Introduction to
Surah
11. Hûd
In the Name of Allâh, the Most
Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
1. Alif-Lâm-Râ.
[These letters are one of the miracles
of the Qur'ân and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their
meanings].
(This is) a Book, the Verses whereof are perfected
(in every sphere of knowledge, etc.), and then explained in detail
from One (Allâh), Who is All-Wise and Well-Acquainted (with
all things).
2. (Saying) worship
none but Allâh. Verily, I (Muhammad SAW) am unto you from Him a warner
and a bringer of glad tidings.
3. 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
(i.e. the one who helps and serves needy and deserving, physically
and with his wealth, and even with good words). But if you turn
away, then I fear for you the torment of a Great Day (i.e. the
Day of Resurrection).
4. To Allâh
is your return, and He is Able to do all things."
5. No doubt! They
did fold up their breasts, that they may hide from Him. Surely,
even when they cover themselves with their garments, He knows
what they conceal and what they reveal. Verily, He is the All-Knower
of the (innermost secrets) of the breasts.
6. And no (moving)
living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from
Allâh. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in
the uterous, grave, etc.). all is in a Clear Book (Al-Lauh
Al-Mahfûz - the Book of Decrees with Allâh).
7. And He it is Who
has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne
was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best
in deeds. But if you were to say to them: "You shall indeed
be raised up after death," those who disbelieve would be
sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious magic.[]"
8. And if We delay
the torment for them till a determined term, they are sure to
say, "What keeps it back?" Verily, on the day it reaches
them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will be surrounded
by (fall in) that at which they used to mock!
9. And if We give
man a taste of Mercy from Us, and then withdraw it from him, verily!
He is despairing, ungrateful.
10. But if We let
him taste good (favour) after evil (poverty and harm) has touched
him, he is sure to say: "Ills have departed from me."
Surely, he is exultant, and boastful (ungrateful to Allâh).
11. Except those
who show patience and do righteous good deeds, those: theirs will
be forgiveness and a great reward (Paradise).
12. So perchance
you (Muhammad SAW)
may give up a part of what is revealed unto you, and that your
breast feels straitened for it because they say, "Why has
not a treasure been sent down unto him, or an angel has come with
him?" But you are only a warner. And Allâh is a Wakîl
(Disposer of affairs, Trustee, Guardian, etc.) over all things.
13. Or they say,
"He (Prophet Muhammad SAW)
forged it (the Qur'an)." Say: "Bring you then ten forged
Sûrah (chapters) like unto it, and call whomsoever
you can, other than Allâh (to your help), if you speak the
truth!"
14. If then they
answer you not, know then that the Revelation (this Qur'ân)
is sent down with the Knowledge of Allâh and that Lâ
ilâha illa Huwa: (none has the right to be worshipped
but He)! Will you then be Muslims (those who submit to Islâm)?
15. Whosoever desires
the life of the world and its glitter; to them We shall pay in
full (the wages of) their deeds therein, and they will have no
diminution therein.
16. They are those
for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire; and vain
are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which
they used to do.
17. Can they (Muslims)
who rely on a clear proof (the Qur'ân) from their Lord,
and whom a witness [Prophet Muhammad SAW through Jibrael (Gabriel <>
ÓáÇã)] from Him follows it (can they
be equal with the disbelievers); and before it, came the Book
of Mûsa (Moses), a guidance and a mercy, they believe therein,
but those of the sects (Jews, Christians and all the other non-Muslim
nations) that reject it (the Qur'ân), the Fire will be their
promised meeting-place. So be not in doubt about it (i.e. those
who denied Prophet Muhammad SAW
and also denied all that which he brought from Allâh, surely,
they will enter Hell). Verily, it is the truth from your Lord,
but most of the mankind believe not[].
18. And who does
more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allâh. Such
wi,l be brought before their Lord, and the witnesses will say,
"These are the ones who lied against their Lord!" No
doubt! the curse of Allâh is on the Zâlimûn
(polytheists, wrong-doers, oppressors, etc.)[].
19. Those who hinder
(others) from the Path of Allâh (Islâmic Monotheism),
and seek a crookedness therein, while they are disbelievers in
the Hereafter.
20. By no means will
they escape (from Allâh's Torment) on earth, nor have they
protectors besides Allâh! Their torment will be doubled!
They could not bear to hear (the preachers of the truth) and they
used not to see (the truth because of their severe aversin, inspite
of the fact that they had the sense of hearing and sight).
