11.

Sura Hud (or The Prophet Hud)

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

God’s Revelation teaches the Truth. That man should worship none but
One God. It warns against wrong and gives glad tidings to the righteous. This
is the Message of your Apostle. Tell them (O Muhammad) to seek the
forgiveness from their Lord and turn to him in repentance. To God is their
ultimate return. He will grant you enjoyment, – good and true in your life
span. But if you turn away from Him, you make yourself liable for His terrible
Punishment on the Great Day. Ungrateful man folds up his heart and fails to
see how all Nature points to God and to the Hereafter. Even when they cover
themselves with their garments, He knows what they conceal and what they
reveal: for He knows well the inner most secrets of the heart.

There is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance depends upon

God. He knows the time and place where a thing stops or stays for some time
and where it is established; laid up or deposited for a little while. All is pre-
noted in a clear Record. It is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six
days. His Throne was over the waters (i.e., the Throne of God’s authority is
metaphorically expressed as over the waters – regulating all life). Man is
indeeded to be raised up after death. On that Day the Unbelievers would say,
“This is nothing but obvious sorcery”. At present they are saying as what has
kept away their penalty! On the day when the penalty actually touch them,
nothing would turn it away from them and would be completely encircled by
it of which they were mocking.

If God causes a man to taste some mercy and then withdraws it from
him, Lo! He becomes despair and a thankless. And man tastes grace after
some misfortune, he becomes exultant and boastful. But not so are those who
have patience and constancy and are righteous in their deeds. For such a man
is forgiveness of sins and a great reward from his Lord. Truth must be
delievered as it is revealed to you (O Muhammad), even though some portions
of it may be unpalatable. And that resources and other means to draw people
to the Message are beside the point; use just such resources and opportunities
as available and leave the rest with God. It is God Who arranges all affairs! Or
they may say, that the Message was a forged one, – tell them to forge just ten
such Suras if they speak the truth! If they do not respond to your Message,
then they should realize that the Message is from none other than God, and
there is no god but He and as such, they should submit to Islam. If worldly
men desire the gilter of this world, they shall have it in full measure, but it is
false glitter. For them there is nothing in the Hereafter, but the Fire. There
were believers during the time of Moses and many were unbelievers also. Who
could be more wrong than one who invents a lie against God? They are to be
produced before God and His curse is on them. Those Unbelievers who hinder
also others from the path of their Lord, are the people who have no faith in the
Hereafter, – their penalty will be doubled and are blind and deaf; and the
people who have lost their souls. No doubt, such are the most looser in the
Hereafter. But those who humble themselves before their Lord and are
righteous in their deeds will be the permanent dwellers of Gardens in the
Hereafter. Could these two category of people be compared? Will they not
take heed of this?

In ancient, Noah walked righteously and humbly as in the sight of God.

With unselfish love for his people, he warned them and taught them to serve
none else than God and to fear the Penalty of a Grievous Day. But the Chiefs
of the Unbelievers saw no merit above them in Noah and considered him as a
liar. Noah told them that he had Clear Message from his Lord to them That it
is a Message of Mercy even in its warning, although in their arrogance the
Mercy may be hidden from them. Noah further told them that he was not
asking for any reward from them as his reward was with his Lord alone; and
that who believed in the Message where the people who desired to meet their
Lord. Noah continued his preaching, told them that there were no treasures of
God with him nor he knew any thing which was hidden nor he claimed to be
an angel. Nevertheless, Noah defended the men of Faith whom the Chiefs
despised as they were lacking in wordly goods. Noah told them plainly that the
Lord perhaps saw in them something in which they, the arrogant Chiefs were
lacking. On his part Noah declared boldly his own Faith as directed to him by
the Lord. But Noah was rejected by the Chiefs and asked for the punishment
which Noah warned them. However, Noah went on with the mission as Lord
desired of him – reminding them impending punishment and exhorting them
to repent and be his companions.

