Surah Ahqaf ayat 21 Tafsir Quran 46:21

﴿۞ وَاذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذْ أَنذَرَ قَوْمَهُ بِالْأَحْقَافِ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ النُّذُرُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ﴾
[ الأحقاف: 21]

46:21 And mention, [O Muhammad], the brother of 'Aad, when he warned his people in the [region of] al-Ahqaf - and warners had already passed on before him and after him - [saying], "Do not worship except Allah. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."

And mention the brother of ‘Ād namely Hūd peace be upon him when idh … from here to the end of the verse constitutes an inclusive substitution he warned his people he threatened them at Ahqāf ‘the Sand dunes’ is the name of a valley in Yemen where their dwellings were located — and already warners messengers had passed away before him and after him that is to say before Hūd came to them and after him to their peoples — saying ‘Do not worship anyone but God the statement beginning with wa-qad khalat ‘and already warners had passed away’ is a parenthetical one. Truly I fear for you — should you worship other than God — the chastisement of a dreadful day’.

Relate O Muhammad to your people the narrative of Hud, a brother of Ad -the Adites-, a spectacle and a warning, He cautioned his people, who inhabited the valley of the sandy hills -Al Ahqaf-, against the danger of denying Allah, especially when other Messengers have preceded and others succeeded him and the peoples fate served as a deterrent. He said to them: I fear for you an immense punishment on a great Day