21. They are those
who have lost their ownselves, and their invented false deities
will vanish from them.
22. Certainly, they
are those who will be the greatest losers in the Hereafter.
23. Verily, those
who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism)
and do righteous good deeds, and humble themselves (in repentance
and obedience) before their Lord, - they will be dwellers of Paradise
to dwell therein forever.
24. The likeness
of the two parties is as the blind and the deaf and the seer and
the hearer. Are they equal when compared? Will you not then take
heed?
25. And indeed We
sent Nûh (Noah) to his people (and he said): "I have
come to you as a plain warner."
26. "That you
worship none but Allâh, surely, I fear for you the torment
of a painful Day."
27. The chiefs of
the disbelievers among his people said: "We see you but a
man like ourselves, nor do we see any follow you but the meanest
among us and they (too) followed you without thinking. And we
do not see in you any merit above us, in fact we think you are
liars."
28. He said: "O
my people! Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Lord, and
a Mercy (Prophethood, etc.) has come to me from Him, but that
(Mercy) has been obscured from your sight. Shall we compel you
to accept it (Islâmic Monotheism) when you have a strong
hatred for it?
29. "And O my
people! I ask of you no wealth for it, my reward is from none
but Allâh. I am not going to drive away those who have believed.
Surely, they are going to meet their Lord, but I see that you
are a people that are ignorant.
30. "And O my
people! Who will help me against Allâh, if I drove them
away? Will you not then give a thought?
31. "And I do
not say to you that with me are the Treasures of Allâh,
"Nor that I know the Ghaib (unseen); "nor do
I say I am an angel, and I do not say of those whom your eyes
look down upon that Allâh will not bestow any good on them.
Allâh knows what is in their inner-selves (as regards belief,
etc.). In that case, I should, indeed be one of the Zâlimûn
(wrong-doers, oppressors, etc.)."
32. They said: "O
Nûh (Noah)! You have disputed with us and much have you
prolonged the dispute with us, now bring upon us what you threaten
us with, if you are of the truthful."
33. He said: "Only
Allâh will bring it (the punishment) on you, if He will,
and then you will escape not.
34. "And my
advice will not profit you, even if I wish to give you good counsel,
if Allâh's Will is to keep you astray. He is your Lord!
and to Him you shall return."
35. Or they (the
pagans of Makkah) say: "He (Muhammad SAW) has fabricated it (the Qur'ân)."
Say: "If I have fabricated it, upon me be my crimes, but
I am innocent of (all) those crimes which you commit."
36. And it was inspired
to Nûh (Noah): "None of your people will believe except
those who have believed already. So be not sad because of what
they used to do.
37. "And construct
the ship under Our Eyes and with Our Inspiration, and address
Me not on behalf of those who did wrong; they are surely to be
drowned."
38. And as he was
constructing the ship, whenever the chiefs of his people passed
by him, they made a mockery of him. He said: "If you mock
at us, so do we mock at you likewise for your mocking.
39. "And you
will know who it is on whom will come a torment that will cover
him with disgrace and on whom will fall a lasting torment."
40. (So it was) till
then there came Our Command and the oven gushed forth (water like
fountains from the earth). We said: "Embark therein, of each
kind two (male and female), and your family, except him against
whom the Word has already gone forth, and those who believe. And
none believed with him, except a few."
41. And he [Nûh
(Noah) <><>]
said: "Embark therein, in the Name of Allâh will be
its moving course and its resting anchorage. Surely, my Lord is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Tafsir At-Tabarî,
Vol. 12, Page 43)
42. So it (the ship)
sailed with them amidst the waves like mountains, and Nûh
(Noah) called out to his son, who had separated himself (apart),
"O my son! Embark with us and be not with the disbelievers."
43. The son replied:
"I will betake myself to a mountain, it will save me from
the water." Nûh (Noah) said: "This day there is
no saviour[] from the Decree of Allâh
except him on whom He has mercy." And a wave came in between
them, so he (the son) was among the drowned.
44. And it was said:
"O earth! Swallow up your water, and O sky! Withhold (your
rain)." And the water was diminished (made to subside) and
the Decree (of Allâh) was fulfilled (i.e. the destruction
of the people of Nûh (Noah). And it (the ship) rested on
Mount Judi, and it was said: "Away with the people who are
Zalimûn (polytheists and wrong-doing)!"
45. And Nûh
(Noah) called upon his Lord and said, "O my Lord! Verily,
my son is of my family! And certainly, Your Promise is true, and
You are the Most Just of the judges."
