There are stories of many Prophets (A.S) in Surah Hud,
to cite them one may follow as under:
1. Noah
A.S
2. Hud
A.S
3. Salih
A.S
4. Abraham
A.S
5. Lot
A.S
6. Shoaib
A.S
7. Moses
A.S
Here we have some insights in the stories of seven of
His Prophets sharing a common theme. When it comes to writing, there are many
lessons learnt in this surah, so many to say which at times is beyond the
comprehension of my meagre mind. But then it’s written in certain instances of
the noble Qur’an to reflect on what is written, hence there stays my meek
attempt. May Allah give me the strength to carry on while writing about the
insights I have come across being a weak slave.
This is the surah which on being revealed turned the
hairs of our beloved prophet (S.A.W) grey. Sayyidna
Abu Bakr ؓ expressed his concern by saying: ` Ya Ras ulallah, you have become
old.' He said: ` Yes, Surah Hud has made me old.' There are reports which also
add Surah al-Waqi` ah, al-Mursalat, ` Amma Yatasa'alun (an-Naba' ) and
at-Takwir with Surah Hud. (Reported by a1-Hakim and Tirmidhi).
So it is not an easy task to summarize what’s been said
in this Surah, I stay humble as ever and aghast as I jot down some of the
important insights I have come across while going through this blessed Surah.
It starts with Alif-Lam-Ra- so profoundly humbling to
know that when letters make up words some of us might sound so eloquent when it
comes to expressing them, but then when it comes to letters then their
iteration can also surmounts to meanings. Meanings known to the One who is “Al-Qadir”(
Most capable of doing something), the One
Who has all the “Hiqmah” (Wisdom). And all this thoughts again confine
to a long known struggle of surrendering to His free will. Where everything is
known to Him and nothing is known to me. I am nothing and He is everything. And
yet all of me owes everything to Him. Because I belong to Him and He is my Rab-“Rabbul-Aalameen”-
The Lord of the Worlds.
Then we go on to see certain attributes of
Rabbul-Aalameen…
They are cited in following instances…
11:4
إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ
قَدِيرٌ ٤
To Allah is your return. And He is Most Capable of
everything.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
11:5
أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ يَثْنُونَ صُدُورَهُمْ لِيَسْتَخْفُوا۟
مِنْهُ ۚ أَلَا حِينَ يَسْتَغْشُونَ ثِيَابَهُمْ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ
ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ ٥
Indeed, they enfold ˹what is in˺ their hearts,
˹trying˺ to hide it from Him! But even when they cover themselves with their
clothes, He knows what they conceal and what they reveal. Surely He knows best
what is ˹hidden˺ in the heart.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
11:6
۞ وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ
رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّۭ فِى كِتَـٰبٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ
٦
There is no moving creature on earth whose provision
is not guaranteed by Allah. And He knows where it lives and where it is laid to
rest. All is ˹written˺ in a perfect Record.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Then some insights on our very nature…cited below.
11:9
وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنَّا رَحْمَةًۭ ثُمَّ
نَزَعْنَـٰهَا مِنْهُ إِنَّهُۥ لَيَـُٔوسٌۭ كَفُورٌۭ ٩
If We give people a taste of Our mercy then take it
away from them, they become utterly desperate, ungrateful.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
11:10
وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَـٰهُ نَعْمَآءَ بَعْدَ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُ
لَيَقُولَنَّ ذَهَبَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتُ عَنِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَفَرِحٌۭ فَخُورٌ ١٠
But if We give them a taste of prosperity after being
touched with adversity, they say, “My ills are gone,” and become totally
prideful and boastful,
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
11:11
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌۭ وَأَجْرٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ ١١
except those who patiently endure and do good. It is
they who will have forgiveness and a mighty reward.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
The reason why we are here, cited below.
11:7
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ
أَيَّامٍۢ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا
ۗ وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْمَوْتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ
كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ ٧
He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in
six Days—and His Throne was upon the waters—in order to test which of you is
best in deeds. And if you ˹O Prophet˺ say, “Surely you will ˹all˺ be raised up
after death,” the disbelievers will certainly say, “That is nothing but pure
magic!”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Our choices:
11:15
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا نُوَفِّ
إِلَيْهِمْ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فِيهَا وَهُمْ فِيهَا لَا يُبْخَسُونَ ١٥
Whoever desires ˹only˺ this worldly life and its
luxuries, We will pay them in full for their deeds in this life—nothing will be
left out.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
11:16
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ
إِلَّا ٱلنَّارُ ۖ وَحَبِطَ مَا صَنَعُوا۟ فِيهَا وَبَـٰطِلٌۭ مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
١٦
It is they who will have nothing in the Hereafter
except the Fire. Their efforts in this life will be fruitless and their deeds
will be useless.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
And our final abode, if we are successful:
11:23
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ
وَأَخْبَتُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا
خَـٰلِدُونَ ٢٣
Surely those who believe, do good, and humble
themselves before their Lord will be the residents of Paradise. They will be
there forever.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
The most important theme learnt from the stories of
the Prophets mentioned in this Surah, or the whole of the Quran shareef is the
theme of “shirk”.
Shirk is associating something in Worship with Alllah
(S.W.T), or maybe other than Him.
