Meaning of Quran

Hud | Hud

With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful.

[11:1] Alif, Lam, Ra. (This is) a book the verses of which have been made firm, and elaborated by the One who is All-Wise, All-Aware,

[11:2] (directing the Prophet to say to the people). You must not worship anyone other than Allah; I am for you a warner from Him, and a bearer of glad tidings;

[11:3] and you must seek forgiveness from your Lord, then, turn to Him in repentance, and He will provide you with good things to enjoy for a given time, and bestow His extra favor on everyone who has extra good deeds (in his account). And if you turn away, then, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day.

[11:4] To Allah is your return, and He is powerful over everything.

[11:5] Beware, they bend their chests to hide from Him. Beware, when they cover up themselves with their clothes, He knows what they hide and what they expose. Surely, He is All-Aware of what lies in the hearts.

[11:6] There is no creature on earth whose sustenance is not undertaken by Allah. He knows its permanent and its temporary place. Everything is in a clear book.

[11:7] He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days, while His throne was on the water so that He might test you as to who among you is better indeed. And if you say, You shall be raised after death; the disbelievers will surely say, This is nothing but sheer magic.

[11:8] And if We defer the punishment for them for a certain time, they will say, ‘What is holding it back?’ Beware, the day it will visit them, it shall not be turned back from them, and they shall be besieged by what they used to ridicule.

[11:9] If We give a man a taste of Our mercy and then take it away from him, he becomes highly desperate, utterly ungrateful.

[11:10] And if We give him a taste of comfort after hardship has touched him, he will say, Evils have gone away from me., (and thus) He will become over-exulting, boastful,

[11:11] except those who are patient and do good deeds. Such people will have Allah‘s forgiveness and a great reward.

[11:12] Is it then possible from you (O Prophet,) that you will abandon some of what is being revealed to you, and that your heart will be straitened thereby because they say, ‘Why has a treasure not been sent down to him or an angel not come with him?’ You are but a warner. And Allah takes care of everything.

[11:13] Do they say that he has fabricated it? Say (to them), Then bring ten Surahs like this, fabricated. And call whomsoever you can, other than Allah, if you are true.

[11:14] So, if they do not respond to your call, then be assured that it has been sent down with the knowledge of Allah and that there is no god but He. So, do you submit?

[11:15] Those who seek (merely) the worldly life and its beauty, We will fully recompense them herein for their acts, and their right will not be curtailed in this world.

[11:16] Those are the people for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter except fire. Nullified will be whatever they worked herein, and void will be what they have been doing.

[11:17] Then, can such people be equal to the one who has a clear proof from his Lord, followed by a piece of evidence from within, and before which there was the Book of Musa, a guide and a mercy? Such people believe in it, and whoever of the groups denies its veracity, his promised place is the Fire. So, do not be in doubt about it. Surely, it is the truth from your Lord, but most people do not believe.

[11:18] Who is more unjust than the one who forges a lie against Allah? Such people will be presented before their Lord, and the witnesses will say, These are the ones who lied against their Lord. Lo! the curse of Allah lies on the unjust,

[11:19] the ones who prevent (people) from the way of Allah and seek crookedness in it, and who are deniers of the Hereafter.

[11:20] They were unable to frustrate (Allah‘s plan) on the earth, and they had no supporters besides Allah. Punishment will be doubled for them. They were not able to hear, nor would they see.

[11:21] Those are the ones who brought loss to their own selves, and all that they used to fabricate vanished from them.

[11:22] Essentially, they are the worst losers in the Hereafter.

[11:23] Surely, those who believe and do good deeds and humble themselves before their Lord, those are the people of Paradise. There they shall live forever.

[11:24] The example of the two groups is that of a blind and deaf person on the one hand, and seeing and hearing one on the other. Are the two equal when compared? Would you still pay no heed?

[11:25] We sent Nuh to his people (saying to them): I am here to warn you.

[11:26] that you should worship none but Allah, (otherwise) I fear for you the punishment of a painful day.

[11:27] So the chiefs of his people who disbelieved replied, We are not seeing that you are anything more than a man like us, and we are not seeing that many people have followed you except those who are the meanest among us, and we have not seen in you people any superiority over us; rather, we believe that you are liars.

