Houd (هُود)

Surah Hud is the 11th chapter or surah of the blessed Quran. Positioned in juz or parah 11 to 12 and hizb number 22 to 24, surah Hud has a total of 123 verses. It partly relates to the Prophet Hud and is believed to be an early Makki/Meccan surah, meaning it was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) in Makkah before his hijrah/migration to Madinah, probably after the revelation of Surah Yunus – both surahs carry a similar theme and discuss the same subject matter.

During his last year in Makkah, the Prophet (ﷺ), along with the believers of the time, had to face several hardships due to the harsh attitude of the disbelievers. In addition, the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) first and beloved wife, Hadrat Khadija (رضي الله عنها) and his beloved uncle and guardian, Abu Talib, passed away one after the other, which caused him great grief and sadness. Surah Hud is Allah's message to his Prophet (ﷺ), and it offered strength and consolation to the Prophet (ﷺ). 

Surah Hud discusses the glorious attributes of Allah, warns the hypocrites about their wrongdoings through examples of the nations that came before them and did not listen to the Prophets that were sent for them, and lastly, teaches the believers to rely on Allah through everything including hardships.

١١ - هُود

11 - Houd

الۗرٰ۝۰ۣ كِتٰبٌ اُحْكِمَتْ اٰيٰتُہٗ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِنْ لَّدُنْ حَكِيْمٍ خَبِيْرٍ۝۱ۙ
Aliflamra kitabun ohkimat ayatuhu thumma fussilat min ladun hakeemin khabeerin

English

Ahmed Ali

ALIF LAM RA. This is a Book whose verses are indeclinable and distinct, which comes from One who is most wise and all-knowing,

1

اَلَّا تَعْبُدُوْۗا اِلَّا اللہَ۝۰ۭ اِنَّنِيْ لَكُمْ مِّنْہُ نَذِيْرٌ وَّبَشِيْرٌ۝۲ۙ
Alla taAAbudoo illa Allaha innanee lakum minhu natheerun wabasheerun

English

Ahmed Ali

(Proclaiming) that you should worship none but God. Verily I bring to you from Him a message of warning and rejoicing,

2

وَّاَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُوْا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوْبُوْۗا اِلَيْہِ يُمَتِّعْكُمْ مَّتَاعًا حَسَـنًا اِلٰۗى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَّيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِيْ فَضْلٍ فَضْلَہٗ۝۰ۭ وَاِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَاِنِّىْۗ اَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ كَبِيْرٍ۝۳
Waani istaghfiroo rabbakum thumma tooboo ilayhi yumattiAAkum mataAAan hasanan ila ajalin musamman wayuti kulla thee fadlin fadlahu wain tawallaw fainee akhafu AAalaykum AAathaba yawmin kabeerin

English

Ahmed Ali

And that you should seek His forgiveness and turn towards Him. He will bestow the best things of life on you for a time ordained, and favour those with blessings who are worthy of grace. But if you turn away, I fear the punishment of a terrible Day for you.

3

اِلَى اللہِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ۝۰ۚ وَھُوَعَلٰي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ۝۴
Ila Allahi marjiAAukum wahuwa AAala kulli shayin qadeerun

English

Ahmed Ali

To God have you to go back, and He has power over everything.

4

اَلَاۗ اِنَّھُمْ يَثْنُوْنَ صُدُوْرَھُمْ لِيَسْتَخْفُوْا مِنْہُ۝۰ۭ اَلَاحِيْنَ يَسْتَغْشُوْنَ ثِيَابَھُمْ۝۰ۙ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّوْنَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُوْنَ۝۰ۚ اِنَّہٗ عَلِيْمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوْرِ۝۵
Ala innahum yathnoona sudoorahum liyastakhfoo minhu ala heena yastaghshoona thiyabahum yaAAlamu ma yusirroona wama yuAAlinoona innahu AAaleemun bithati alssudoori

English

Ahmed Ali

Look, how they double up their breasts in order to hide from Him. But when they cover themselves up with their garments, He knows what they hide and what they expose. Indeed, He knows the secrets of the hearts.

5

وَمَامِنْ دَاۗبَّۃٍ فِي الْاَرْضِ اِلَّا عَلَي اللہِ رِزْقُہَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَــقَرَّہَا وَمُسْـتَوْدَعَہَا۝۰ۭ كُلٌّ فِيْ كِتٰبٍ مُّبِيْنٍ۝۶
Wama min dabbatin fee alardi illa AAala Allahi rizquha wayaAAlamu mustaqarraha wamustawdaAAaha kullun fee kitabin mubeenin

English

Ahmed Ali

There is not a creature that moves on the earth whose nourishment is not provided by God, whose place of sojourning and depositing is not known to Him. All things conform to a manifest law.

