah, whether he be a Jew or Christian, who hears of me and does not believe in me, except that he will enter the Hell- fire.) In reference to the Ummah of followers, then they are those who believe in the Messengers, as Allah said,
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ
(You (the followers of Prophet Muhammad) are the best Ummah ever raised up for mankind.) 3:110 In the Sahih the Prophet said,
«فَأَقُولُ: أُمَّتِي أُمَّتِي»
(Then I will say, “My Ummah (followers), my Ummah!”) The word Ummah is also used to mean a sect or party. An example of this usage is in the statement of Allah,
وَمِن قَوْمِ مُوسَى أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ
(And of the people of Musa there is an Ummah who lead (the men) with truth and established justice therewith.) 7:159 Likewise is His statement,
مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ
(A party of the People of the Scripture stand for the right.) 3:113
Verse Number 12-14
The Messenger grieving by the Statements of the Polytheists, and His Gratification
This statement of Allah, the Exalted, to His Messenger comforted the worries that the polytheists were causing him due to their statements directed towards him. This is just as Allah says about them,
وَقَالُواْ مَا لِهَـذَا الرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ الطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشِى فِى الاٌّسْوَاقِ لَوْلا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُ نَذِيراً – أَوْ يُلْقَى إِلَيْهِ كَنْزٌ أَوْ تَكُونُ لَهُ جَنَّةٌ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ الظَّـلِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ رَجُلاً مَّسْحُوراً
(And they say: “Why does this Messenger eat food, and walk about in the markets. Why is not an angel sent down to him to be a warner with him” Or; “(why) has not a treasure been granted to him, or why has he not a garden whereof he may eat” And the wrongdoers say: “You follow none but a man bewitched.”) 25:7-8 Thus, Allah commanded His Messenger and guided him to not let these statements of theirs grieve his heart. Allah directed him to not let these statements prevent him, or deter him from calling them to Allah, both day and night. This is as Allah said,
وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ
(Indeed, We know that your breast is straitened at what they say.) 15:97 Allah says in this verse,
فَلَعَلَّكَ تَارِكٌ بَعْضَ مَا يُوحَى إِلَيْكَ وَضَآئِقٌ بِهِ صَدْرُكَ أَن يَقُولُواْ
(So perchance you may give up a part of what is revealed unto you, and that your breast feels straitened for it because they say…) The meaning here is that he (the Prophet ) may be compelled to give up the Message due to what they (the polytheists) say about him. However, Allah goes on to explain: “You (Muhammad) are only a warner and you have an example in your brothers of the Messengers who came before you. For verily, the previous Messengers were rejected and harmed, yet they were patient until the help of Allah came to them.”
An Explanation concerning the Miracle of the Qur’an
Then Allah, the Exalted, explains the miracle of the Qur’an, and that no one is able to produce its like, or even bring ten chapters, or one chapter like it. The reason for this is that the Speech of the Lord of all that exists is not like the speech of the created beings, just as His attributes are not like the attributes of the creation. Nothing resembles His existence. Exalted is He, the Most Holy, and the Sublime. There is no deity worthy of worship except He and there is no true Lord other than He. Then Allah goes on to say,
فَإِلَّمْ يَسْتَجِيبُواْ لَكُمْ
(If then they answer you not,) Meaning, that if they do not come with a reply to that which you have challenged them with (to the reproduction of ten chapters like the Qur’an), then know that it is due to their inability to do so. Know (that this is a proof) that this is the speech revealed from Allah. It contains His knowledge, His commands and His prohibitions. Then Allah continues by saying,
وَأَن لاَّ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ فَهَلْ أَنتُمْ مُّسْلِمُونَ
(and that there is no God besides Him! Will you then be Muslims)
Verse Number 15-16
Whoever wants the Worldly Life, then He will have no Share of the Hereafter
Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said concerning this verse, “Verily those who show off, will be given their reward for their good deeds in this life. This will be so that they are not wronged, even the amount equivalent to the size of the speck on a date-stone.” Ibn `Abbas continued saying, “Therefore, whoever does a good deed seeking to acquire worldly gain – like fasting, prayer, or standing for prayer at night – and he does so in order to acquire worldly benefit, then Allah says, `Give him the reward of that which he sought in the worldly life,’ and his deed that he did is wasted because he was only seeking the life of this world. In the Hereafter he will be of the losers.” A similar narration has been reported from Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak and many others. Anas bin Malik and Al-Hasan both said, “This verse was revealed concerning the Jews and the Christians.” Mujahid and others said, “This verse was revealed concerning the people who perform deeds to be seen.” Qatadah said, “Whoever’s concern, intention and goal is this worldly life, then Allah will reward him for his good deeds in this life. Then, when reaches the next life, he will not have any good deeds that will be rewarded. However, concerning the believer, he will be rewarded for his good deeds in this life and in the Hereafter as well.” Allah, the Exalted, says,
مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعَـجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُ فِيهَا مَا نَشَآءُ لِمَن نُّرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَـهَا مَذْمُومًا مَّدْحُورًا – وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الاٌّخِرَةَ وَسَعَى لَهَا سَعْيَهَا وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَـئِكَ كَانَ سَعْيُهُم مَّشْكُورًا – كُلاًّ نُّمِدُّ هَـؤُلاءِ وَهَـؤُلاءِ مِنْ عَطَآءِ رَبِّكَ وَمَا كَانَ عَطَآءُ رَبِّكَ مَحْظُورًا – انظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَلَلاٌّخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَـتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلاً
(Whoever desires the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell; he will burn therein disgraced and rejected. And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it while he is a believer – then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated. On each – these as well as those – We bestow from the bounties of your Lord. And the bounties of your Lord can never be forbidden. See how We prefer one above another, and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in intricacy.) 17:18-21 Allah, the Exalted, says,
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ الاٌّخِرَةِ نَزِدْ لَهُ فِى حَرْثِهِ وَمَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ الدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَمَا لَهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ مِن نَّصِيبٍ
(Whosoever desires the reward of the Hereafter, We give him increase in his reward, and whosoever desires the reward of this world, We give him thereof, and he has no portion in the Hereafter.) 42:20
Verse Number 17
The One Who believes in the Qur’an is upon Clear Proof from His Lord