[11:28] He said, .O my people, tell me, if I am on a clear path from my Lord, and He has bestowed mercy upon me from Himself which is hidden from your sight, shall we, then, impose it upon you by force, while you are averse to it?

[11:29] And, O my people, I do not demand from you any wealth for it. My reward is with none but Allah. And I am not the one who could drive the believers away. Surely, they will be meeting their Lord (gracefully), but I do see your behavior as that of ignorance.

[11:30] O my people, who would help me against (the punishment of) Allah, if I were to drive them away? Would you still take no lesson?

[11:31] And I do not say to you that I have the treasures of Allah, nor that I have the knowledge of the unseen, nor do I say that I am an angel. Nor do I say (as you do) about those who are contemptible in your eyes that Allah will never award them any good; Allah knows best what lies in their hearts. (If I were to say so,) then, I would indeed be one of the unjust.

[11:32] They said, O Nuh, you have debated with us and debated too much. Now bring upon us what you threaten us with if you are one of the truthful.

[11:33] He said, Only Allah will bring it to you if He so wills, and you cannot frustrate (His will).

[11:34] My good counsel will not profit you, even though I wish you the best if Allah wills to let you go astray. He is your Lord, and to Him, you shall be made to return.

[11:35] Do they (the pagans of Makkah) still say that he (Muhammad) has forged it? Say, If I have forged it, then, I am responsible for my sin, and I am free of the sins you commit.

[11:36] And it was revealed to Nuh: None of your people would come to believe anymore, except those who have already believed. So, be not distressed by what they have been doing.

[11:37] And make an Ark under Our eyes and according to Our revelation; and do not speak to Me about those who have crossed the limits, as they are destined to be drowned.

[11:38] He started making Ark. Whenever the leaders of his people passed by him, they mocked him. He said, If you mock at us, we mock at you as you mock at us.

[11:39] So, you shall soon know who will be visited by a scourge that will humiliate him, and upon whom a lasting punishment will settle forever.

[11:40] At last, when Our command came and the oven overflowed, We said, Take into the Ark a pair of two from every species, along with your family, except those against whom the Word has already been pronounced and (also take into it) those who have believed.. And there were only a few who had believed with him.

[11:41] He (Nuh) said, Embark it. With the name of Allah, it sails and anchors. Surely, my Lord is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.

[11:42] And it was sailing with them amidst the waves like mountains. And Nuh called out to his son, who was at an isolated place, O my child, come on board with us, and do not be in the company of the disbelievers.

[11:43] He said, I shall take shelter on a mountain which will save me from the water. He said, There is no saver today from the command of Allah, except the one to whom He shows mercy. And the waves rose high between the two, and he was among those who were drowned.

[11:44] It was said (by Allah), .O earth, suck in your water, and O heaven, stop. And the water subsided, and the matter was over. It (the Ark) came to rest on the Judi, and it was said, Away with the wrongdoers.

[11:45] Nuh called unto his Lord and said, My Lord, my son is a part of my family, and surely Your promise is true, and You are the greatest of all judges.

[11:46] He said, O Nuh, in fact, he is not a part of your family. Indeed, he is (a man of) bad deeds. So do not ask Me something of which you have no knowledge. I exhort you not to be among the ignorant.

[11:47] He said, My Lord, I seek refuge with You that I should ask You something of which I have no knowledge. If You do not forgive me and do not show mercy to me, I shall be among the losers.

[11:48] It was said, O Nuh, disembark in peace from Us and with blessings upon you and upon the peoples (springing) from those with you. And there are peoples whom We shall give some enjoyment, then a painful punishment from Us will visit them.

[11:49] These are some reports from the unseen (events), which We reveal to you. You did not know them before this, neither you nor your people. So, be patient. Surely, the end is in favor of God-fearing.

[11:50] And to Ad, (We sent) their brother Hud. He said, O my people, worship Allah. You have no god other than Him. You are nothing but fabricators.

[11:51] O my people, I ask you no reward for it. My reward is only on the One who created me. Do you, then, not understand?

[11:52] O my people, seek forgiveness from your Lord, then turn to Him in repentance, and He will release the heavens pouring upon you, and will add strength to your strength, and do not turn away like sinners.

