Definition
Surah Hud has 10 ruku and 123 verses.
Its central theme is to call people to the Oneness of Allah through the accounts of various prophets and their nations, to warn against the consequences of disbelief and disobedience, and to counsel the Prophet ﷺ and the believers to remain steadfast and patient.
Hadith on its virtue: the Prophet ﷺ said, "Surah Hud and its sister surahs (which contain severe warnings) have turned my hair grey."
Definition
Nooh (AS) called his people to worship Allah alone and to repent, but they rejected him and mocked the believers. By Allah's command he built a ship, boarded the believers and pairs of every animal, and his disbelieving son drowned along with the rest of the rejecters in the flood.
- Prophet Hud (AS) was sent to the nation of 'Aad; he called them to Tawheed without seeking any reward, but they arrogantly denied him, so they were destroyed by a violent windstorm.
- Prophet Saleh (AS) was sent to the nation of Thamud; Allah sent them a she-camel as a sign, but they hamstrung and killed it, so after a three-day respite a terrible blast (scream) seized them and they were left lying dead in their homes.
- Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was visited by angels bringing glad tidings of a son, Ishaq, and after him Ya'qub, and informing him of the coming destruction of the people of Lut.
- Prophet Lut (AS) was visited by the same angels in the form of guests; his immoral people tried to molest them, so the angels ordered Lut to leave with his family by night except his wife, and in the morning their town was overturned and pelted with stones of baked clay.
- Prophet Shu'aib (AS) was sent to the people of Madyan; he called them to Tawheed and commanded them to give full measure and weight with justice and not to cheat people, but they persisted arrogantly and a mighty blast destroyed them.
Definition
Musa (AS) was sent with signs and clear proof to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they followed Pharaoh's misguided command and were thus cursed both in this world and on the Day of Judgment.
Definition
In verse 24, the disbeliever is likened to a blind and deaf person, and the believer to one who sees and hears — the two can never be equal in their outcome.
Rulings stated in the surah: the command to seek Allah's forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance (istighfar and tawbah); and the command to give full measure and weight with justice, not withholding from people what is rightfully theirs.
At the end of the surah, the Prophet ﷺ is counselled, through these accounts, to keep his heart firm, continue preaching steadfastly, turn away from the wrongdoers, establish prayer, and remain patient and trust in Allah.
Rule
Surah Hud 11:41 (prayer taught to Nooh AS while boarding the ship) — بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ مَجْرٖيهَا وَمُرْسٰىهَا ۚ اِنَّ رَبِّيْ لَغَفُوْرٌ رَّحِيْمٌ — Translation: In the name of Allah is its course and its anchorage. Indeed, my Lord is truly Forgiving and Merciful.
Quick Recap
- ●Surah Hud: 10 ruku, 123 verses; central theme — Tawheed through prophets' accounts, warning against disbelief, steadfastness
- ●Nooh (AS): ship, believers/animal-pairs saved, disbelieving son and rejecters drowned
- ●Hud ('Aad, windstorm), Saleh (Thamud, she-camel, terrible blast), Ibrahim (glad tidings of Ishaq/Ya'qub), Lut (immoral people, town overturned), Shu'aib (Madyan, just measure/weight)
- ●Musa (AS): sent to Pharaoh, who was cursed in this world and the Hereafter
- ●Verse 24: believer/disbeliever like one who sees/hears vs. blind/deaf — never equal
- ●Key verse: 11:41 — Nooh's prayer while boarding the ship
