11: Hud (Hud)
Revealed at Makkah
The history of the Prophet Hūd is referred to in this chapter. While the last chapter dealt mostly with abstract questions relating to the truth of revelation, this chapter illustrates the truth of those questions by referring to the histories of former prophets. Thus it deals with the histories of Noah, Hūd, Sālih, Abraham, Lot and Shuaib. A cruel and persecuting enemy is warned of the fate that befell previous people. This chapter was revealed during the last four years of the period of the Holy Prophet’s life at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 11:1–11:8): A Warning
11:1
الٓرٰ ۟ کِتٰبٌ اُحۡکِمَتۡ اٰیٰتُہٗ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتۡ مِنۡ لَّدُنۡ حَکِیۡمٍ خَبِیۡرٍ ۙ﴿۱﴾
I, Allah, am the Seer. A Book, whose verses are characterized by wisdom, then they are made plain, from One Wise, Aware:
11:2
اَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوۡۤا اِلَّا اللّٰہَ ؕ اِنَّنِیۡ لَکُمۡ مِّنۡہُ نَذِیۡرٌ وَّ بَشِیۡرٌ ۙ﴿۲﴾
that you should serve none but Allah. Surely I am to you from Him a warner and a giver of good news.
11:3
وَّ اَنِ اسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡا رَبَّکُمۡ ثُمَّ تُوۡبُوۡۤا اِلَیۡہِ یُمَتِّعۡکُمۡ مَّتَاعًا حَسَنًا اِلٰۤی اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّی وَّ یُؤۡتِ کُلَّ ذِیۡ فَضۡلٍ فَضۡلَہٗ ؕ وَ اِنۡ تَوَلَّوۡا فَاِنِّیۡۤ اَخَافُ عَلَیۡکُمۡ عَذَابَ یَوۡمٍ کَبِیۡرٍ ﴿۳﴾
And ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him. He will provide you with a goodly provision to an appointed term, and will bestow His grace on every one endowed with grace. And if you turn away, I fear for you the punishment of a great day.
One endowed with grace here is the possessor of spiritual blessings in addition to the material benefits spoken of in the preceding words.
11:4
اِلَی اللّٰہِ مَرۡجِعُکُمۡ ۚ وَ ہُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ قَدِیۡرٌ ﴿۴﴾
To Allah is your return, and He is Powerful over all things.
11:5
اَلَاۤ اِنَّہُمۡ یَثۡنُوۡنَ صُدُوۡرَہُمۡ لِیَسۡتَخۡفُوۡا مِنۡہُ ؕ اَلَا حِیۡنَ یَسۡتَغۡشُوۡنَ ثِیَابَہُمۡ ۙ یَعۡلَمُ مَا یُسِرُّوۡنَ وَ مَا یُعۡلِنُوۡنَ ۚ اِنَّہٗ عَلِیۡمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوۡرِ ﴿۵﴾
Now surely they cover up their breasts to conceal (their enmity) from Him. Now surely, when they put their garments as a covering, He knows what they hide and what they make public. Surely He is Knower of what is in the breasts.
This expression indicates their trying not to see or hear, or holding back from lending an ear, or it is an allusion to their running away.
11:6
وَ مَا مِنۡ دَآبَّۃٍ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اِلَّا عَلَی اللّٰہِ رِزۡقُہَا وَ یَعۡلَمُ مُسۡتَقَرَّہَا وَ مُسۡتَوۡدَعَہَا ؕ کُلٌّ فِیۡ کِتٰبٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۶﴾
And there is no animal in the earth but on Allah is the sustenance of it, and He knows its abode and its repository. All is in a clear record.
11:7
وَ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ فِیۡ سِتَّۃِ اَیَّامٍ وَّ کَانَ عَرۡشُہٗ عَلَی الۡمَآءِ لِیَبۡلُوَکُمۡ اَیُّکُمۡ اَحۡسَنُ عَمَلًا ؕ وَ لَئِنۡ قُلۡتَ اِنَّکُمۡ مَّبۡعُوۡثُوۡنَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ الۡمَوۡتِ لَیَقُوۡلَنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡۤا اِنۡ ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا سِحۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۷﴾
And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods; and His Throne of Power is ever on water that He might manifest (the good qualities in) you, whoever of you is best in deeds. And if you say, You shall surely be raised up after death, those who disbelieve say: This is nothing but clear deceit.