[11:53] They said, O Hud, you did not bring to us any proof, and we are not to leave our gods on your statement, and we are not to believe in you.

[11:54] We do not say except that some of our gods have subjected you to some evil. He said, I make Allah my witness, and you bear witness that I have nothing to do with what you take as gods.

[11:55] besides Him. So, try your plans against me, all of you together, then give me no respite.

[11:56] I place my trust in Allah who is my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but He holds it by the forelock. Surely, my Lord is on a straight path.

[11:57] Now, if you turn away, I have already conveyed to you the message with which I was sent to you. My Lord will replace you with some other people, and you cannot do Him any harm. Surely, my Lord is the Guardian over everything.

[11:58] So, when came Our command, We saved Hud and those who believed along with him, out of mercy from Us, and We did save them from a heavy punishment.

[11:59] Such was the tribe of Ad who rejected the signs of their Lord, disobeyed their Messengers, and followed the dictates of every obstinate tyrant!

[11:60] A curse was made to pursue them in this world and on the Day of Judgment. Lo! The people of Ad disbelieved their Lord. Lo! Ruined was Ad, the people of Hud.

[11:61] And to (the people of) Thamud (We sent) their brother, Salih. He said, O my people, worship Allah. You have no god other than Him. He has created you from the earth and made you settle therein. So, seek His forgiveness, then turn to Him in repentance. Surely, my Lord is near, responsive to the prayers.

[11:62] They said, O Salih, we had hopes in you before this. Do you ask us not to worship what our fathers used to worship? We have serious doubts that have disturbed us about the faith to which you are calling us.

[11:63] He said, O my people, tell me: If I have a clear proof from my Lord, and He has bestowed mercy upon me from Himself, who will come to my help against Allah if I still disobey Him? So, you extend nothing to me but loss.

[11:64] And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allah, a sign for you. So, leave her free to eat on the earth of Allah, and do not even touch her with evil (intention), lest an approaching punishment should seize you.

[11:65] Then they slaughtered her. So, he said, Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days (only). That is a promise, not to be backed out.

[11:66] So, when came Our command, We saved Salih and those who believed along with Him, out of mercy from Us, and (We saved them) from the disgrace of that day. Surely, your Lord is the Powerful, the All-Mighty.

[11:67] And those who transgressed were caught by the Cry, and they were found dead in their homes, fallen on their knees,

[11:68] as though they had never lived there. Lo! The people of Thamud disbelieved their Lord. Lo! Ruined were the people of Thamud.

[11:69] And Our emissaries came to Ibrahim with the good news. They greeted him with. Salam (peace). He said, Salam. Then he took not much time in bringing a roasted calf.

[11:70] So, when he noticed their hands not acceding to it, he found them strange and felt scared of them. They said, Be not scared. We have been sent to the people of Lut.

[11:71] His wife was standing (nearby), and she laughed. Thus We gave her the good news about Ishaq, and about Yaqub after Ishaq.

[11:72] She said, Woe to me! Shall I give birth to a child while I am an old woman and this is my husband, an old man? This is something amazing indeed.

[11:73] They said, Do you marvel at Allah‘s command? Allah‘s mercy and His blessings have always been upon you, O people of the house. Surely, He is Praiseworthy, Glorious.

[11:74] So, when fear left Ibrahim and the happy news came to him, he started disputing with Us for the people of Lut.

[11:75] Surely, Ibrahim is forbearing, very penitent, ever-turning to Allah.

[11:76] .O Ibrahim! Leave it. In fact, the command of your Lord has come to pass, and there has to come upon them a punishment that cannot be averted.

[11:77] When Our emissaries (angels) came to Lut, he was saddened because of them, and his heart felt uneasy for their sake, and He said, This is a very hard day.

[11:78] And his people came to him, rushing upon him. They were already habitual to commit evil deeds. He said ‘these are my daughters. They are purer for you. So, have fear of Allah and do not disgrace me in respect of my guests. Is there no reasonable man among you?’

[11:79] They said, You know that we have no claim on your daughters, and you know well what we want.

[11:80] He said, Would that I had some power over you, or could seek refuge in strong support!