Allah, the Exalted, informs of the condition of the believers who are upon the natural religion of Allah, which He made inherent in His creatures. This is based upon their confession to Him that there is none worthy of worship except He. This is similar to Allah’s statement,
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفاً فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا
(So set you your face towards the religion, Hanifan. Allah’s Fitrah with which He has created mankind.) 30:30, In the Two Sahihs it is recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,
«كُلُّ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ أَوْ يُنَصِّرَانِهِ أَوْ يُمَجِّسَانِهِ كَمَا تُولَدُ الْبَهِيمَةُ بَهِيمَةً جَمْعَاءَ هَلْ تُحِسُّونَ فِيهَا مِنْ جَدْعَاءَ؟»
(Every child is born upon the Fitrah, but his parents make him a Jew, Christian, or Magian. This is just as the calf that is born whole. Have you noticed any calves that are born mutilated) In Sahih Muslim it is recorded that `Iyad bin Himar said that the Messenger of Allah said,
«يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالَى: إِنِّي خَلَقْتُ عِبَادِي حُنَفَاءَ فَجَاءَتْهُمُ الشَّيَاطِينُ فَاجْتَالَتْهُمْ عَنْ دِينهِمْ وَحَرَّمَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا أَحْلَلْتُ لَهُمْ،وَأَمَرَتْهُمْ أَنْ يُشْرِكُوا بِي مَا لَمْ أُنْزِلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا»
(Allah, the Exalted, says, `Verily, I created my servants Hunafa’, but the devils came to them and distracted them from their religion. They made unlawful for them what I had made lawful for them and they commanded them to associate partners with Me, concerning which no authority has been revealed.) Therefore, the believer is one who remains upon this Fitrah. Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَيَتْلُوهُ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْهُ
(and whom a witness from Him recites (follows) it;) This means that a witness comes to him from Allah. That witness is the pure, perfect and magnificent legislation that Allah revealed to the Prophets. These legislations were finalized with the legislation (Shari`ah) of Muhammad ﷺ. The believer has the natural disposition that bears witness to (the truth of) the general legislation, and accepts that specific laws are taken from the general legislation. The Fitrah accepts the Shari`ah and believes in it. For this reason Allah, the Exalted, says,
أَفَمَن كَانَ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِ وَيَتْلُوهُ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْهُ
(Can they who rely on a clear proof from their Lord, and whom a witness from Him recites (follows) it;) This clear proof which is recited is the Qur’an, which Jibril conveyed to the Prophet and the Prophet Muhammad conveyed it to his Ummah. Then Allah says,
وَمِن قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَى
(and before it, came the Book of Musa,) This means that before the Qur’an, there was the Book of Musa, the Tawrah.
إَمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً
(a guidance and a mercy) This means that Allah, the Exalted, revealed it to that Ummah as a leader for them and a guide for them to follow, as a mercy from Allah upon them. Therefore, whoever believed in it with true faith, then it would lead him to believe in the Qur’an as well. For this reason Allah said,
أُوْلَـئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ
(they believe therein) Then Allah, the Exalted, threatens those who reject the Qur’an, or any part of it, by saying,
وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِ مِنَ الاٌّحْزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوْعِدُهُ
(but those of the sects that reject it, the Fire will be their promised meeting place.) This is directed towards everyone on the face of the earth who disbelieves in the Qur’an, whether they are idolators, disbelievers, People of the Scripture, or other sects from the descendants of Adam. This applies to all whom the Qur’an reaches, regardless of their differences in color, appearance, or nationality. As Allah says,
لاٌّنذِرَكُمْ بِهِ وَمَن بَلَغَ
(that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach. ) 6:19 Allah, the Exalted, said,
قُلْ يَأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا
(Say: “O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah.”) Allah says,
وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِ مِنَ الاٌّحْزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوْعِدُهُ
(but those of the sects that reject it, the Fire will be their promised meeting place.) In Sahih Muslim it is recorded that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَا يَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ يَهُودِيٌّ (أَوْ) نَصْرَانِيٌّ ثُمَّ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِي إِلَّا دَخَلَ النَّار»
(By He in Whose Hand is my soul! there is no one of this Ummah, whether he be a Jew or Christian, who hears of me and does not believe in me, except that he will enter the Hell- fire.)
Every Hadith is confirmed by the Qur’an
Ayyub As-Sakhtiyani reported from Sa`id bin Jubayr that he said, “I did not hear any Hadith of the Prophet , substantiated as he stated it, except that I found its confirmation in the Qur’an. (The narrator said, “Or he said, `I found its verification in the Qur’an.”‘) Thus, it reached me that the Prophet said,
«لَا يَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ يَهُودِيٌّ وَلَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ ثُمَّ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِي إِلَّا دَخَلَ النَّار»
(There is no one of this Ummah, whether he be a Jew or Christian, who hears of me and does not believe in me, except that he will enter the Hellfire.) Therefore, I said, `Where is its verification in the Book of Allah Most of what I have heard reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I have found its verification in the Qur’an.’ Then I found this verse,
وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِ مِنَ الاٌّحْزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوْعِدُهُ
(but those of the sects that reject it (the Qur`an), the Fire will be their promised meeting place.) And this means from all religions.” Then Allah says,
فَلاَ تَكُ فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّنْهُ إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ
(So be not in doubt about it. Verily, it is the truth from your Lord,) This means that the Qur’an is the truth from Allah and there is no doubt or suspicion concerning it. This is as Allah says,
الم – ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
(Alif Lam Mim. The revelations of the Book in which there is no doubt, is from the Lord of all that exists!)32:1-2 Allah, the Exalted, says,
الم ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ
(Alif Lam Mim. This is the Book in which there is no doubt.) 2:1-2 The Ayah;
وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ
(but most of mankind believe not.) is similar to Allah’s statement,
وَمَآ أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
(And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly.)12:103 Likewise, Allah says,
وَإِن تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
(And if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s path.) Allah also says,
وَلَقَدْ صَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِبْلِيسُ ظَنَّهُ فَاتَّبَعُوهُ إِلاَّ فَرِيقاً مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
(And indeed Iblis did prove true his thought about them: and they followed him, all except a group of true believers.)34:20