For the meaning of ‘arsh or Throne of Power see 7:54 footnote 2. The great power of God which is manifested in the creation of man is connected with water because physical life grows out of water. Similarly, spiritual life grows out of revelation, which is so often compared with rain or water. God’s great power has thus been made manifest through water, and hence with the creation of the heavens and the earth is mentioned the fact that God’s Throne of Power is ever on the waters. The words that follow make it clearer still.
11:8
وَ لَئِنۡ اَخَّرۡنَا عَنۡہُمُ الۡعَذَابَ اِلٰۤی اُمَّۃٍ مَّعۡدُوۡدَۃٍ لَّیَقُوۡلُنَّ مَا یَحۡبِسُہٗ ؕ اَلَا یَوۡمَ یَاۡتِیۡہِمۡ لَیۡسَ مَصۡرُوۡفًا عَنۡہُمۡ وَ حَاقَ بِہِمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا بِہٖ یَسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ ٪﴿۸﴾
And if We delay for them the punishment for a stated period, they will certainly say: What prevents it? Now surely on the day when it will come to them, it will not be averted from them, and what they mocked at will beset them.
Section 2 (Verses 11:9–11:24): Truth of Revelation
11:9
وَ لَئِنۡ اَذَقۡنَا الۡاِنۡسَانَ مِنَّا رَحۡمَۃً ثُمَّ نَزَعۡنٰہَا مِنۡہُ ۚ اِنَّہٗ لَیَـُٔوۡسٌ کَفُوۡرٌ ﴿۹﴾
And if We make man taste mercy from Us, then withdraw it from him, he is surely despairing, ungrateful.
11:10
وَ لَئِنۡ اَذَقۡنٰہُ نَعۡمَآءَ بَعۡدَ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتۡہُ لَیَقُوۡلَنَّ ذَہَبَ السَّیِّاٰتُ عَنِّیۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ لَفَرِحٌ فَخُوۡرٌ ﴿ۙ۱۰﴾
And if We make him taste a favour after distress has afflicted him, he says: The evils are gone away from me. Certainly he is exultant, boastful,
11:11
اِلَّا الَّذِیۡنَ صَبَرُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَۃٌ وَّ اَجۡرٌ کَبِیۡرٌ ﴿۱۱﴾
except those who are patient and do good. For them is forgiveness and a great reward.
11:12
فَلَعَلَّکَ تَارِکٌۢ بَعۡضَ مَا یُوۡحٰۤی اِلَیۡکَ وَ ضَآئِقٌۢ بِہٖ صَدۡرُکَ اَنۡ یَّقُوۡلُوۡا لَوۡ لَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ عَلَیۡہِ کَنۡزٌ اَوۡ جَآءَ مَعَہٗ مَلَکٌ ؕ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنۡتَ نَذِیۡرٌ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ وَّکِیۡلٌ ﴿ؕ۱۲﴾
Then, may it be that you will give up part of what is revealed to you and your heart will be distressed by it, because they say: Why has not a treasure been sent down for him or an angel come with him? You are only a warner. And Allah is in charge of all things.
This passage does not signify that the Prophet intended to give up any part of the revelation; on the other hand, it is a strong statement indicating that he could not do it. It is a peculiar use of the word la‘alla (“maybe”). When it is intended to show a person’s remoteness from a thing, it is said: Maybe he has power to do such a thing.
11:13
اَمۡ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ افۡتَرٰىہُ ؕ قُلۡ فَاۡتُوۡا بِعَشۡرِ سُوَرٍ مِّثۡلِہٖ مُفۡتَرَیٰتٍ وَّ ادۡعُوۡا مَنِ اسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۱۳﴾
Or, say they: He has forged it. Say: Then bring ten forged chapters like it, and call upon whom you can besides Allah, if you are truthful.
See also 2:23 and footnote. This challenge is contained in four different chapters of the Quran. The earliest in point of revelation is 17:88: “Say: If people and jinn should combine together to bring the like of this Quran, they could not bring the like of it, though some of them were aiders of others.” Then in the verse above, the demand is reduced to ten chapters. Lastly in 10:38 and 2:23 they are challenged to produce a single chapter like the Quran. Another point worth noting is that, while in 17:88 people and jinn are challenged, in 2:23 the word shuhadā’, which means helpers, leaders or their great or learned men, is substituted for jinn, thus showing that jinn in 17:88 are only human beings.