46. He said: "O
Nûh (Noah)! Surely, he is not of your family; verily, his
work is unrighteous, so ask not of Me that of which you have no
knowledge! I admonish you, lest you be one of the ignorants."
47. Nûh (Noah)
said: "O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from asking You
that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and
have Mercy on me, I would indeed be one of the losers."
48. It was said:
"O Nûh (Noah)! Come down (from the ship) with peace
from Us and blessings on you and on the people who are with you
(and on some of their off spring), but (there will be other) people
to whom We shall grant their pleasures (for a time), but in the
end a painful torment will reach them from Us."
49. This is of the
news of the unseen which We reveal unto you (O Muhammad SAW), neither you nor your people
knew them before this. So be patient. Surely, the (good) end is
for the Muttaqûn (pious - see V.2:2)
50. And to 'Ad (people
We sent) their brother Hûd. He said, "O my people!
Worship Allâh! You have no other Ilâh (God)
but Him. Certainly, you do nothing but invent (lies)!
51. "O my people
I ask of you no reward for it (the Message). My reward is only
from Him, Who created me. Will you not then understand?
52. "And O my
people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He
will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to
your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimûn (criminals,
disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh)."
53. They said: "O
Hûd! No evidence have you brought us, and we shall not leave
our gods for your (mere) saying! And we are not believers in you.
54. "All that
we say is that some of our gods (false deities) have seized you
with evil (madness)." He said: "I call Allâh to
witness and bear you witness that I am free from that which you
ascribe as partners in worship, -
55. With Him (Allâh).
So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite.
56. "I put my
trust in Allâh, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving
(living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock. Verily, my
Lord is on the Straight Path (the truth).
57. "So if you
turn away, still I have conveyed the Message with which I was
sent to you. My Lord will make another people succeed you, and
you will not harm Him in the least. Surely, my Lord is Guardian
over all things."
58. And when Our
Commandment came, We saved Hûd and those who believed with
him by a Mercy from Us, and We saved them from a severe torment.
59. Such were 'Ad
(people). They rejected the Ayât (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and disobeyed
His Messengers, and followed the command of every proud obstinate
(oppressor of the truth, from their leaders).
60. And they were
pursued by a curse in this world and (so they will be) on the
Day of Resurrection. No doubt! Verily, 'Ad disbelieved in their
Lord. So away with 'Ad, the people of Hûd.
61. And to Thamûd
(people, We sent) their brother Sâlih (Saleh). He said:
"O my people! Worship Allâh, you have no other Ilâh
(God) but Him. He brought you forth from the earth and settled
you therein, then ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him in repentance.
Certainly, my Lord is Near (to all by His Knowledge), Responsive."
62. They said: "O
Sâlih (Saleh)! You have been among us as a figure of good
hope (and we wished for you to be our chief), till this [new thing
which you have brought; that we leave our gods and worship your
God (Allâh) Alone]! Do you (now) forbid us the worship of
what our fathers have worshipped? But we are really in grave doubt
as to that which you invite us to (monotheism)."
63. He said: "O
my people! Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Lord, and
there has come to me a Mercy (Prophethood, etc.) from Him, who
then can help me against Allâh, if I were to disobey Him?
Then you increase me not but in loss.
64. "And O my
people! This she-camel of Allâh is a sign to you, leave
her to feed on Allâh's earth, and touch her not with evil,
lest a near torment will seize you."
65. But they killed
her. So he said: "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three
days. This is a promise (i.e. a threat) that will not be belied."
66. So when Our Commandment
came, We saved Sâlih (Saleh) and those who believed with
him by a Mercy from Us, and from the disgrace of that Day. Verily,
your Lord, He is the All-Strong, the All-Mighty.
67. And As-Saîhah
(torment - awful cry, etc.) overtook the wrong-doers, so they
lay (dead), prostrate in their homes, -
68. As if they had
never lived there. No doubt! Verily, Thamûd disbelieved
in their Lord. So away with Thamûd!
69. And verily, there
came Our Messengers to Ibrahîm (Abraham) with glad tidings.They
said: Salâm (greetings or peace!) He answered, Salâm
(greetings or peace!) and he hastened to entertain them with
a roasted calf.
70. But when he saw
their hands went not towards it (the meal), he felt some mistrust
of them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: "Fear not,
we have been sent against the people of Lout (Lot)."