6

وَہُوَالَّذِيْ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ فِيْ سِتَّۃِ اَيَّامٍ وَّكَانَ عَرْشُہٗ عَلَي الْمَاۗءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ اَيُّكُمْ اَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا۝۰ۭ وَلَىِٕنْ قُلْتَ اِنَّكُمْ مَّبْعُوْثُوْنَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ الْمَوْتِ لَيَقُوْلَنَّ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْۗا اِنْ ھٰذَاۗ اِلَّا سِحْــرٌ مُّبِيْنٌ۝۷
Wahuwa allathee khalaqa alssamawati waalarda fee sittati ayyamin wakana AAarshuhu AAala almai liyabluwakum ayyukum ahsanu AAamalan walain qulta innakum mabAAoothoona min baAAdi almawti layaqoolanna allatheena kafaroo in hatha illa sihrun mubeenun

English

Ahmed Ali

It is He who created the heavens and the earth In six spans, and has control over the waters (of life) so that he may bring out the best that everyone of you could do. Yet if you said to them: "You shall certainly be raised from the dead," the unbelievers will say: "This will be nothing but sorcery."

7

وَلَىِٕنْ اَخَّرْنَا عَنْہُمُ الْعَذَابَ اِلٰۗى اُمَّۃٍ مَّعْدُوْدَۃٍ لَّيَقُوْلُنَّ مَا يَحْبِسُہٗ۝۰ۭ اَلَا يَوْمَ يَاْتِيْہِمْ لَيْسَ مَصْرُوْفًا عَنْہُمْ وَحَاقَ بِہِمْ مَّا كَانُوْا بِہٖ يَسْتَہْزِءُوْنَ۝۸ۧ
Walain akhkharna AAanhumu alAAathaba ila ommatin maAAdoodatin layaqoolunna ma yahbisuhu ala yawma yateehim laysa masroofan AAanhum wahaqa bihim ma kanoo bihi yastahzioona

English

Ahmed Ali

If We defer their punishment for a certain time, they will say: "What is keeping it back?" And yet, the day it comes, they will not be able to avert it; and what they used to laugh at will encompass them.

8

وَلَىِٕنْ اَذَقْنَا الْاِنْسَانَ مِنَّا رَحْمَۃً ثُمَّ نَزَعْنٰہَا مِنْہُ۝۰ۚ اِنَّہٗ لَيَـــُٔــوْسٌ كَفُوْرٌ۝۹
Walain athaqna alinsana minna rahmatan thumma nazaAAnaha minhu innahu layaoosun kafoorun

English

Ahmed Ali

If We allow man to enjoy Our favours, and then take them away from him, he becomes despondent and ungrateful.

9

وَلَىِٕنْ اَذَقْنٰہُ نَعْمَاۗءَ بَعْدَ ضَرَّاۗءَ مَسَّـتْہُ لَيَقُوْلَنَّ ذَہَبَ السَّـيِّاٰتُ عَنِّيْ۝۰ۭ اِنَّہٗ لَفَرِحٌ فَخُــوْرٌ۝۱۰ۙ
Walain athaqnahu naAAmaa baAAda darraa massathu layaqoolanna thahaba alssayyiatu AAannee innahu lafarihun fakhoorun

English

Ahmed Ali

If We let him taste Our favours after adversity, he says: "Misfortune has left me," and begins to brag and exult,

10

Shaan e Nazool (Historical Background)

No specific event is associated with the revelation of Surah Hud. It is one of those Makki Surahs, which were revealed during the last phase of Prophet Muhammad’s صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ stay in Mecca, before Hijrat-e-Medina. It was a time when the Prophet and his followers were facing extreme persecution and hostility at the hands of the Quraysh of Mecca. The disbelievers were rejecting the Prophethood. They also negated the warnings about the punishment and life after death. On the other hand, the majority of the Muslims were weak, poor, and oppressed, who had to face severe torture by the influential leaders of Quraysh. Overall, it was a testing period not only for the believers but also personally for the Prophet.