11:14
فَاِلَّمۡ یَسۡتَجِیۡبُوۡا لَکُمۡ فَاعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّمَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ بِعِلۡمِ اللّٰہِ وَ اَنۡ لَّاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ ۚ فَہَلۡ اَنۡتُمۡ مُّسۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
But if they do not answer you, then know that it is revealed by Allah’s knowledge, and that there is no God but He. Will you then submit?
If the false gods or the leaders do not answer their devotees when they call on them to assist them in producing a like of the Quran, then at least no doubt should be left in their minds that the Quran is not the work of the Prophet, but a revelation from the Divine Being.
11:15
مَنۡ کَانَ یُرِیۡدُ الۡحَیٰوۃَ الدُّنۡیَا وَ زِیۡنَتَہَا نُوَفِّ اِلَیۡہِمۡ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ فِیۡہَا وَ ہُمۡ فِیۡہَا لَا یُبۡخَسُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵﴾
Whoever desires this world’s life and its finery — We repay them their deeds in it, and they are not made to suffer loss in it.
11:16
اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَیۡسَ لَہُمۡ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ اِلَّا النَّارُ ۫ۖ وَ حَبِطَ مَا صَنَعُوۡا فِیۡہَا وَ بٰطِلٌ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
These are they for whom there is nothing but Fire in the Hereafter. And what they work in it is fruitless and their deeds are futile.
That is, their deeds will not result in any good to them.
11:17
اَفَمَنۡ کَانَ عَلٰی بَیِّنَۃٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہٖ وَ یَتۡلُوۡہُ شَاہِدٌ مِّنۡہُ وَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ کِتٰبُ مُوۡسٰۤی اِمَامًا وَّ رَحۡمَۃً ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِہٖ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّکۡفُرۡ بِہٖ مِنَ الۡاَحۡزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوۡعِدُہٗ ۚ فَلَا تَکُ فِیۡ مِرۡیَۃٍ مِّنۡہُ ٭ اِنَّہُ الۡحَقُّ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
Is he then (like these) who has with him clear proof from his Lord, and a witness from Him recites it, and before it (is) the Book of Moses, a guide and a mercy? These believe in it. And whoever of the parties disbelieves in it, the Fire is his promised place. So do not be in doubt about it. Surely it is the truth from your Lord, but most people do not believe.
He who has with him clear proof from his Lord applies to every believer in the truth of the Quran; the words these believe in it, occurring further on, make this clear. The witness from Allah, who recites it, is the Holy Prophet, who is called a witness elsewhere, as being an exemplar for the believers. Besides being a clear proof in itself, the Quran has a further evidence of its truth in the book of Moses, which is, therefore, called a guide and a mercy, because it contains clear prophecies of the truth of the Prophet. The meaning of the whole passage is: He who, being a believer in the truth of the Quran, has clear proof from his Lord, and who has an exemplar for him in the person of the Holy Prophet, and has additional testimony of his truth in the book of Moses, is not like him who loves this world and cares not for the Truth. The latter statement, being included in the previous verses, is omitted here.
11:18
وَ مَنۡ اَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ افۡتَرٰی عَلَی اللّٰہِ کَذِبًا ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ یُعۡرَضُوۡنَ عَلٰی رَبِّہِمۡ وَ یَقُوۡلُ الۡاَشۡہَادُ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَبُوۡا عَلٰی رَبِّہِمۡ ۚ اَلَا لَعۡنَۃُ اللّٰہِ عَلَی الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۸﴾
And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah? These will be brought before their Lord, and the witnesses will say: These are they who lied against their Lord. Now surely the curse of Allah is on the wrongdoers,
The witnesses are according to some the angels; according to others, the prophets — and this is corroborated by 4:41; according to still others the believers.
11:19
الَّذِیۡنَ یَصُدُّوۡنَ عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ یَبۡغُوۡنَہَا عِوَجًا ؕ وَ ہُمۡ بِالۡاٰخِرَۃِ ہُمۡ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾
who hinder (people) from the path of Allah and desire to make it crooked. And they are disbelievers in the Hereafter.