It was relieved to Noah: None of his people will believe in him except
those who have already believed. So it was of no matter to grieve over their
conduct. Therefore construct an Ark under God’s inspiration and no more and
no more address to Him on behalf of the sinners. The Chiefs when passed by
Noah at work, they ridicule him as a vain task! Noah said to them that at
present they were ridiculing them, but soon they would come to know on
whom the penalty would fall. At last the Ark was constructed and Noah was
inspired to embark upon the Ark with two pairs of each species, and his family
except the disobedient among the people. Then the fountains of water gushed
forth from the earth. So Noah and those whom God wished, embarked with
the name of God, whether it moved or at rest: for God is, Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful! Thus the Ark moved upon the waves which were as large as
mountains. At that Noah called to his (unbeliever) son to embark on the Ark.
But the son replied that he would ascend on the mountain and would not be
drowned. Noah then replied to him that nothing could save him except on
whom He was merciful. In the meantime the waves came between them and
Noah’s son was among those who were overwhelmed in the Flood. When the
Command came, the water receded and the matter came to an end. They sailed
away and rested on Mount Judi. Thus, a whole new world came into existence
after the Deluge. Noah then called upon his Lord that surely his son was of his
family as such he be saved. God then replied to him that the son was not of his
family as his conduct was unrighteous. Noah then sought refuge in God’s
mercy. Noah was then inspired to come out of the Ark with His Peace and
Blessings; and those who truly seek His light and guidance and bend their will
to His Will, will certainly be admitted to His grace. But there will be some
section of the people to whom God shall grant their pleasures of this life (for a
time being), but on the Day will be liable for grievous Penalty. Such are some
of the stories of the past times unseen to you (O Muhammad) which God
inspire to you. So persevere patiently: for the End is of those who are
righteous.

Awful were the fates of the “Ad and the Thamud – two mighty people
of ancient (Arabia). To ‘Ad People, Hud and to Thamud, Salih were sent a
Messengers of the Lord. Hud said to his people to worship God alone and no
one else and to seek His forgiveness for their sins; – that he was not asking for
any reward from them as his reward was with his Lord. Hud further said to
them if they obeyed God and followed the law of righteousness, they would
still be more prosperous and more powerful. Their reply to Hud’s preaching
was that he had not shown them Clear Signs from his Lord. As such, they
would neither believe in him nor they were to desert their gods. Hud further
told them that they along with their imaginary gods plot against him, – his
trust was in One God and that they would bear witness that he was free from
the sin of ascribing others with One God: for his Lord has care and watch over
all things. So when God’s decree issued, Hud and those who believed in him
were saved by His special Grace from their Lord from a severe penalty which
fell on the sinners. On them will be curse on the Day of Judgement also.

Salih had also a similar Message for the Thamud People – he had
Signs from his Lord, worship Him and no one else, it was He Who produced
them from earth, ask for His forgiveness from their sins: for Lord is always
near, ready to answer. The people replied that they worshipped the some gods
whom their fathers worshipped and did not believe in what he said to them.
Salih put forward a she-camel as the Sign of Lord and leave the animal to
graze freely on earth as the animal was a sacred one. Saleh strictly warned
them not to inflict any injury to her or else a swift Penalty would seize them.
But they did hamstring her. So they invited wrath of God. Saleh said them that
they may enjoy for three day at their homes (then would be their ruin): decree
issued against them, Salih and his followers were saved from the ignomity of
the day, – a mighty Blast overtook them – and were destroyed as if they never
flourished on the land!

There came Messengers (two angels in men’s shape) with glad tidings
to Abraham. He entertained them with a roasted calf. But they did not touch it.
Abraham then was afraid, but the visitors revealed their identy. The glad
tidings they brought from their Lord were that his wife would conceive a son,
Isaac and Isaac to Jacob. His wife could not believe it as she and her husband
already passed the age and further she was a barren women. But God’s
blessings were with the couple. On an enquiry of their mission, they told
Abraham that they were going to Lut’s people to destroy them. Abraham being
a forebearing person, then pleaded with his Lord to save them. But decree for
their destruction was already passed by the Lord which could not be turned
back. The Messengers came to Lut. The people came rushing for the guests to
satisfy their immoral purpose. Lut pleaded with them to desist from their
vulgar intentions and to marry the daughters of the population. Such a thing
was purer to them and to fear God. But they flately refused the admonition.
The Messengers then revealed their identity and their purpose of their visit.
The visitors assured Lut that the immoral people would not be able to reach
them; – that in the last part of night Lut should leave with his family members,
except his own wife who would lag behind and no one to turn back and look
behind. To her would happen what would happen to the other sinners. Their
cities were turned upside down and over them came rain of brimstones, hard
as baked clay, spread layer on layer. This was the end of the wicked people.
Your Lords punishment would not be far from any people that did wrong.