These were the circumstances under which Surah Hud was revealed. The purpose of its revelation was to provide strength to the Prophet and his followers, for which the efforts and struggles of previous Prophets, like Prophets Nuh, Hud, Saleh, Ibrahim, Lut, Shu’ayb, and Musa عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ are briefly narrated, who also faced similar situations. While recounting their struggles and the behavior of their nations, it is mentioned explicitly that Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ help finally arrived for them, and the disbelievers had to face punishment. It was a source of encouragement for the Prophet and his followers, and a sort of warning for the disbelievers, implying that Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ justice finally prevails.

So, the historical background of the revelation of this Surah can be summarized as follows:

  • It was aimed at providing comfort, strength, and consolation to the Prophet and his followers, assuring them that Divine Justice is confident. By narrating stories of previous Prophets, it was also made clear to everyone that those who rejected Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ Message were put to severe punishment.
  • To warn the disbelievers of Mecca that the Divine Justice is inevitable for those who reject the Prophethood, as was done with the previous nations.
  • To emphasize steadfastness on the truth, the Divine Message conveyed by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, while observing patience and keeping unwavering faith in Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, as specifically addressed to the Prophet in the 112th Verse of the Surah.

Makki or Madni Surah

Surah Hud is a Makki Surah, revealed most probably anytime during the last four years of the Prophet's stay in Mecca, quite some time before the migration.

Place in the Quran

It is the 11th Surah of the Quran and appears in the 11th and 12th Juzz (para). It is placed after Surah Yunus and before Surah Yusuf. It is the 52nd Surah in the order of revelation, whereas it is placed at number 11 in the sequence of recitation.

  • Number of Verses: Surah Hud has 123 verses.
  • Number of Ruku (Sections): Surah Hud is grouped into 10 Rukus (sections).

Significance of Surah Hud

Surah Hud is included in those Surahs that start with the Mysterious Letters (Haroof-e-Muqatta’at). Like Surah Yunus, it also begins with the same mysterious letters, الٓرٰ​ (Alif-Lam-Ra), the meanings of which are best known to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. Surah Hud is often paired with Surah Yunus, as the subject and theme of both these Surahs resemble in many ways.

This Surah is quite significant, especially in the context of Islamic teachings. It reminds believers of the importance of steadfastness in faith and unwavering belief in the Oneness of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, His Ultimate Justice, and the concept of final accountability on the Day of Resurrection. By narrating the stories of previous nations, it is especially emphasized that the denial of their Prophets’ teachings resulted in severe punishment for them. It also reminds us that Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ certainly prevails. Hence, this Surah is a sort of moral and spiritual strength for its reciters. 

Hadith 40 of Shama'il Muhammadiyah narrates that once Hazrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ asked the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, Why are you getting old. The Prophet replied that Surah Hud, Waaqiah, Mursalat, Amma and Kuwwirah made me old. It refers to the subject matter of these Surahs, as the Prophet was certain that the respite given to disbelievers by Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ has almost reached the last limit; hence, the punishment might be approaching them.

Translation - Abu Bakr R.A. once said, 'O Messenger of Allah, you have become old'. (What is the reason? Due to this mild and soft temperament he ought to be young, and also according to his age he could be still called young). Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) replied: "The recitation of Surahs Hud, Waaqiah, Mursalat, Amma and Kuwwirah has made me old'

The same tradition also appears in Hadith 3297 of Jami At-Tirmidhi.

Mainly, this Surah describes the following distinct discourses:

  1. The Invitation to the Divine Message.
  2. Admonition to the disbelievers.
  3. The warning for those who were in denial mode. 

Accordingly, the significance of this Surah can be summarized as follows:

  • It strengthens the believers in patience and reliance on Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
  • It warns of the consequences of arrogance and rejection of truth.
  • It emphasizes that Allah’s help is certain for those who remain steadfast in faith.
  • It assures that truth will prevail over falsehood.

Theme and Subject Matter of Surah Hud (هُود)

 

 

Surah Hud is among one of the 29 surahs that start with Horoof al-Muqatta'at. This surah begins with the Arabic letters Alif. Laam. Raa. This surah is a continuation of Surah Yunus; thus, it has similar themes. The first thing discussed is the unity of the one true God, Allah. The second subject is that of Tawbah or repentance. In verse 3 of the surah, Allah Azzawajal tells believers to seek forgiveness from Allah so that He may grant them the good things in this life and the hereafter.  