11:20
اُولٰٓئِکَ لَمۡ یَکُوۡنُوۡا مُعۡجِزِیۡنَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا کَانَ لَہُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ اَوۡلِیَآءَ ۘ یُضٰعَفُ لَہُمُ الۡعَذَابُ ؕ مَا کَانُوۡا یَسۡتَطِیۡعُوۡنَ السَّمۡعَ وَ مَا کَانُوۡا یُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
These will not escape in the earth, nor do they have guardians besides Allah. The punishment will be doubled for them. They could not bear to hear, and they did not see.
They would not escape the punishment, if Allah intended to punish them in this world.
11:21
اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ خَسِرُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ وَ ضَلَّ عَنۡہُمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَفۡتَرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۱﴾
These are they who have lost their souls, and what they forged is gone from them.
11:22
لَا جَرَمَ اَنَّہُمۡ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ہُمُ الۡاَخۡسَرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۲﴾
Truly in the Hereafter they are the greatest losers.
11:23
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَ اَخۡبَتُوۡۤا اِلٰی رَبِّہِمۡ ۙ اُولٰٓئِکَ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡجَنَّۃِ ۚ ہُمۡ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾
Surely those who believe and do good and humble themselves before their Lord, these are the owners of the Garden; in it they will abide.
11:24
مَثَلُ الۡفَرِیۡقَیۡنِ کَالۡاَعۡمٰی وَ الۡاَصَمِّ وَ الۡبَصِیۡرِ وَ السَّمِیۡعِ ؕ ہَلۡ یَسۡتَوِیٰنِ مَثَلًا ؕ اَفَلَا تَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۲۴﴾
The likeness of the two parties is as the blind and the deaf, and the seer and the hearer. Are they equal in condition? Will you not then be mindful?
Section 3 (Verses 11:25–11:35): History of Noah
11:25
وَ لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا اِلٰی قَوۡمِہٖۤ ۫ اِنِّیۡ لَکُمۡ نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿ۙ۲۵﴾
And certainly We sent Noah to his people (saying): Surely I am a plain warner to you,
11:26
اَنۡ لَّا تَعۡبُدُوۡۤا اِلَّا اللّٰہَ ؕ اِنِّیۡۤ اَخَافُ عَلَیۡکُمۡ عَذَابَ یَوۡمٍ اَلِیۡمٍ ﴿۲۶﴾
to serve none but Allah. Indeed I fear for you the punishment of a painful day.
11:27
فَقَالَ الۡمَلَاُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡ قَوۡمِہٖ مَا نَرٰىکَ اِلَّا بَشَرًا مِّثۡلَنَا وَ مَا نَرٰىکَ اتَّبَعَکَ اِلَّا الَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ اَرَاذِلُنَا بَادِیَ الرَّاۡیِ ۚ وَ مَا نَرٰی لَکُمۡ عَلَیۡنَا مِنۡ فَضۡلٍۭ بَلۡ نَظُنُّکُمۡ کٰذِبِیۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
But the chiefs of his people who disbelieved said: We do not see you but (as) a mortal like us, nor do we see that any follow you but those who are the lowest of us at first thought. Nor do we see in you any superiority over us; no, we think you to be liars.
11:28
قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اَرَءَیۡتُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُ عَلٰی بَیِّنَۃٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّیۡ وَ اٰتٰىنِیۡ رَحۡمَۃً مِّنۡ عِنۡدِہٖ فَعُمِّیَتۡ عَلَیۡکُمۡ ؕ اَنُلۡزِمُکُمُوۡہَا وَ اَنۡتُمۡ لَہَا کٰرِہُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
He said: My people, do you see if I have with me clear proof from my Lord, and He has granted me mercy from Himself and it has been made obscure to you? Can we compel you to (accept) it while you dislike it?
11:29
وَ یٰقَوۡمِ لَاۤ اَسۡئَلُکُمۡ عَلَیۡہِ مَالًا ؕ اِنۡ اَجۡرِیَ اِلَّا عَلَی اللّٰہِ وَ مَاۤ اَنَا بِطَارِدِ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ مُّلٰقُوۡا رَبِّہِمۡ وَ لٰکِنِّیۡۤ اَرٰىکُمۡ قَوۡمًا تَجۡہَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
And, my people, I do not ask you for wealth (in return) for it. My reward is only with Allah, and I am not going to drive away those who believe. Surely they will meet their Lord, but I see you a people who are ignorant.