[11:81] They (the angels) said, O Lut, we are emissaries of your Lord. They shall never reach you. So, move with your family in a part of the night, and none of you shall turn to look back; except your woman. There has to befall her whatever will befall them. Their deadline is the morning. Is it not that the morning is near?

[11:82] So, when Our command came to pass, We turned their habitations upside down, and rained on it stones of hard clay, one over another.

[11:83] marked from your Lord. And it is not far from the transgressors.

[11:84] And to Madyan (We sent) their brother, Shuaib. He said, O my people, worship Allah. You have no god other than Him. And do not curtail the measure and the weight. I see you quite well off, and I fear for you the punishment of an encircling day.

[11:85] And O my people, perfect the measure and the balance with justice and do not make the people short of their things, and do not go about the earth spreading disorder.

[11:86] Whatever is allowed by Allah to retain (lawfully) is better for you, if you are believers. And I am not a watchman over you.

[11:87] They said, O Shuaib, does your Salah (prayer) command you that we should forsake what our fathers used to worship or that we should not deal with our wealth as we please? You pretend to be the only man of wisdom and guidance.

[11:88] He said, O my people, tell me, if I am on a clear path from my Lord and He has provided me with a good provision from Himself, (should I still leave you unguided?) I do not want to do in your absence what I forbid you from. I want nothing but to set things right as far as I can. My ability to do anything comes from none but Allah. In Him alone, I have placed my trust and to Him alone I turn in humbleness.

[11:89] O my people, let not your hostility towards me cause you to suffer what was suffered by the people of Nuh, or the people of Hud, or the people of Salih. And the people of Lut are not far from you.

[11:90] Seek forgiveness from your Lord, then turn towards Him in repentance. Surely, my Lord is very merciful, most loving.

[11:91] They said, O Shuaib, we do not understand much of what you say, and, in fact, we see you are weak among us. But for your clan, we would have stoned you. And to us, you are not a man of respect.

[11:92] He said, O my people, is my clan more respectable to you than Allah, as you have taken Him as something thrown behind your backs? Surely, my Lord encompasses all that you do.

[11:93] O my people, do what you can, I am to do (what I can). Soon you will know the one whom the punishment will visit, putting him to disgrace, and the one who is false. And wait. I am, with you, waiting.

[11:94] And when Our command came, We saved Shuaib and those who believed along with him, out of mercy from Us; and those who transgressed were caught by the Cry, and they were found (dead) in their homes, fallen on their knees.

[11:95] As though they never lived there. Lo! Ruined was Madyan like Thamud were ruined.

[11:96] And We sent Musa, with Our signs and with clear proof,

[11:97] to Pharaoh and his group. So, they followed the command of Pharaoh, while the command of Pharaoh was not right.

[11:98] He will lead his people on the Day of Judgement, and make them descend into the Fire. And it is the evil descending place.

[11:99] The curse was made to pursue them here and on the Day of Judgement. It is the evil reward to be offered.

[11:100] That is a part of the stories of the towns that We narrate to you. Some of them are still standing, and (some are) eradicated like a harvested field.

[11:101] We did no wrong to them; rather, they have wronged themselves. So, their gods whom they used to invoke beside Allah did not come to their help in any way, then came the command of your Lord, and they added nothing to them except destruction.

[11:102] Such is the seizing of your Lord when He seizes the (people of) towns when they are transgressing. Indeed, His seizing is painful, severe.

[11:103] In this there is a sign for the one who fears the punishment of the Hereafter. That is a day when all the people shall be gathered together, and that is a day which will be witnessed by all.

[11:104] We do not defer it but for a limited term.

[11:105] The day it comes no one shall speak except by His leave. So, some of them will be wretched and (some) blessed.

[11:106] As for those who are wretched, they shall be in the Fire. For them, there is (nothing but) crying and howling.

[11:107] They shall remain there forever, as long as the heavens and the earth remain intact unless your Lord wills (otherwise). Surely, your Lord does what He intends.

[11:108] As for those who are blessed, they shall be in Paradise living there forever, as long as the heavens and the earth remain intact, unless your Lord wills (otherwise), It will be an award never to be ceased.

[11:109] So, be not in doubt about what they worship. They worship only in the way their fathers used to worship earlier. Surely, We are going to pay them their full share, not curtailed in the least.