The Story of `Ad Allah says, consoling His Prophet in regard to the rejection of those who opposed him among his people, وَاذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ ( And remember the brother of `Ad, ) This refers to Hud, peace be upon in him.
Allah sent him to the first people of `Ad who inhabited Al-Ahqaf.
Ahqaf is plural of Haqf.
According to Ibn Zayd, it means a sand dune; and according to `Ikrimah, it means a mountain or a cave.
Qatadah said: "We were informed that `Ad was a tribe in Yemen.
They dwelt among sand ( hills ), and overlooked the sea in a land called Ash-Shihr." Under the chapter, "He Who supplicates should first mention Himself," Ibn Majah recorded that Ibn `Abbas narrated that the Prophet said:
«يَرْحَمُنَا اللهُ وَأَخَا عَاد»
( May Allah have mercy on us and the Brother of `Ad. ) Allah then says, وَقَدْ خَلَتِ النُّذُرُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ ( And surely, warners had already passed on before him and after him. ) meaning, Allah had sent Messengers and warners to the towns surrounding the land of `Ad.
This is similar to Allah's saying, فَجَعَلْنَـهَا نَكَـلاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا ( And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded them.
) ( 2:66 ) And it is also similar to Allah's saying, فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُواْ فَقُلْ أَنذَرْتُكُمْ صَـعِقَةً مِّثْلَ صَـعِقَةِ عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ إِذْ جَآءَتْهُمُ الرُّسُلُ مِن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ ( But if they turn away, then say: "I have warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt that struck `Ad and Thamud.
(That occurred ) when the Messengers had come to them from before them and after them ( saying ): "Worship none but Allah.") ( 41:13-14 ) Allah then says, إِنِّى أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ ( truly, I fear for you the torment of a mighty Day. ) meaning, Hud said this to them ( his people ), and they responded to him saying, أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَأْفِكَنَا عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا ( Have you come to delude us from our gods ) meaning, to prevent us. عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا ( from our gods ) فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ ( Then bring us that with which you threaten us, if you are one of the truthful! ) They sought to hasten Allah's torment and punishment, believing that it will not happen.
This is similar to Allah's saying, يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا ( Those who do not believe in it (the Last Hour ) seek to hasten it) ( 42:18 ).
Hud's response was, قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِندَ اللَّهِ ( He said: "The knowledge (of that ) is only with Allah.") which means, `Allah knows best about you.
If you deserve the punishment to be hastened, He will do that to you.
As for me, my duty is to deliver my message to you.' وَلَـكِنِّى أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ ( But I see that you are a people given to ignorance! ) which means, `you have no comprehension or understanding.' Allah then says, فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضاً مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ ( Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud approaching their valleys, ) meaning, when they saw the punishment coming towards them, they thought it to be clouds full of rain.
That made them happy and joyful, because they had a drought and needed rain.
Allah then said, بَلْ هُوَ مَا اسْتَعْجَلْتُم بِهِ رِيحٌ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ( Nay, but it is that which you were asking to be hastened -- a wind wherein is a painful torment! ) meaning, this is the torment that you called for saying, "Bring to us what you promise us if you should be of the truthful." تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ( Destroying every thing ) meaning, destroying every part of their land that could normally be destroyed. بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا ( by the command of its Lord! ) meaning, it had Allah's permission to do that.
This is similar to Allah's saying, مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَىْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ جَعَلَتْهُ كَالرَّمِيمِ d( It spared nothing that it reached, but blew it into broken spreads of rotten ruins. ) ( 51:42 ) meaning, like something dilapidated ( or decrepit ).
Because of this, Allah says, فَأْصْبَحُواْ لاَ يُرَى إِلاَّ مَسَـكِنُهُمْ ( So they became such that nothing could be seen except their dwellings! ) means, all of them were destroyed, and none of them were spared.
Allah then says: كَذلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ( Thus do We recompense the criminal people! ) which means that this is Our judgement regarding those who reject Our Messengers and disobey Our commands.
Imam Ahmad recorded from `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said, "I never saw Allah's Messenger ﷺ fully laughing so that I would see his uvula.
He would only smile." She added that when Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw clouds or wind, that would reflect on his face ( as discomfort ).
She asked him: "O Allah's Messenger! When the people see clouds, they become happy, hoping that they bring them rain.
But I notice that when you see them, displeasure appears on your face." Allah's Messenger ﷺ replied,
«يَا عَائِشَةُ، مَا يُؤْمِنُنِي أَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ، قَدْ عُذِّبَ قَوْمٌ بِالرِّيحِ، وَقَدْ رَأَى قَوْمٌ الْعَذَابَ وَقَالُوا: هذَا عَارِضٌ مُمْطِرُنَا»
( O `A'ishah! What would guarantee to me that they do not bring punishment Some nations had been punished with wind.
On seeing the punishment approaching them, a nation once said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain." ) This is also recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Imam Ahmad recorded that `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that when Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw clouds on any of the horizons, he would leave whatever he was doing -- even if he was in prayer -- and say:
«اللْهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا فِيه»
( O Allah! I seek refuge with you from any harm that it (the cloud ) contains.) If Allah removed those clouds, the Prophet would praise Allah, and if rain fell, he would say:
«اللْهُمَّ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًا»
( O Allah! Make it pouring and beneficent. ) Muslim also recorded in his Sahih from `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that when the wind blew, Allah's Messenger ﷺ would say,
«اللْهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ،وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا، وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا، وَشَرِّ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِه»
( O Allah! I ask You of its good, the good that it contains, and the good with which it has been sent.
And I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil that it contains, and the evil with which it has been sent. ) She added that if the sky became cloudy, his color would change; he would exit, enter, come, and go.
When it rained, his anxiety would be relieved.
When `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, noticed that, she asked him about it and he said: «لَعَلَّهُ يَا عَائِشَةُ كَمَا قَالَ قَوْمُ عَادٍ: فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضاً مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُواْ هَـذَا عَارِضٌ مُّمْطِرُنَا» ( O `A'ishah! It could be like what the people of `Ad said, (Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" )) We have previously mentioned the story of the destruction of the people of `Ad in both Surat Al-A`raf and Surah Hud.
Thus, there is no need to repeat it here; and verily Allah is worthy of all praise and gratitude.

(46:21) Recount to them the story of (Hud), the brother of (the tribe of) 'Ad. Hud warned his people beside the sand-dunes *25 ' and there have been other warners before him and since his time ' saying: 'Serve none but Allah. Verily I fear that the chastisement of an awesome day shall come upon you.'

And mention, [O Muhammad], the brother of meaning

*25) As the chiefs of the Quraish had a false pride of their superiority and exulted in their wealth and prosperity, the story of `Ad is being related to them about whom it was well known that they had been the mightiest people in Arabia.

Literally, Ahqaf ( pl.
of hiqf ) are long dunes of sand less in height than mountains, but technically it is a name given to the southern-western part of the Arabian desert ( Ar-Rub'ul-khali ) which is wholly un-inhabited.
Please see the map on page 672.