Verse Number 18-22
Those Who invent Lies against Allah and hinder Others from His Path are the Greatest Losers
Allah, the Exalted, explains the condition of those who lie against Him and that their scandal in the Hereafter will be presented before the heads of creation (for testimony) from the angels, Messengers, Prophets and the rest of mankind and Jinns. This is just as Imam Ahmad recorded from Safwan bin Muhriz. Safwan said, “I was holding the hand of Ibn `Umar when a man was brought to him. The man said, `How did you hear the Messenger of Allah ﷺ describe An-Najwa (secret counsel or confidential talk) on the Day of Resurrection’ Ibn `Umar said, `I heard him say,
«إِنَّ اللهَللهَعزَّ وَجَلَّ يُدْنِي الْمُؤْمِنَ فَيَضَعُ عَلَيْهِ كَنَفَهُ، وَيَسْتُرُهُ مِنَ النَّاسِ، وَيُقَرِّرُهُ بِذُنُوبِهِ وَيَقُولُ لَهُ: أَتَعْرِفُ ذَنْبَ كَذَا؟ أَتَعْرِفُ ذَنْبَ كَذَا؟ أَتَعْرِفُ ذَنْبَ كَذَا؟ حَتَّى إِذَا قَرَّرَهُ بِذُنُوبِهِ وَرَأَى فِي نَفْسِهِ أَنَّهُ قَدْ هَلَكَ قَالَ: فَإِنِّي قَدْ سَتَرْتُهَا عَلَيْكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنِّي أَغْفِرُهَا لَكَ الْيَوْم»
(Verily, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will draw near the believer and He will place His shade over him. He will conceal him from the people and make him confess to his sins. He will say to him, “Do you recognize this sin Do you recognize that sin Do you recognize such and such sin” This will continue until He makes him confess to all of his sins and he (the believer) will think to himself that he is about to be destroyed. Then Allah will say, “Verily, I have concealed these sins for you in the worldly life and I have forgiven you for them today.” Then he (the believer) will be given his Book of good deeds. As for the disbelievers and the hypocrites, the witnesses will say,)
هَـؤُلاءِ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُواْ عَلَى رَبِّهِمْ أَلاَ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الظَّـلِمِينَ
(These are the ones who lied against their Lord! No doubt! The curse of Allah is on the wrongdoers).” Both Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded this narration in the Two Sahihs. Concerning Allah’s statement,
الَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا
(Those who hinder (others) from the path of Allah, and seek a crookedness therein,) This means that they prevent the people from following the truth and traversing upon the path of guidance that leads to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. In doing so they also keep the people away from Paradise itself. Allah’s statement,
وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا
(and seek a crookedness therein,) This means that they want their path to be crooked and uneven. Then, Allah’s statement,
وَهُمْ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـفِرُونَ
(while they are disbelievers in the Hereafter.) This means that they deny the Hereafter and they reject the idea that any of its events will occur, or any of it exists at all. Concerning Allah’s statement,
أُولَـئِكَ لَمْ يَكُونُواْ مُعْجِزِينَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُمْ مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ
(By no means will they escape on earth, nor have they protectors besides Allah!) This means that these disbelievers are under the power of Allah and His force. They are in His grasp and are subject to His authority. He is Most Able to exact vengeance against them in this life before the coming of the Hereafter. This is like Allah’s statement,
إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ الأَبْصَـرُ
(but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.)14:42 In the Two Sahihs it is recorded that the Prophet said,
«إِنَّ اللهَ لَيُمْلِي لِلظَّالِمِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَخَذَهُ لَمْ يُفْلِتْه»
(Verily Allah gives respite to the oppressor until He seizes him, then he will not be able to escape Him.) For this reason Allah says,
يُضَاعَفُ لَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ
(Their torment will be doubled!) This means that the torment will be doubled upon them, because Allah gave them hearing, vision and hearts, but these things did not benefit them. Rather, they were deaf from hearing the truth and blinded away from following it. This is just as Allah has mentioned concerning them when they enter into the Hellfire. Allah says,
وَقَالُواْ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِى أَصْحَـبِ السَّعِيرِ
(And they will say: “Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!”) Allah also says,
الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ زِدْنَـهُمْ عَذَابًا فَوْقَ الْعَذَابِ
(Those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the path of Allah, for them We will add torment to the torment.)16:88 For this reason they will be punished for every command that they abandoned and every prohibition that they indulged in. Then Allah continues by saying,
أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ
(They are those who have lost their own selves, and that which they invented eluded them.) They lost themselves, meaning that they be made to enter a blazing Fire, where they will be punished, and its torment will not be lifted from them for even the blinking of an eye. This is as Allah said,
كُلَّمَا خَبَتْ زِدْنَاهُمْ سَعِيرًا
(Whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.)17:97 Concerning the statement,
وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم
(eluded them.) meaning that it has left them.
مَّا كَانُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ
(that which they invented) besides Allah, such as rivals and idols. Yet, these things did not avail them in the slightest. In fact, these things actually caused them great harm. This is as Allah says,
وَإِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُواْ لَهُمْ أَعْدَآءً وَكَانُواْ بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَـفِرِينَ
(And when mankind are gathered, they will become their enemies and will deny their worshipping.)46:6 Allah says,
إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُواْ مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُواْ وَرَأَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الاٌّسْبَابُ
(When those who were followed disown those who followed (them), and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off from them.)2:166 Likewise, there are many other verses that prove this loss of theirs and their destruction. For this reason Allah says,
لاَ جَرَمَ أَنَّهُمْ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ هُمُ الاٌّخْسَرُونَ
(Certainly, they are those who will be the greatest losers in the Hearafter.) 11:22 In this verse Allah informs about the direction of their end. He explains that they are the greatest losers among mankind in their transaction for the abode of the Hereafter. That is because they exchanged the highest levels (of Paradise) for the lowest levels (of Hell) and they substituted the pleasure of Gardens (of Paradise) for the fierce boiling water (of Hell). They exchanged the drink of sealed nectar with the fierce hot wind, boiling water, and a shade of black smoke. They chose food from the filth of dirty wounds instead of wide-eyed lovely maidens. They preferred Hawiyah (a pit in Hell) instead of lofty castles. They chose the anger of Allah and His punishment over nearness to Him and the blessing of gazing at Him. Therefore, it is no injustice that such people should be the greatest losers in the Hereafter.