[11:110] And We gave Musa the Book, then it was disputed about. But for a word from your Lord that had already come to pass, the matter would have been decided between them. Surely, they are in confounding doubt about it.

[11:111] And to all of them, your Lord shall pay for their deeds in full. Surely, He is aware of all that they do.

[11:112] So, stand firm (on faith) as you have been commanded, as well as those who have repented (from disbelief) have joined you, and do not cross the limits. Surely, He is watchful of what you do.

[11:113] And do not incline towards the wrongdoers, lest the Fire should catch you, and you have no supporters other than Allah, then you should not be helped.

[11:114] Establish Salah at both ends of the day, and in the early hours of the night. Surely, good deeds erase bad deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful.

[11:115] And be patient, for Allah does not let the reward of the righteous go to waste.

[11:116] Then, why is it that there were no people, among the generations before you, who would have enough remnants of wisdom to stop others from creating disorder in the land, except a few among them whom We saved (from Our punishment)? And the wrongdoers pursued the luxuries they were involved in, and they became sinners.

[11:117] Your Lord is not such that He would destroy the towns unjustly while their people are good in their ways.

[11:118] Had your Lord willed, He would have made all the people a single community. But, they will continue in their differences,

[11:119] except those whom Allah has blessed with mercy, and for that, He has created them. And perfect is the word of your Lord: I will surely fill the Hell with Jinns and the human beings, all together.

[11:120] We narrate to you all such stories from the events of the messengers as We strengthen your heart therewith. And in these (stories) there has come to you the truth, a good counsel, and a reminder to those who believe.

[11:121] Say to those who do not believe, Do whatever you can. We are doing (what we can).

[11:122] And wait. We too are waiting.

[11:123] To Allah belong the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and to Him, the entire matter shall be returned. So worship Him and have trust in Him. Your Lord is not unaware of what you do.

Tafsir

Overview of Surah Hud

  1. Title and Position: Surah Hud is the 11th chapter of the Quran. Named after Prophet Hud, a figure in Islamic tradition, this surah emphasizes his story along with those of other prophets.
  2. Verses and Structure: This surah contains 123 verses. It is notable for its detailed narratives of various prophets and their communities, and its emphasis on faith, repentance, and divine justice.
  3. Themes and Messages: Major themes include the stories of several prophets, the importance of steadfastness in faith, the consequences of rejecting divine guidance, and the mercy of God.
  4. Significance in Islamic Thought: Surah Hud is significant for its moral and spiritual lessons, particularly in terms of patience, perseverance in the face of adversity, and the inevitability of divine justice.

Detailed Explanation

  1. Prophetic Narratives: The surah recounts the stories of several prophets, including Noah, Hud, Salih, Abraham, Lot, Shuaib, and Moses. These narratives focus on the challenges they faced and their unwavering commitment to God’s message.
  2. Theme of Divine Justice: Surah Hud strongly emphasizes the theme of divine justice, illustrating how communities that rejected the truth faced consequences while those who believed were saved.
  3. Importance of Repentance and Faith: The surah also highlights the importance of repentance and maintaining faith in God, showcasing the mercy and forgiveness that follow sincere repentance.
  4. Lessons of Patience and Perseverance: The stories within the surah serve as reminders of the virtues of patience and perseverance, especially in the face of mockery, rejection, and hardship.
  5. Warning Against Arrogance and Transgression: It warns against arrogance, transgression, and the tendency to reject God’s signs, urging reflection and humility.

FAQs

  1. Why is Surah Hud named after Prophet Hud?
    • The surah is named after Prophet Hud, whose story is a prominent part of the chapter, representing steadfastness in faith and the consequences of denying God’s message.
  2. How does Surah Hud address the concept of divine justice?
    • It illustrates divine justice through the stories of past nations and prophets, showing how righteousness leads to salvation, while denial and wickedness lead to destruction.
  3. What lessons can be learned from the prophetic stories in Surah Hud?
    • These stories teach the importance of steadfast faith, patience in adversity, repentance, and the dangers of arrogance and ignoring divine guidance.
  4. How does Surah Hud contribute to understanding repentance in Islam?
    • It emphasizes the significance of repentance in Islam, showing that turning back to God with sincere repentance can lead to forgiveness and mercy.

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