Sūrah Hūd

Overview

Sūrah Hūd is a Makkan sūrah with 123 āyāt. Its name is given by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself (see Virtues and Valuable Information). The story of Prophet Hūd features therein, along with the rest of the prophets of Ahl al-Qurā: Nūḥ, Ṣāliḥ, Ibrāhīm and Lūṭ, and Shuʿayb. Their narratives cover the majority of the content. As with almost all sūrahs which begin with discrete letters (e.g. alif-lām-mīm, ḥā-mīm, and yā-sīn), Sūrāh Hūd opens with an exposition on the Qur’an. It specifically discusses how some go to great lengths to avoid its thumping truth (11:5). The sūrah then discusses Allah’s majesty and wisdom in His creation. Man is hasty and ungrateful. He always wishes for abundance and is distressed at paucity, though qabḍ (constriction) is just an important a divine principle as basṭ (expansion). Excepted from these vices are “those who exercise patience and do good works; they will have forgiveness and a great reward” (11:11). The Qur’an’s authenticity is also cited early on, where Allah lambasts the idolaters: “Or do they say he fabricated it? Say, ‘Then bring ten sūrahs like it, fabricated, and call upon whomever you can other than Allah if you are truthful’” (11:13). The discourse then transitions onto the transience of the worldly life, the truthfulness of the Prophet ﷺ, and the inevitability of what awaits the good-doers and the evil-doers (11:17-24). This subsequently yields examples of the latter in light of previous nations with their respective prophets. In a severe and uncompromising tone, Allah recounts the terrible fate which met the deniers: “Away with ʿĀd the people of Hūd!” (11:60), “Away with Thamūd!” (11:68), “Away with Madyan just like Thamūd!” (11:95). Allah concludes with moral injunctions to the Prophet ﷺ and his followers (11:112-115) and reminds us all of the benefit of these stories: “All what We relate to you of the stories of the messengers is to strengthen your heart therewith. There has come to you in this the truth, a counsel, and a reminder for the believers” (11:120).

Context

From a contextual perspective, Makkan Qur’an was revealed to give counsel and incite steadfastness in the early Muslim community. The stories of the former messengers make the believers appreciate that this is simply the sunnah of Allah with His subjects: there will be arrogant, stubborn deniers who will meet a terrible end; and a faithful, patient few who will be saved and receive Allah’s bounties in both abodes. Nonetheless, certain āyāt were revealed regarding specific instances:

• A man called al-Akhnas ibn Shurayq was a good-looking, well-spoken man; though he internalised malice for the Prophet ﷺ while displaying affability towards him. Allah revealed: “They fold up their breasts that they may hide [their thoughts] from Him. When they cover themselves with their clothes, He knows what they hide and what they expose. Surely He is aware of what lies within the chest.” (11:5)
• A man came to the Prophet ﷺ before the ẓuhr prayer and told him he had kissed a girl, wishing that he be penalised. The Prophet ﷺ waited till after the prayer, found the man, and asked him if he had prayed with them. The remorseful man replied in the positive. He ﷺ then told him that Allah had revealed: “Establish the prayer in the two ends of the day and in the early night. Indeed, good deeds do away with evil ones. That is reminder for the mindful.” (11:114)

Themes

• Allah is just. He does not leave mankind to fend for themselves, but sends messengers as warners and bringers of glad tidings.
• Īmān and kufr are both an inevitable consequence of the truth—it is a criterion and a differentiator, bringing to the fore what already lay in the hearts of men.
• The wrath of Allah is unlike anything one can behold. We seek refuge in His pleasure from His anger, and in Him from Him!
• The punishment of previous nations was local for them. The punishment of the last of nations—the people who received the Prophet ﷺ and the Qur’an—will be global.
• The cost of ease is hardship, and ultimate pleasure may only be sought via restraint. True happiness (saʿādah) is in the Afterlife, in shāʾ Allāh!

Unique Features

• Sūrah Hūd is the second of six sequential sūrahs which begin with alif-lām-rā (Sūrah al-Raʿd begins with alif-lām-mīm-rā).
• According to the recitational conventions of Ḥafs from ʿĀṣim, the sūrah contains the only imālah in the Qur’ān: Wa qāla irkabū fīhā bismillāhi majrēhā (11:41). It is not recited as majrīhā or majrāhā.
• The sūrah has the longest account of Prophet Nūḥ in the Qur’an. (11:25-48)
• The news of the conception of Isḥāq is recounted here and two other ṣūrahs: al-Ḥijr and al-Ḍhāriyāt.
• It contains the only reference to saʿādah in the Qur’an, mentioned in reference to the bliss of the Afterlife. (11:105, 108)

Lessons

• “Such is the seizing of your Lord when He seizes the towns while they are unjust. His seizing is indeed most painful, most severe. Surely in that is a sign for whoever fears the punishment of the Hereafter. That is a day for which mankind will be gathered together, and that is a day to be witnessed. We do not defer it but for a limited term.” (11:102-104)
• In this incredibly awe-striking sūrah, the messengers are quoted as having called their people to Allah via beautiful and endearing names: “Forgiving and merciful” (11:41), “Near and answering” (11:61), “Compassionate and loving” (11:90). It is when one denies Allah’s mercy, love, and compassion that only wrath, anger, and punishment ensue.
• If anyone was at liberty to choose his own ethics, it would have been the Prophet ﷺ. Yet, Allah says to him: “Be upright as you have been commanded!” (11:112)
• Good deeds expiate misdeeds. If you slip up, make sure you follow your mistake with good works: “Indeed, good deeds do away with evil ones.” (11:114)

Virtues and Valuable Information

It is reported that Abū Bakr noticed strands of white hair on the blessed head of the Prophet ﷺ. He said to him: “Messenger of Allah, you are going grey.” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Hūd, al-Wāqiʿah, al-Mursalāt, ʿamma yatasāʾalūn (al-Nabaʾ), and idhā al-shamsu kuwwirat (al-Takwīr) have caused me to go grey.” All these sūrahs speak about the dire consequences of disbelief. It is said that, with regards to Sūrah Hūd specifically, it was this āyāh which was heaviest on the Prophet ﷺ: “So be upright as you have been commanded along with whoever has repented with you, and do not exceed limits. Indeed, He is seeing of what you do.” (11:112)