Ibn Ishaq says that the territory of 'Ad extended from 'Oman to Yaman, and the Qur'an tells us that they actually belonged to Al-Ahqaf from where they spread to the adjoining lands and subdued weak nations.
125 miles to the north of the present-day city of Makkah there is a place in Hadramaut, where the people have built a tomb to the Prophet Hud, and the place is well known as the Grave of Hud.
A religious festival is held there on the 15th of Sha'ban and thousands of people from different parts of Arabia gather there annually.
Although it is not historically established, the grave's being built there and the southern Arabs' visiting it in large numbers is at least a proof that local tradition regards this very territory as the land of `Ad.
Besides, there are several nuns in Hadramaut which the natives still call by the name of Dar-'Ad ( Abode of 'Ad ).

From the present condition of Al-Ahqaf no one can even imagine that this land might have been the home of a mighty people boasting of magnificent civilization.
Probably it was a green and fertile land thousands of years ago, and then the change of climate might have turned it into a sandy desert.
Today it is a vast, wind-swept desert, and no one can dare go into its interior.
In 1843 A.D.
a Bavarian soldier was able to reach its southern edge.
He says that if one looks down from the northern plateau of Hadramaut one can see this desert about a thousand feet in the depression.
Here and there in it there are white areas where if a thing falls it goes on sinking into the sand and decays.
The Arab Beduins fear this land and arc never willing to step into it at any cost.
Once when the Bedouins were not ready to take him there, he went by himself.
He says that the sand there is very fine powder, and when he threw a plummet into it from a distance, it sank into it within five minutes and the end of the line to which it was attached, also decayed.

For detailed information, sec:
Arabia and The Isles, Harold Ingrams, London, 1946.

The Unveiling of Arabia, R H.
Kirnan, London, 1937.

The Empty Quarter.
Philby.
London, 1933.

 