That it is apparent from many instances in the Noble
Qur’an-that shirk is something abhorred by Rabbul- Aalameen-itb is a matter of
loyalty. A Lord who is truly benevolent and merciful.
Allah ﷻ is the One given to quintessential acts of
kindness. The Highest Lord, who sustains all that exist. He whose essence is
beneficence and for that reason He created the heavens and the earth along with
multitudes of creatures therein and provided them with good things.
“It is Allah who made for you the earth a place of
settlement and the sky a structure [i.e., ceiling] and formed you and perfected
your forms and provided you with good things. That is Allah, your Lord; then blessed
is Allah, Lord of the worlds.” [Surah Ghafir, 64]
Who is only worthy of worship- the one Who is not like
anyone else and nothing is like Him, He surpasses all praises.Allah ﷻ is the
most excellent and to whom belongs all glory in the heavens and the earth. The
Owner of all Authority, with whom are the keys of the heavens and the earth. He
to whom belongs all power, honor and grandeur within the heavens and the earth.
“It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to
manifest it over all religion. And sufficient is Allah as Witness.”
[Surah Fath, 28]
He who is the Lord of all points of rising and
setting. “[He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him,
so take Him as Disposer of [your] affairs.”
[Surah al-Muzzamil, 9]
He to whom belongs all the soldiers of the heavens and
the earth. “And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth. And ever
is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.”
[Surah al-Fath, 7]
He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens, the
earth, whatever is between them and to whom is the final return. “And blessed
is He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is
between them and with whom is knowledge of the Hour and to whom you will be
returned.”
[Surah az-Zukhruf, 85]
He with whom are the keys of the heavens and the
earth. “To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He extends provision
for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is, of all things, Knowing.”
[Surah ash-Shura, 12].
It is definitely not justified to worship anybody or
anything else other than Him. But sometime, just sometimes we worship certain
intangible things such as our desires and emotions as well, unknowingly and
deviayte from the path unknowingly…
An Ayah of the Noble Qur’an goes as follows
45:23
أَفَرَءَيْتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ
ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍۢ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِۦ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِۦ
غِشَـٰوَةًۭ فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٢٣
Have you seen ˹O Prophet˺ those who have taken their
own desires as their god? ˹And so˺ Allah left them to stray knowingly, sealed
their hearing and hearts, and placed a cover on their sight. Who then can guide
them after Allah? Will you ˹all˺ not then be mindful?
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Commentary
مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ ("Have you seen
him who has taken his desires as his god...45:23) In other words, he who has
made his selfish desires his object of worship. Obviously, no unbeliever claims
that his desires are his object of worship. Keeping this in view, this verse of
the Qur'an indicates that ` worship' actually means ` obedience'. Thus anyone
who undertakes to obey someone against the obedience of Allah makes him the
object of his worship instead of Allah. There are people who ignore what Allah
has declared lawful and unlawful or what He has permitted and what has
forbidden. People who do not care what Allah has forbidden and follow their
whims and fancies, their desires are their god, in this sense, although they
may not have uttered it by word of mouth. The same theme has been versified by
an ` Arif:
سودہ گشت از سجدہ راہ بُتَاں پیشانیم چند برخود تھمت دین
مسلمانی نھم
"My forehead has swollen by prostrating before
the statues of beauty, although I claim to profess the religion of Islam."
In this couplet, the poet has portrayed selfish
desires as statues. He who takes his desires as his leader and follows them is
as good as their worshipper that is why they have been described as their
deities. Sayyidna Abu ` Umamah narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Of all the deities worshipped under the firmament of the earth, the most
detestable one in the sight of Allah is hawa, that is, selfish desires.
Sayyidna Shaddad Ibn ` Aws ؓ narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺٍ said:
"A wise person is he who keeps his desires under control and works for
life after death; and sinful is he who runs after his desires and yet expects
the best in the Hereafter." Sayyidna Sahl Ibn ` Abdullah Tustari ؓ said:
"Your ailment is your selfish desires. And if you oppose them, it will
turn into your cure." (All these narratives have been adapted from
Qurtubi).
And in the other instance when we look closely to the
names of gods at the time of Prophet Noah A.S
"They
(idolaters) have said: "You shall not leave your gods nor shall you leave
Wadd, nor
Suwa, nor Yaghuth, nor Ya uq nor Nasr
(names of the idols)." (CH 71:23 Quran).
(These idols represented,
respectively, manly power; mutability, beauty; brute strength, swiftness, sharp
sight, insight) according to the power they thought these gods possessed.
When you look closely to the
meaning of the names you understand that this are the attributes of the one who
would require to be successful in this world and this want is associated with
self-the ego, while you look closely at the ninety nine names of Allah “Asma al
Husna”, like Ar-Rahman, Ar-raheem, Ar-Ghaffar- the meaning as we all know
shouts about love and mercy, this reminds me that the attributes through which
we human falter and seeks to define the Divine is not what it is-we look
through the filter of this worldly world. Howsoever Allah is beyond all of
this, in all His wisdom He talks aboput love and mercy in instance, and His
names shout about Hope-a very important attribute to lead life.
Besides one can also say is that in
whose heart where the idol of “me” dwells, there couldn’t be the presence of
All-loving-the Al- Wadud.