Verse Number 23-24
Rewarding the People of Faith
When Allah, the Exalted, mentioned the condition of the wretched, He also commended the people of delight (the believers). They are those who believe and work righteous deeds. Thus, their hearts believed and their limbs worked righteous deeds, both in statements and actions. This includes their performance of deeds of obedience and their abandonment of evils. In this way they are the inheritors of Gardens (of Paradise), which contain lofty rooms and seats arranged in rows. Therein they will find bunches of fruit near to them, elevated couches, fair and beautiful wives, various types of fruit, desired kinds of food and delicious drinks. They also will be allowed to see the Creator of the heavens and the earth and they will be in this state of pleasure forever. They will not die, nor will they grow old. They will not experience sickness, nor will they sleep. They will not have excrement, nor will they spit or snot. Their sweat will be the perfume of musk.
The Parable of the Believers and the Disbelievers
Then, Allah, the Exalted, makes a parable of the disbelievers and the believers. He says,
مَثَلُ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ
(The likeness of the two parties) This refers to those disbelievers whom Allah first described as wretched, and then those believers whom He described with delightfulness. The first group is like one who is blind and deaf, while the second group is like he who sees and hears. Thus, the disbeliever is blind from the truth in this life and in the Hereafter. He is not guided to goodness, nor does he recognize it. He is deaf from hearing the proofs, thus he does not hear that which would benefit him. As Allah says,
وَلَوْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا لأَسْمَعَهُمْ
(Had Allah known of any good in them, He would indeed have made them listen.)8:23 The believer is smart, bright and clever. He sees the truth and distinguishes between the truth and falsehood. Thus, he follows the good and abandons the evil. He hears and distinguishes between the proof and scepticism. Therefore, falsehood does not overcome him. Are these two types of people alike
أَفَلاَ تَذَكَّرُونَ
(Will you not then take heed) This statement means, “Will you not consider, so that you may distinguish between these two categories of people.” This is as Allah mentions in another verse,
لاَ يَسْتَوِى أَصْحَـبُ النَّارِ وَأَصْحَـبُ الْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَـبُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمُ الْفَآئِزُونَ
(Not equal are the dwellers of the Fire and the dwellers of the Paradise. It is the dwellers of Paradise that will be successful.)59:20 Allah also says,
وَمَا يَسْتَوِى الاٌّعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ – وَلاَ الظُّلُمَاتُ وَلاَ النُّورُ – وَلاَ الظِّلُّ وَلاَ الْحَرُورُ – وَمَا يَسْتَوِى الاٌّحْيَآءُ وَلاَ الاٌّمْوَاتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُسْمِعُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُسْمِعٍ مَّن فِى الْقُبُورِ – إِنْ أَنتَ إِلاَّ نَذِيرٌ – إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَـكَ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيراً وَنَذِيراً وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلاَّ خَلاَ فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ
(Not alike are the blind and the seeing. Nor are (alike) darkness and light. Nor are (alike) the shade and the sun’s heat. Nor are (alike) the living and the dead. Verily, Allah makes whom He wills to hear, but you cannot make hear those who are in graves. You are only a warner. Verily, We have sent you with the truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. And there never was a nation but a warner had passed among them.)35:19-24
Verse Number 25-27
The Story of Nuh and His Conversation with His People
Allah, the Exalted, informs about Prophet Nuh. He was the first Messenger whom Allah sent to the people of the earth who were polytheists involved in worshipping idols. Allah mentions that he (Nuh) said to his people,
إِنَّى لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
(I have come to you as a plain warner.) meaning, to openly warn you against facing Allah’s punishment if you continue worshipping other than Allah. Thus, Nuh said,
أَن لاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ
(That you worship none but Allah;) This can also be seen in his statement,
إِنِّى أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ
(surely, I fear for you the torment of a painful Day.) This means, “If you all continue doing this, then Allah will punish you with a severe punishment in the Hereafter.” Then Allah says,
فَقَالَ الْمَلأُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن قِوْمِهِ
(The chiefs who disbelieved among his people said;) The word `chiefs’ (Al-Mala’u) here means the leaders and the heads of the disbelievers. They said,
مَا نَرَاكَ إِلاَّ بَشَرًا مِّثْلَنَا
(We see you but a man like ourselves,) This means, “You are not an angel. You are only a human being, so how can revelation come to you over us We do not see anyone following you except the lowliest people among us, like the merchants, weavers and similar people. No people of nobility, or rulers among us follow you. These people who follow you are not known for their intelligence, wit, or sharp thinking. Rather, you merely invited them (to this Islam) and they responded to your call and followed you (ignorantly).” This is the meaning of their statement,
وَمَا نَرَاكَ اتَّبَعَكَ إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ هُمْ أَرَاذِلُنَا بَادِىَ الرَّأْى
(nor do we see any follow you but the meanest among us and they (too) followed you without thinking.) The statement, “without thinking,” means that they merely followed the first thing that came to their minds. Concerning the statement,
وَمَا نَرَى لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا مِن فَضْلٍ
(And we do not see in you any merit above us, in fact we think you are liars.) In this they are saying, “We do not see that you and your followers have any virtuous status above us in your physical appearance, your character, your provisions, or your condition, since you accepted this (new) religion of yours.”