The Story of `Ad Allah says, consoling His Prophet in regard to the rejection of those who opposed him among his people, وَاذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ ( And remember the brother of `Ad, ) This refers to Hud, peace be upon in him.
Allah sent him to the first people of `Ad who inhabited Al-Ahqaf.
Ahqaf is plural of Haqf.
According to Ibn Zayd, it means a sand dune; and according to `Ikrimah, it means a mountain or a cave.
Qatadah said: "We were informed that `Ad was a tribe in Yemen.
They dwelt among sand ( hills ), and overlooked the sea in a land called Ash-Shihr." Under the chapter, "He Who supplicates should first mention Himself," Ibn Majah recorded that Ibn `Abbas narrated that the Prophet said: «يَرْحَمُنَا اللهُ وَأَخَا عَاد» ( May Allah have mercy on us and the Brother of `Ad. ) Allah then says, وَقَدْ خَلَتِ النُّذُرُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ ( And surely, warners had already passed on before him and after him. ) meaning, Allah had sent Messengers and warners to the towns surrounding the land of `Ad.
This is similar to Allah's saying, فَجَعَلْنَـهَا نَكَـلاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا ( And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded them.
) ( 2:66 ) And it is also similar to Allah's saying, فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُواْ فَقُلْ أَنذَرْتُكُمْ صَـعِقَةً مِّثْلَ صَـعِقَةِ عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ إِذْ جَآءَتْهُمُ الرُّسُلُ مِن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ ( But if they turn away, then say: "I have warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt that struck `Ad and Thamud.
(That occurred ) when the Messengers had come to them from before them and after them ( saying ): "Worship none but Allah.") ( 41:13-14 ) Allah then says, إِنِّى أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ ( truly, I fear for you the torment of a mighty Day. ) meaning, Hud said this to them ( his people ), and they responded to him saying, أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَأْفِكَنَا عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا ( Have you come to delude us from our gods ) meaning, to prevent us. عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا ( from our gods ) فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ ( Then bring us that with which you threaten us, if you are one of the truthful! ) They sought to hasten Allah's torment and punishment, believing that it will not happen.
This is similar to Allah's saying, يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا ( Those who do not believe in it (the Last Hour ) seek to hasten it) ( 42:18 ).
Hud's response was, قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِندَ اللَّهِ ( He said: "The knowledge (of that ) is only with Allah.") which means, `Allah knows best about you.
If you deserve the punishment to be hastened, He will do that to you.
As for me, my duty is to deliver my message to you.' وَلَـكِنِّى أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ ( But I see that you are a people given to ignorance! ) which means, `you have no comprehension or understanding.' Allah then says, فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضاً مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ ( Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud approaching their valleys, ) meaning, when they saw the punishment coming towards them, they thought it to be clouds full of rain.
That made them happy and joyful, because they had a drought and needed rain.
Allah then said, بَلْ هُوَ مَا اسْتَعْجَلْتُم بِهِ رِيحٌ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ( Nay, but it is that which you were asking to be hastened -- a wind wherein is a painful torment! ) meaning, this is the torment that you called for saying, "Bring to us what you promise us if you should be of the truthful." تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ( Destroying every thing ) meaning, destroying every part of their land that could normally be destroyed. بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا ( by the command of its Lord! ) meaning, it had Allah's permission to do that.
This is similar to Allah's saying, مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَىْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ جَعَلَتْهُ كَالرَّمِيمِ d( It spared nothing that it reached, but blew it into broken spreads of rotten ruins. ) ( 51:42 ) meaning, like something dilapidated ( or decrepit ).
Because of this, Allah says, فَأْصْبَحُواْ لاَ يُرَى إِلاَّ مَسَـكِنُهُمْ ( So they became such that nothing could be seen except their dwellings! ) means, all of them were destroyed, and none of them were spared.
Allah then says: كَذلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ( Thus do We recompense the criminal people! ) which means that this is Our judgement regarding those who reject Our Messengers and disobey Our commands.
Imam Ahmad recorded from `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said, "I never saw Allah's Messenger ﷺ fully laughing so that I would see his uvula.
He would only smile." She added that when Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw clouds or wind, that would reflect on his face ( as discomfort ).
She asked him: "O Allah's Messenger! When the people see clouds, they become happy, hoping that they bring them rain.
But I notice that when you see them, displeasure appears on your face." Allah's Messenger ﷺ replied, «يَا عَائِشَةُ، مَا يُؤْمِنُنِي أَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ، قَدْ عُذِّبَ قَوْمٌ بِالرِّيحِ، وَقَدْ رَأَى قَوْمٌ الْعَذَابَ وَقَالُوا: هذَا عَارِضٌ مُمْطِرُنَا» ( O `A'ishah! What would guarantee to me that they do not bring punishment Some nations had been punished with wind.
On seeing the punishment approaching them, a nation once said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain." ) This is also recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Imam Ahmad recorded that `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that when Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw clouds on any of the horizons, he would leave whatever he was doing -- even if he was in prayer -- and say: «اللْهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا فِيه» ( O Allah! I seek refuge with you from any harm that it (the cloud ) contains.) If Allah removed those clouds, the Prophet would praise Allah, and if rain fell, he would say: «اللْهُمَّ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًا» ( O Allah! Make it pouring and beneficent. ) Muslim also recorded in his Sahih from `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that when the wind blew, Allah's Messenger ﷺ would say, «اللْهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ،وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا، وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا، وَشَرِّ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِه» ( O Allah! I ask You of its good, the good that it contains, and the good with which it has been sent.
And I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil that it contains, and the evil with which it has been sent. ) She added that if the sky became cloudy, his color would change; he would exit, enter, come, and go.
When it rained, his anxiety would be relieved.
When `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, noticed that, she asked him about it and he said: «لَعَلَّهُ يَا عَائِشَةُ كَمَا قَالَ قَوْمُ عَادٍ: فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضاً مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُواْ هَـذَا عَارِضٌ مُّمْطِرُنَا» ( O `A'ishah! It could be like what the people of `Ad said, (Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" )) We have previously mentioned the story of the destruction of the people of `Ad in both Surat Al-A`raf and Surah Hud.
Thus, there is no need to repeat it here; and verily Allah is worthy of all praise and gratitude.

( And make mention ) O Muhammad to the disbelievers of Mecca ( of the brother of ’Aad ) the Prophet of the Banu ’Aad, i.e. Hud ( when he warned his folk among the wind-curved sandhills ) He says: he warned his folk of the mountains of fire; it is also said: he warned his people from a mountain near Yemen; and it is said: near Historic Syria; and it is said: from the mountain of al-Raml; and it is said in a place near Yemen, ( and verily warners came and went before ) before Hud ( and after him ) and after Hud ( saying: Serve none but Allah ) Hud said to them: declare the divine Oneness of none other than Allah. ( Lo! I fear for you ) I know that ( the doom of a tremendous Day ) a severe torment will befall you if you reject faith.

And remember (Hud) the brother of 'Ad, when he warned his people in Al-Ahqaf (the curved sand-hills in the southern part of Arabian Peninsula). And surely, there have passed away warners before him and after him (saying): "Worship none but Allah; truly, I fear for you the torment of a mighty Day."

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