71. And his wife
was standing (there), and she laughed (either, because the Messengers
did not eat their food or for being glad for the destruction of
the people of Lout (Lot). But We gave her glad tidings of Ishâque
(Isaac), and after him, of Ya'qûb (Jacob).
72. She said (in
astonishment): "Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I
am an old woman, and here is my husband, an old man? Verily! This
is a strange thing!"
73. They said: "Do
you wonder at the Decree of Allâh? The Mercy of Allâh
and His Blessings be on you, O the family [of Ibrahîm (Abraham)].
Surely, He (Allâh) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious."
74. Then when the
fear had gone away from (the mind of) Ibrahîm (Abraham),
and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us
(Our Messengers) for the people of Lout (Lot).
75. Verily, Ibrahîm
(Abraham) was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Allâh
with humility, and was repentant (to Allâh all the time,
again and again).
76. "O Ibrahîm
(Abraham)! Forsake this. Indeed, the Commandment of your Lord
has gone forth. Verily, there will come a torment for them which
cannot be turned back."
77. And when Our
Messengers came to Lout (Lot), he was grieved on their account
and felt himself straitened for them (lest the town people should
approach them to commit sodomy with them). He said: "This
is a distressful day."
78. And his people
came rushing towards him, and since aforetime they used to commit
crimes (sodomy, etc.), he said: "O my people! Here are my
daughters (i.e. the daughters of my nation), they are purer for
you (if you marry them lawfully). So fear Allâh and degrade
me not as regards my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded
man?"
79. They said: "Surely
you know that we have neither any desire nor in need of your daughters,
and indeed you know well what we want!"
80. He said: "Would
that I had strength (men) to overpower you, or that I could betake
myself to some powerful support (to resist you)."
81. They (Messengers)
said: "O Lout (Lot)! Verily, we are the Messengers from your
Lord! They shall not reach you![] So travel
with your family in a part of the night, and let not any of you
look back, but your wife (will remain behind), verily, the punishment
which will afflict them, will afflict her. Indeed, morning is
their appointed time. Is not the morning near?"
82. So when Our Commandment
came, We turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside down,
and rained on them stones of baked clay, piled up;
83. Marked from your
Lord, and they are not ever far from the Zâlimûn
(polytheists, evil-doers, etc.).
84. And to the Madyan
(Midian) people (We sent) their brother Shu'aib. He said: "O
my people! Worship Allâh, you have no other Ilâh
(God) but Him, and give not short measure or weight, I see
you in prosperity; and verily I fear for you the torment of a
Day encompassing.
85. "And O my
people! Give full measure and weight in justice and reduce not
the things that are due to the people, and do not commit mischief
in the land, causing corruption.
86. "That which
is left by Allâh for you (after giving the rights of the
people) is better for you, if you are believers. And I am not
set over you as a guardian.
87. They said: "O
Shu'aib! Does your Salât (prayer) (i.e. the prayers
which you offer has spoiled your mind, so you) command that we
leave off what our fathers used to worship, or that we leave off
doing what we like with our property? Verily, you are the forbearer,
right-minded!" (They said this sarcastically).
88. He said: "O
my people! Tell me, if I have a clear evidence from my Lord, and
He has given me a good sustenance from Himself (shall I corrupt
it by mixing it with the unlawfully earned money). I wish not,
in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you. I only
desire reform so far as I am able, to the best of my power. And
my guidance cannot come except from Allâh, in Him I trust
and unto Him I repent.
89. "And O my
people! Let not my Shiqâq[] cause
you to suffer the fate similar to that of the people of Nûh
(Noah) or of Hûd or of Sâlih (Saleh), and the people
of Lout (Lot) are not far off from you!
90. "And ask
forgiveness of your Lord and turn unto Him in repentance. Verily,
my Lord is Most Merciful, Most Loving."
91. They said: "O
Shu'aib! We do not understand much of what you say, and we see
you a weak (man, it is said that he was a blind man) among us.
Were it not for your family, we should certainly have stoned you
and you are not powerful against us."
92. He said: "O
my people! Is then my family of more weight with you than Allâh?
And you have cast Him away behind your backs. Verily, my Lord
is surrounding all that you do.
93. "And O my
people! Act according to your ability and way, and I am acting
(on my way). You will come to know who it is on whom descends
the torment that will cover him with ignominy, and who is a liar!
And watch you! Verily, I too am watching with you."