In the same verse, the surah warns the disbelievers about their wrongdoings, orders them to obey the message of the Prophet (ﷺ), leave the grave sin of shirk, and worship Allah alone. It reinforces the message that we will all return to Allah, and we cannot hide anything from Allah. He knows what is in our hearts and minds. Thus, all must strive towards good, obey Allah, seek his forgiveness for wrongdoings, and prepare for the hereafter. 

Surah Hud states that everyone will be held accountable for their deeds on the day of judgment, stressing the importance of life in the hereafter. The admonition is given through examples of previous nations who also ignored and rejected the messages of peace and faith their Prophets bought upon them. In the end, they were held accountable for their actions. Therefore, the disbelievers are encouraged to contemplate whether they should follow the path of evil or truth.

Those who mock or ridicule the believers have also been warned not to think they will not be punished for their wrongdoings as everyone will be held accountable in due time. Allah also says that the Prophet's (ﷺ) message of Islam is an opportunity for them to mend their ways, and if they do not take it seriously and instead mock or reject the message, they will be inflicted with severe punishment. 

Surah Hud also includes the stories of the previous Prophets, such as Hazrat Nuh, Hazrat Hud, Hazrat Saleh, Hazrat Shu'aib, Hazrat Ibrahim, and  Hazrat Musa (Alayhim As-Salaam), to provide the people with an example of what transpired for the people before them when they indulged in wrongdoings and did not accept the message of Islam even when all the signs were right in front of them.

According to the Prophet (ﷺ), verse 112 of the Surah Hud aged him due to the excessive weight of the surah. The verse is as follows:

"So be steady [on the straight path] as you have been commanded, and those who repent with you [should be steady], and do not violate [God's law]. Indeed, He sees what you do."

Through this, we can learn about how the Prophet (ﷺ) had to face several hardships and challenges during his Prophethood. However, he still remained on the path of righteousness and carried on with his mission to spread the message of Islam.

Benefits and Virtues of Surah Hud (هُود)

Surah Hud provides the believers with guidance and wisdom. The surah includes stories of seven Prophets, with each story carrying a significant lesson that can provide a moral compass to the believers and teach them how to navigate through challenges and hardships by remaining steadfast in their faith and putting their trust in Allah.

Verse 114 of Surah Hud carries an important lesson for every believer. Allah says in the surah:

"good deeds efface sins."

This teaches us to actively engage in righteous deeds and work towards goodness as it can help erase the stain of our wrongdoings. Indeed, Allah is the most merciful. The surah also emphasizes the major Islamic principles of Tawhid, Prophethood, and the concept of resurrection. Therefore, it is recommended to read the Surah Hud and reflect upon the lessons that the surah offers to the believers. Remember, reciting the Quran helps gain protection against the hellfire. 

"Read the Qur'an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection." – Riyad-as-Salihin 991

Listen to the Recitation of Surah Hud by Renowned Qaris

Listening to the recitation of the Quran by a renowned and authentic reciter (Qari) is the prime source of learning the correct recitation of the Quran, including Surah Hud. It is a sensitive matter, as the correct recitation of the Quranic words is of utmost importance. Even a slight mistake in the correct pronunciation of a Quranic word may entirely change its meaning. Correct pronunciation might be somewhat more difficult for a non-Arabic-speaking person. Hence, listening to the recitation of the Quran by an authentic Qari is highly beneficial for those reciters who want to learn how to read the Quran correctly.

On the other hand, sometimes one may just like to listen to the Quran. At MuslimandQuran, we have uploaded recitations of the Quran by different renowned reciters (Qaris). You can find and select a Qari per your preference to listen to and learn the correct recitation of the Quran. You just need to download the MuslimandQuran mobile application to listen to any Surah of the Quran, including Surah Hud.

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FAQs:

Hud is the name of a Prophet. Surah Hud gets its name from the narration of the story of the Prophet Hud عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, as appearing in verses 50 to 60 of this Surah.

Surah Hud has 123 verses.

No specific benefits are associated with the recitation of Surah Hud. However, like any other Surah of the Quran, its recitation brings huge rewards and benefits not only in this world but also on the Day of Resurrection. Generally, the recitation of Surah Hud is beneficial as it reminds us of the fate of previous nations, who denied the teachings of the Prophets and were put to severe punishment.

Yes, Hadith 40 of Shama'il Muhammadiyah, narrates the significance of this Surah in the context that while reciting this Surah and some other Surahs like it, the Prophet realized that the respite given by Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ  to the disbelievers is almost reached its last limit, hence the torment for them might be approaching fast.