بَلْ نَظُنُّكُمْ كَـذِبِينَ
s(in fact we think you are liars. ) This means, “We think you are lying about that which you are claiming for yourselves of righteousness, piety, worship and happiness in the abode of the Hereafter when you arrive there.” This was the response of the disbelievers to Nuh and his followers. This is a proof of their ignorance and their deficiency in knowledge and intelligence. For verily, the truth is not to be rejected because of the lowly status of those who follow it. Verily, the truth is correct in itself, regardless of whether its followers are of low status, or nobility. Actually, the reality concerning which there is no doubt, is that the followers of the truth are the noble ones, even though they may be poor. On the other hand, those who reject the truth are the lowly wretches, even though they may be wealthy. Thus, we see that usually the weakest of people are the ones who follow the truth, while the nobility and high-class people usually are opposed to the truth. This is as Allah says,
وَكَذَلِكَ مَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلاَّ قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى ءَاثَـرِهِم مُّقْتَدُونَ
(And similarly, We sent not a warner before you to any town (people) but the luxurious ones among them said: “We found our fathers following a cerain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps.”)43:23 When Heraclius, the emperor of Rome, asked Abu Sufyan Sakhr bin Harb about the qualities of the Prophet , he said to him, “Are his followers the noble people, or the weak” Abu Sufyan said, “They are the weakest of them.” Then Heraclius said, “They (weak ones) are the followers of the Messengers.” Concerning their statement,
بَادِىَ الرَّأْى
(without thinking. ) In reality this is not objectionable, or something derogatory, because the truth when it is made clear, does not leave room for second-guessing, or excessive thinking. Rather, it is mandatory that it should be followed and this is the condition of every pious, intelligent person. No one continues doubtfully pondering the truth (after it is made clear) except one who is ignorant and excessively critical. The Messengers – Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them all – only delivered what was obvious and clear. Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَمَا نَرَى لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا مِن فَضْلٍ
(And we do not see in you any merit above us,) They did not see this (the virtue of accepting Islam) because they were blind from the truth. They could not see, nor could they hear. Rather, they were wavering in their skepticism. They were wandering blindly in the darknesses of their ignorance. They, in reality, were the slanderers and liars, lowly and despicable. Therefore, in the Hereafter they will be the greatest losers.
Verse Number 28
The Response of Nuh
Allah says, informing about the response of Nuh to his people,
أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى
(Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Lord,) Bayyinah means certainty, a clear matter, and truthful prophethood. That is the greatest mercy from Allah upon him (Nuh) and them (his people).
فَعُمِّيَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ
(but that (mercy) has been obscured from your sight.) “Obscured from your sight” in this verse means, `it was hidden from you and you are not guided to it. Thus, you people did not know its importance so you hastily rejected and denied it.’
أَنُلْزِمُكُمُوهَا
(Shall we compel you (to accept) it) This means, “Should we force you to accept it, while you actually detest it.”
Verse Number 29-31
وَمَآ أَنَاْ بِطَارِدِ الَّذِينَ ءامَنُواْ
(I am not going to drive away those who have believed.) This alludes to the fact that they (the disbelievers) requested Nuh to disassociate himself from the believers, because they were averse to them and felt themselves too important to sit with them. This is similar to the request of disbelievers to the seal of the Messengers ﷺ to disassociate himself from a group of the people who were considered weak in their social status. They wanted the Prophet to sit with them in a special gathering of the elite. Therefore, Allah revealed,
وَلاَ تَطْرُدِ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِىِّ
(And turn not away those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon.) Allah also says,
وَكَذلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولواْ أَهَـؤُلاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَآ أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِالشَّـكِرِينَ
(Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say: “Is it these (poor believers) whom Allah has favored from among us” Does not Allah know best those who are grateful)6:53
Verse Number 32-34
The People’s Request of Nuh to bring the Torment and His Response to Them
Allah, the Exalted, informs that the people of Nuh sought to hasten Allah’s vengeance, torment, anger and the trial (His punishment). This is based on their saying,
قَالُواْ ينُوحُ قَدْ جَادَلْتَنَا فَأَكْثَرْتَ جِدَالَنَا
(They said: “O Nuh! You have disputed with us and much have you prolonged the dispute with us…”) They meant by this, “You (Nuh) have argued with us long enough, and we are still not going to follow you.”
فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ
(now bring upon us what you threaten us with,) What he (Nuh) promised is referring to the vengeance and torment (from Allah). They were actually saying, “Supplicate against us however you wish, and let whatever you have supplicated come to us.”
إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَقَالَ إِنَّمَا يَأْتِيكُمْ بِهِ اللَّهُ إِن شَآءَ وَمَآ أَنتُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ
(“…if you are of the truthful.” (In reply to this,) He said: “Only Allah will bring it (the punishment) on you, if He wills, and then you will escape not.)11:32-33 This means, `It is only Allah Who can punish you and hasten your punishment for you. He is the One from Whom nothing escapes. ‘
وَلاَ يَنفَعُكُمْ نُصْحِى إِنْ أَرَدْتُّ أَنْ أَنصَحَ لَكُمْ إِن كَانَ اللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يُغْوِيَكُمْ
(And my advice will not profit you, even if I wish to give you good counsel, if Allah’s will is to keep you astray.) This means: something that could be useful to you (in acceptance) of my preaching to you, warning you and advising you.
إِن كَانَ اللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يُغْوِيَكُمْ
(if Allah’s will is to keep you astray.) This means: your deception and your ultimate destruction.
هُوَ رَبُّكُمْ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
(He is your Lord! and to Him you shall return.) He is the Owner of the finality of all matters. He is the Controller, the Judge, the Most Just and He does not do any injustice. Unto Him belongs the creation and the command. He is the Originator and the Repeater (of the creation). He is the Owner of this life and the Hereafter.
Verse Number 35
An Interruption to verify the Truthfulness of the Prophet
This is presented in the middle of the story to affirm the story itself. It is as if Allah, the Exalted, is saying to Muhammad , “Or do these obstinate disbelievers say that he fabricated this and invented it himself”
قُلْ إِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهُ فَعَلَىَّ إِجْرَامِى
(Say: “If I have fabricated it, upon me be my crimes…”) This means: such sin would be mine alone.
وَأَنَاْ بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تُجْرَمُونَ
(but I am innocent of (all) those crimes which you commit.) This story is not invented, or fabricated falsely. Because he (the Prophet) knows better the punishment of Allah for one who lies on Allah.
Verse Number 36-39
The Revelation to Nuh concerning what would happen to the People and the Command to prepare for It
Allah, the Exalted, sent revelation to Nuh when his people hastened the vengeance and punishment of Allah upon themselves. Then, Nuh supplicated against them, as Allah mentioned, when He said;
رَّبِّ لاَ تَذَرْ عَلَى الاٌّرْضِ مِنَ الْكَـفِرِينَ دَيَّاراً
(My Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers inhabiting the earth!) 71:26 And he said,
فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنُّى مَغْلُوبٌ فَانتَصِرْ
(Then he invoked his Lord (saying): “I have been overcome, so help (me)!”)54:10 At this point Allah revealed to him,
أَنَّهُ لَن يُؤْمِنَ مِن قَوْمِكَ إِلاَّ مَن قَدْ ءَامَنَ
(None of your people will believe except those who have believed already.) Therefore, do not grieve over them and do not be concerned with their affair.