94. And when Our
Commandment came, We saved Shu'aib and those who believed with
him by a Mercy from Us. And As-Saîhah (torment -
awful cry, etc.) seized the wrong-doers, and they lay (dead) prostrate
in their homes.
95. As if they had
never lived there! So away with Madyan (Midian)! As away with
Thamud! (All these nations were destroyed).
96. And indeed We
sent Mûsa (Moses) with Our Ayât (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and a manifest authority;
97. To Fir'aun (Pharaoh)
and his chiefs, but they followed the command of Fir'aun (Pharaoh),
and the command of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) was no right guide.
98. He will go ahead
of his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them into
the Fire, and evil indeed is the place to which they are led.
99. They were pursued
by a curse in this (deceiving life of this world) and (so they
will be pursued by a curse) on the Day of Resurrection. How bad
is the curse (in this world) pursued by another curse (in the
Hereafter).
100. These are some
of the news of the (population of) towns which We relate unto
you (O Muhammad SAW);
of them, some are standing, and some have been (already) reaped.
101. We wronged them
not, but they wronged themselves. So their âliha
(gods), other than Allâh, whom they invoked, profited them
naught when there came the Command of your Lord, nor did they
add aught (to their lot) but destruction.
102. Such is the
Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns
while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful, and
severe[].
103. Indeed in that
(there) is a sure lesson for those who fear the torment of the
Hereafter. That is a Day whereon mankind will be gathered together,
and that is a Day when all (the dwellers of the heavens and the
earth) will be present.
104. And We delay
it only for a term (already) fixed.
105. On the Day when
it comes, no person shall speak except by His (Allâh's)
Leave. Some among them will be wretched and (others) blessed.
106. As for those
who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, sighing in a high
and low tone.
107. They will dwell
therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure,
except as your Lord wills. Verily, your Lord is the doer of what
He wills.
108. And those who
are blessed, they will be in Paradise, abiding therein for all
the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your
Lord will, a gift without an end.
109. So be not in
doubt (O Muhammad SAW)
as to what these (pagans and polytheists) men worship. They worship
nothing but what their fathers worshipped before (them). And verily,
We shall repay them in full their portion without diminution.
110. Indeed, We gave
the Book to Mûsa (Moses), but differences arose therein,
and had it not been for a Word that had gone forth before from
your Lord, the case would have been judged between them, and indeed
they are in grave doubt concerning it (this Qur'ân).
111. And verily,
to each of them your Lord will repay their works in full. Surely,
He is All-Aware of what they do.
112. So stand (ask
Allâh to make) you (Muhammad SAW)
firm and straight (on the religion of Islâmic Monotheism)
as you are commanded and those (your companions) who turn in repentance
(unto Allâh) with you, and transgress not (Allâh's
legal limits). Verily, He is All-Seer of what you do.
113. And incline
not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you,
and you have no protectors other than Allâh, nor you would
then be helped[].
114. And perform
As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), at
the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night [i.e. the
five compulsory Salât (prayers)]. Verily, the good
deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder
(an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice).[]
115. And be patient;
verily, Allâh loses not the reward of the good-doers.
116. If only there
had been among the generations before you, persons having wisdom,
prohibiting (others) from Al-Fasâd (disbelief, polytheism,
and all kinds of crimes and sins) in the earth, except a few of
those whom We saved from among them. Those who did wrong pursued
the enjoyment of good things of (this worldly) life, and were
Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers in Allâh,
polytheists, sinners, etc.).
117. . And your Lord
would never destroy the towns wrongfully, while their people were
right-doers.
118. And if your
Lord had so willed, He could surely have made mankind one Ummah
[nation or community (following one religion only i.e. Islâm)],
but they will not cease to disagree,-
119. Except him on
whom your Lord has bestowed His Mercy (the follower of truth -
Islâmic Monotheism) and for that did He create them. And
the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled (i.e. His Saying): "Surely,
I shall fill Hell with jinns and men all together."
120. And all that
We relate to you (O Muhammad SAW)
of the news of the Messengers is in order that We may make strong
and firm your heart thereby. And in this (chapter of the Qur'an)
has come to you the truth, as well as an admonition and a reminder
for the believers.
121. And say to those
who do not believe: "Act according to your ability and way,
We are acting (in our way).
122. And you wait
! We (too) are waiting."
123. And to Allâh
belongs the Ghaib (unseen) of the heavens and the earth,
and to Him return all affairs (for decision). So worship Him (O
Muhammad SAW)
and put your trust in Him. And your Lord is not unaware of what
you (people) do."