To the Madian people, Shu’aib was the Messenger. The Message was
to worship One God and no one else; – and that not to give short measure or
weight and not to commit mischief on land. They were prospherous people;
but Shuaib feared for them that if they did not take any heed to his preaching,
they would be heading towards their doom. He further said to them that what
the profit God had for them was gainful for them and that he was not their
custodian. Their reply was: Should they leave their gods whom their fathers
were worshipping and that to fore-go the profit which their property earned?
Further, they were not at fault but Shu’aib was on the wrong path! Shu’aib told
them that they should realize that he had Clear Signs from his Lord and that
He had given him a pure and good sustenance. He further told them that he
only desired their betterment and that his success could only come from God –
in Him was his trust and to Him alone he looked (for help). Shu’aib feared that
their fate should not be of that of the people of Noah or Hud or Salih or Lut of
the ancient. He admonished the people as to ask forgiveness from God and
turn to Him in repentance: for his Lord is indeed full of mercy and loving-
kindness. They said to Shu’aib that much of what he preached to them they
could not comprehend. Had it not been his family’s consideration to them,
they would have stoned him to death! Shu’aib then said to them that the
consideration of God should have them more than his family’s consideration
and told them to do what they wanted to do with him but he would be doing
his part of duty towards his Lord. When God’s decree issued, Shu’aib and his
followers were saved by God’s mercy but the others were seized by a mighty
Blast and were destroyed as if they never existed on earth.

Moses sent with Clear Signs and Message to Pharaoh and his Chiefs.
Pharaoh was not a right man but his Chiefs obeyed him. They are cursed in
this world and it will follow them in the next too. Pharaoh will lead his
followers into their terrible abode – the Fire of Hell. These are some of the
stories of communities which God relates to you (O Muhammad). Among the
communities some remained (like Egypt although Pharaoh and his wicked
people were destroyed), while some mown down. If nations disobeyed God,
their end is evil: if they were true and righteous, their harvest was good. All
false and fleeting shadows vanish before the reality and permanence of the
decree of God. If people worshipped the false, they are bound to earn nothing
but perdition. In that is a Sign for those who fear the Penalty of the Hereafter:
that is a Day for which mankind will be gathered together; – that will be a Day
of Testimony. On that Day the wretched people will be in fire as their
permanent abode. But those who are blessed shall be in the Garden of bliss as
their permanent dwelling. So be not in doubt concerning that these folk
worship. They worship only as their fathers worshipped aforetime. Lo! We
shall pay them their whole due unabated.

Verily, Moses was given Scripture and there was strife thereupon as the
unbelievers as the unbelievers are behaving with respect to the revelations to
you (O Muhammad). Lo! To each one your Lord will repay for his deeds in
full: for He is well informed what they do. Therefore, stand firm in the straight
Path. Establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day, do good and shun
the evil, – this is a reminder for the mindful. And be standfast in patience and
God will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish. There were few
righteous people in the ancient generations (which were destroyed) who were
saved from harm. But the wrong-doers persued the enjoyment of the good
things of life which were given to them, but they persisted in sin. God did not
destroy communities for single wrong-doing and they were likely to mend
their ways. If Satan and his evil spirits tempt men from the path of rectitude,
the responsibility of the tempted, who choose the path of evil, is no less than
that of the tempters, and they will both be involved in punishment together.
The stories of the Prophets revealed to you (O Muhammad) are not mere
narratives or histories: they teach the highest spiritual truth; they give advice,
direction and warning, as to how should people govern their lives; and they
awaken people’s conscience and recalls to them the working of God’s Law in
human affairs. Say to those who do not believe that they may do whatever
they could; you would do your part. They and you, both have to wait. To God
do belong the unseen secrets of the heavens and the earth, and to Him is
referred every affair for His decision. Then worship Him, and put your trust in
Him: And your Lord is not unmindful of what that you do.