وَاصْنَعِ الْفُلْكَ
(And construct the ship.) The word Fulk here means ship.
بِأَعْيُنِنَا
(under Our Eyes) This means under Our vision.
وَوَحْيِنَا
(and with Our revelation,) This means, “We will teach you (Nuh) what to do.”
وَلاَ تُخَـطِبْنِى فِى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ إِنَّهُمْ مُّغْرَقُونَ
(and address Me not on behalf of those who did wrong; they are surely to be drowned.) Muhammad bin Ishaq mentioned from the Tawrah, “Allah commanded him (Nuh) to make it (the ship) from Indian oak wood. Then He commanded him to make its length eighty cubits and its width fifty cubits. Allah then commanded him to coat its interior and exterior with tar and to make it with a slanted bow to part the water (as it sailed). Its height was thirty cubits into the sky. It had three levels and each level was ten cubits high. The lowest level was for the animals, both tame and wild, the second level was for the human beings and the highest level was for the birds. Its door was in the center of it and it had a cover on top of it that covered the entire ship. Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَيَصْنَعُ الْفُلْكَ وَكُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ مَلأٌ مِّن قَوْمِهِ سَخِرُواْ مِنْهُ
(And as he was constructing the ship, whenever the chiefs of his people passed by him, they mocked at him.) This means that they teased him and rejected his threat that they would drown (in the forthcoming flood).
قَالَ إِن تَسْخَرُواْ مِنَّا فَإِنَّا نَسْخَرُ مِنكُمْ
(He said: “If you mock at us, so do we mock at you likewise…”) This is a severe threat and a serious warning.
مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ
(who it is on whom will come a torment that will cover him with disgrace) This means that it (the torment) will humiliate him in this life.
وَيَحِلُّ عَلَيْهِ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ
(and on whom will fall a lasting torment.) that is continuous and everlasting.
Verse Number 40-43
The beginning of the Flood and Nuh loads Every Creature in Pairs upon the Ship
This was the promise of Allah to Nuh , when the command of Allah came, the rain was continuous and there was a severe storm which did not slacken or subside, as Allah said,
فَفَتَحْنَآ أَبْوَبَ السَّمَآءِ بِمَاءٍ مُّنْهَمِرٍ – وَفَجَّرْنَا الاٌّرْضَ عُيُوناً فَالْتَقَى المَآءُ عَلَى أَمْرٍ قَدْ قُدِرَ – وَحَمَلْنَاهُ عَلَى ذَاتِ أَلْوَحٍ وَدُسُرٍ – تَجْرِى بِأَعْيُنِنَا جَزَآءً لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ
(So We opened the gates of the heaven with water pouring forth. And We caused springs to gush forth from the earth. So the waters (of the heaven and the earth) met for a matter predestined. And We carried him on a (ship) made of planks and nails. Floating under Our Eyes: a reward for him who had been rejected!)54:11-14 In reference to Allah’s statement,
وَفَارَ التَّنُّورُ
(and the oven gushed forth.) It is related from Ibn `Abbas that he said, “At-Tannur is the face of the earth.” This verse means that the face of the earth became gushing water springs. This continued until the water gushed forth from the Tananir, which are places of fire. Therefore, water even gushed from the places where fire normally would be. This is the opinion of the majority of the Salaf (predecessors) and the scholars of the Khalaf (later generations). At this point, Allah commanded Nuh to select one pair from every kind of creature possessing a soul, and load them on the ship. Some said that this included other creatures as well, such as pairs of plants, male and female. It has also been said that the first of the birds to enter the ship was the parrot, and the last of the animals to enter was the donkey. Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَأَهْلَكَ إِلاَّ مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُ
(and your family — except him against whom the Word has already gone forth) This means, “Load your family upon the ship.” This is referring to the members of his household and his relatives, except him against whom the Word has already gone forth, for they did not believe in Allah. Among them was the son of Nuh, Yam, who went in hermitage. Among them was the wife of Nuh who was a disbeliever in Allah and His Messenger. Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَمَنْ ءَامَنَ
(and those who believe.) from your people.
وَمَآ ءَامَنَ مَعَهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ
(And none believed with him, except a few.) This means that only a very small number believed, even after the long period of time that he (Nuh) was among them — nine hundred and fifty years. It is reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, “They were eighty people including their women.”
Verse Number 44
The End of the Flood
Allah, the Exalted, informs that when the people of the earth were all drowned, except for the people on the ship, He commanded the earth to swallow its water, which had sprang from it and gathered upon it. Then He commanded the sky to cease raining.
وَغِيضَ الْمَآءُ
(And the water was made to subside) This means that it (the water) began to decrease.
وَقُضِىَ الاٌّمْرُ
(and the decree was fulfilled.) This means that all of those who disbelieved in Allah were removed from the people of the earth. Not a single one of them remained upon the earth.
وَاسْتَوَتْ
(And it (the ship) rested) This is referring to the ship and those who were in it.
عَلَى الْجُودِىِّ
(on (Mount) Judi.) Mujahid said, “Judi is a mountain in Al-Jazirah (Northwest Mesopotamia) where the mountains sought to tower above each other on the day of the drowning. On that day of destruction, all the mountains sought to be higher (to avoid being overcome by the water). However, this mountain (Judi) humbled itself for Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, and therefore it was not drowned. This is why Nuh’s ship anchored upon it.” Qatadah said, “The ship rested upon it (Mount Judi) for a month before they (the people) came down from it. ” Qatadah also said, “Allah made Nuh’s ship remain on Mount Judi in the land of Al-Jazirah, as a lesson and a sign.” Even the early generations of this Ummah saw it. How many ships are there that have come after it and have been destroyed and became dust
وَقِيلَ بُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّـلِمِينَ
(and it was said: “Away with the people who are wrongdoing!”) means destruction and loss for them. The term “away with” here implies being far away from the mercy of Allah. For verily, they were destroyed to the last of them, and none of them survived.
Verse Number 45-47
A Return to the Story of the Son of Nuh and mentioning what transpired between Nuh and Allah concerning Him
This was a request for information and an inquiry from Nuh concerning the cirumstances of his son’s drowning.
فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ ابُنِى مِنْ أَهْلِى
(and said, “O my Lord! Verily, my son is of my family!”) This means, “Verily, You promised to save my family and Your promise is the truth that does not fail. Therefore, how can he (my son) be drowned and You are the Most Just of the judges”
قَالَ ينُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ
(He (Allah) said: “O Nuh! Surely, he is not of your family…”) This means, “He (your son) is not of those whom I promised to save. I only promised you that I would save those of your family who believe.” For this reason Allah said,
وَأَهْلَكَ إِلاَّ مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُ مِنْهُمْ
l(and your family except him against whom the Word has already gone forth.) 11:40 Thus, for his son, it had already been decreed that he would be drowned due to his disbelief and his opposition to his father, the Prophet of Allah, Nuh peace be upon him. Concerning Allah’s statement,
إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ
(Surely, he is not of your family;) meaning that he (Nuh’s son) was not among those whom Allah promised to save. `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, “He was the son of Nuh, but he opposed him in deeds and intention.” `Ikrimah said in some of the modes of recitation it said here, (إِنَّهُ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا غَيْرَ صَالِحٍ) “Verily, he (Nuh’s son) worked deeds that were not righteous.”
Verse Number 48
The Command to descend from the Ship with Peace and Blessings
Allah, the Exalted, informs of what was said to Nuh when the ship anchored on Mount Judi, peace be upon him, peace were sent upon him and the believers with him. This salutation was also for every believer from his progeny until the Day of Resurrection. Muhammad bin Ka`b said, “Every male and female believer until the Day of Resurrection is included in this salutation of peace. Likewise, every male and female disbeliever until the Day of Resurrection is included in this promise of torment and pleasure. Muhammad bin Ishaq said, “When Allah wanted to stop the flood, He sent a wind upon the face of the earth that caused the water to be still. Then the springs of the earth were closed off from the great flooding and the pouring (rain) from the sky halted. Allah, the Exalted, says,
وَقِيلَ يَأَرْضُ ابْلَعِى مَآءَكِ
(And it was said: “O earth! Swallow up your water…”) 11:44 Thus, the water began decreasing and subsiding until the ship settled on Mount Judi. The People of the Tawrah (the Jews) claim that this occurred during the seventh month (of the year) and it lasted for seventeen nights. Then, on the first day of the tenth month, he (Nuh) saw the mountain tops. Then after forty more days, Nuh opened the small window in the roof of the ship and he sent a raven out to see what the water had done. However, the raven did not return to him. Then, he sent a pigeon out but it returned to him without finding any place (land) to put its two feet down. He extended his hand out of the ship and the pigeon grabbed his hand so that Nuh could pull it back into the ship. Then, after seven more days passed, he sent the pigeon out again to investigate for him. The pigeon returned in the evening with a leaf from an olive tree in its mouth. From this, Nuh knew that the water had decreased from the face of the earth. He remained in the ship for seven more days before he sent the pigeon out again. This time the pigeon did not return to him, so he knew that the earth had appeared. Thus, a year was completed from the time that Allah sent the flood, until the time of Nuh sending the pigeon. The first day of the first month of the second year began when the face of the earth appeared and land became visible. This is when Nuh uncovered the opening of the ship. During the second month of the second year, after twenty six nights,
قِيلَ ينُوحُ اهْبِطْ بِسَلَـمٍ مِّنَّا
(It was said: “O Nuh! Come down (from the ship) with peace from Us)
Verse Number 49
The Explanation of These Stories is a Proof of the Revelation of Allah to His Messenger
Allah, the Exalted, says to His Prophet concerning these stories and their like,
مِنْ أَنبَآءِ الْغَيْبِ
(of the news of the Unseen) from the information of the unseen of the past. Allah revealed it to you (the Prophet ) in the way that it occurred, as if he witnessed it himself.
نُوحِيهَآ إِلَيْكَ
(which We reveal unto you;) This means, “We teach it to you (Muhammad) as revelation from Us to you.”
مَا كُنتَ تَعْلَمُهَآ أَنتَ وَلاَ قَوْمُكَ مِن قَبْلِ هَـذَا
(neither you nor your people knew it before this.) This means that neither you (Muhammad ) nor anyone of your people, have any knowledge of this. This is so that no one who rejects you can say that you learned it from him. Rather, it was Allah Who informed you of it in conformity with the true situation (of the story), just as the Books of the Prophets who were before you testify to. Therefore, you should be patient with the rejection of your people and their harming you. For verily, We shall help you and surround you with Our aid. Then, We will make the (good) end for you and those who follow you in this life and the Hereafter. This is what We did with the Messengers when We helped them against their enemies.
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ
(Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe.) Allah also said,
وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا الْمُرْسَلِينَ – إِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ الْمَنصُورُونَ
(And, verily, Our Word has gone forth of old for Our servants, the Messengers, that they verily, would be made triumphant.) 37:171-172 Then, Allah says,
فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ الْعَـقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
(So be patient. Surely, the (good) end is for those who have Taqwa.)
Verse Number 50-52
The Story of Prophet Hud and the People of `Ad
Allah, the Exalted, says,
و
(And) This is an introductory to what is implied: “Verily, We sent.”
إِلَى عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا
(to the `Ad (people) their brother Hud.) Hud came to them commanding them to worship Allah alone, without any associates. He forbade them from worshipping the idols which they made up, inventing names as gods. He informed them that he did not want any reward from them for his sincere advising and conveying of Allah’s Message. He only sought his reward from Allah, the One Who created him.
أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ
(Will you not then understand) Someone has come calling you to what will benefit your situation in this life and the Hereafter without asking for any wage (from them). Then he commanded them to seek the forgiveness of the One Who is capable of expiating previous sins. He also commanded them to repent for that which they may do in the future. Whoever has these characteristics, Allah will make his sustenance easy for him, grant him ease in his affairs and guard over his situation. For this reason Allah says,
يُرْسِلِ السَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَاراً
(He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain,)
Verse Number 53-56
The Conversation between (the People of) `Ad and Hud
Allah, the Exalted, informs that they said to their Prophet,
مَا جِئْتَنَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ
(No evidence have you brought us.) This means that they claimed that Hud had not brought them any proof or evidence for what he claimed.
وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِى ءالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ
(and we shall not leave our gods for your (mere) saying!) They were saying how could his mere statement, “Leave these gods,” be sufficient proof for them to leave their idols
وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
(and we are not believers in you.) This means that they did not believe what he was saying was true.
إِن نَّقُولُ إِلاَّ اعْتَرَاكَ بَعْضُ ءَالِهَتِنَا بِسُوءٍ
(All that we say is that some of our gods have seized you with evil.) They were saying, “We think that some of our idols have afflicted you with madness and insanity in your intellect because you are trying to stop them from being worshipped and defame them.”
قَالَ إِنِّى أُشْهِدُ اللَّهِ وَاشْهَدُواْ أَنِّى بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَمِن دُونِهِ
(He said: “I call Allah to witness and bear you witness, that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship besides Him (Allah).)11:54-55 Here, he is saying, “Verily, I am innocent of all of the rivals and idols (that you associate with Allah).
فَكِيدُونِى جَمِيعًا
(So plot against me, all of you,) you and your gods if they are true.”
ثُمَّ لاَ تُنظِرُونِ
(and give me no respite.) the blinking of an eye.” Then, Allah says,
إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُمْ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ ءاخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ
(I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature but He has the grasp of its forelock.) Every creature is under His (Allah’s) power and His authority. He is the Best Judge, the Most Just, Who does not do any injustice in His ruling. For verily, He is upon the straight path. Verily, this argument contains a far-reaching proof and absolute evidence of the truthfulness of what Hud had come to them with. It also proves the falsehood of them worshipping idols that could not benefit nor harm them. Rather, these idols were inanimate objects that could not hear, see, befriend, or make enmity. The only One Who is worthy of having worship directed solely towards Him is Allah alone, without any partners. He is the One in Whose Hand is the sovereignty and He is in control of all things. There is nothing except that it is under His owner- ship, power and authority. Thus, there is no deity worthy of worship except Him and there is no Lord other than Him.
Verse Number 57-60
وَيَسْتَخْلِفُ رَبِّى قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ
(My Lord will make another people succeed you, ) This refers to a group of people who will worship Allah alone, without associating anything with Him. This also implies that the polytheists do not bother Allah and they do not harm Him in the least with their disbelief. To the contrary, their disbelief merely harms their own selves.
إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيظٌ
(Surely, my Lord is Guardian over all things.) This means that Allah is a Witness and Guardian over the statements of His servants and their actions. He will give them due recompense for their actions. If they do good deeds, He will reward them with good. If they do evil, He will punish them with evil.
The Destruction of the People of `Ad and the Salvation of Those among Them Who believed
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا
(And when Our commandment came,) This is referring to the barren wind with which Allah destroyed them, to the very last of them. The mercy and kindness of Allah, the Exalted saved Hud and his followers from this terrible punishment.
فوَتِلْكَ عَادٌ جَحَدُواْ بِآيَـتِ رَبِّهِمْ
g(Such were `Ad (people). They rejected the Ayat of their Lord) This means they disbelieved in the proofs and revelations (of Allah) and they disobeyed the Messengers of Allah ﷺ. This is due to the fact that whoever disbelieves in a Prophet, then verily, he has disbelieved in all of the Prophets, peace be upon them. There is no difference between any one of them, in the sense that it is necessary to believe in all of them. Therefore, `Ad disbelieved in Hud and their disbelief was considered disbelief in all of the Messengers.
وَاتَّبَعُواْ أَمْرَ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ
(and followed the command of every proud, obstinate.) This means that they abandoned following their rightly guided Messenger and they followed the command of every proud, obstinate person. Thus, they were followed in this life by a curse from Allah and His believing servants whenever they are mentioned. On the Day of Resurrection a call will be made against them in front of witnesses.
أَلا إِنَّ عَادًا كَفَرُواْ رَبَّهُمْ
(Verily, `Ad disbelieved in their Lord.)
Verse Number 61-68
The Story of Salih and the People of Thamud
Allah, the Exalted, says,
و
(And) This is an introduction to that which is implied, “Verily, We sent.”
إِلَى ثَمُودَ
(to Thamud) They were a group of people who were living in cities carved from the rocks, between Tabuk and Al-Madinah (in Arabia). They lived after the people of `Ad, so Allah sent to them,
أَخَاهُمْ صَـلِحاً
(their brother Salih.) He (Salih) commanded them to worship Allah alone. He said to them,
هُوَ أَنشَأَكُمْ مِّنَ الاٌّرْضِ
(He brought you forth from the earth) This means: `He began your creation from it (the earth). From it He created your father, Adam.’
وَاسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا
(and settled you therein,) This means: `He made you prosperous in the earth. You are settled in it and you treasure it.’
فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ
(then ask forgiveness) `This is in reference to your previous sins. ‘
ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ
(and turn to Him in repentance.) `This is in reference to the future.’
إِنَّ رَبِّى قَرِيبٌ مُّجِيبٌ
(Certainly, my Lord is Near (to all by His knowledge), Responsive.) This is similar to Allah’s statement,
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ
(And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed Near (to them by My knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me.) 2:186
Verse Number 62-
The Conversation between Salih and the People of Thamud
Allah, the Exalted, mentions what transpired in the discussion between Salih and his people. Allah informs of their ignorance and obstinacy in their statement,
قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوًّا قَبْلَ هَـذَا
(You have been among us as a figure of good hope till this!) They were saying in this, “We had hope in your strong intellect before you began saying what you have said.”
أَتَنْهَانَآ أَن نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ ءابَاؤُنَا
(Do you (now) forbid us the worship of what our fathers have worshipped) “what those who were before us were upon.”
وَإِنَّنَا لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ
(But we are really in grave doubt as to that which you invite us.) This alludes to the great amount of doubt that they had.
قَالَ يقَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى
(He said: “O my people! Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Lord…”) `In reference to what He (Allah) has sent me with to you, I am upon conviction and sure evidence.’
وَءَاتَـنِى مِنْهُ رَحْمَةً فَمَن يَنصُرُنِى مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُ
(and there has come to me a mercy from Him, who then can help me against Allah, if I were to disobey Him) `and abandon calling you to the truth and the worship of Allah alone. If I did so, you would not be able to bring me any benefit, nor increase me
غَيْرَ تَخْسِيرٍ
(but in loss.)’ This means loss and ruin.