11:30
وَ یٰقَوۡمِ مَنۡ یَّنۡصُرُنِیۡ مِنَ اللّٰہِ اِنۡ طَرَدۡتُّہُمۡ ؕ اَفَلَا تَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۰﴾
And, my people, who will help me against Allah, if I drive them away? Will you not then be mindful?
11:31
وَ لَاۤ اَقُوۡلُ لَکُمۡ عِنۡدِیۡ خَزَآئِنُ اللّٰہِ وَ لَاۤ اَعۡلَمُ الۡغَیۡبَ وَ لَاۤ اَقُوۡلُ اِنِّیۡ مَلَکٌ وَّ لَاۤ اَقُوۡلُ لِلَّذِیۡنَ تَزۡدَرِیۡۤ اَعۡیُنُکُمۡ لَنۡ یُّؤۡتِیَہُمُ اللّٰہُ خَیۡرًا ؕ اَللّٰہُ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَا فِیۡۤ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ ۚۖ اِنِّیۡۤ اِذًا لَّمِنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۳۱﴾
And I do not say to you that I have the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I say that I am an angel. Nor do I say about those whom your eyes scorn that Allah will not grant them (any) good — Allah knows best what is in their souls — for then indeed I should be of the wrongdoers.
11:32
قَالُوۡا یٰنُوۡحُ قَدۡ جٰدَلۡتَنَا فَاَکۡثَرۡتَ جِدَالَنَا فَاۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَاۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الصّٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
They said: Noah, indeed you have disputed with us and prolonged dispute with us, so bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are truthful.
11:33
قَالَ اِنَّمَا یَاۡتِیۡکُمۡ بِہِ اللّٰہُ اِنۡ شَآءَ وَ مَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ بِمُعۡجِزِیۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
He said: Only Allah will bring it on you, if He please, and you will not escape;
11:34
وَ لَا یَنۡفَعُکُمۡ نُصۡحِیۡۤ اِنۡ اَرَدۡتُّ اَنۡ اَنۡصَحَ لَکُمۡ اِنۡ کَانَ اللّٰہُ یُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ یُّغۡوِیَکُمۡ ؕ ہُوَ رَبُّکُمۡ ۟ وَ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۳۴﴾
and my advice will not benefit you, if I intend to give you good advice, if Allah intends to destroy you. He is your Lord; and to Him you will be brought back.
11:35
اَمۡ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ افۡتَرٰىہُ ؕ قُلۡ اِنِ افۡتَرَیۡتُہٗ فَعَلَیَّ اِجۡرَامِیۡ وَ اَنَا بَرِیۡٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُجۡرِمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۳۵﴾
Or do they say: He has forged it? Say: If I have forged it, on me is my guilt; and I am free of what you are guilty of.
The change shows positively that the disbelievers of Makkah are meant, and the reference is to their calling the Quran a forgery. This shows that the histories of the prophets are referred to in the Quran as a warning for the Holy Prophet’s opponents.
Section 4 (Verses 11:36–11:49): History of Noah
11:36
وَ اُوۡحِیَ اِلٰی نُوۡحٍ اَنَّہٗ لَنۡ یُّؤۡمِنَ مِنۡ قَوۡمِکَ اِلَّا مَنۡ قَدۡ اٰمَنَ فَلَا تَبۡتَئِسۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَفۡعَلُوۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۳۶﴾
And it was revealed to Noah: None of your people will believe except those who have already believed, so do not grieve at what they do;
11:37
وَ اصۡنَعِ الۡفُلۡکَ بِاَعۡیُنِنَا وَ وَحۡیِنَا وَ لَا تُخَاطِبۡنِیۡ فِی الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا ۚ اِنَّہُمۡ مُّغۡرَقُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
and make the ark under Our eyes and Our revelation, and do not speak to Me on behalf of those who are unjust. Surely they will be drowned.
11:38
وَ یَصۡنَعُ الۡفُلۡکَ ۟ وَ کُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَیۡہِ مَلَاٌ مِّنۡ قَوۡمِہٖ سَخِرُوۡا مِنۡہُ ؕ قَالَ اِنۡ تَسۡخَرُوۡا مِنَّا فَاِنَّا نَسۡخَرُ مِنۡکُمۡ کَمَا تَسۡخَرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۳۸﴾
And he began to make the ark. And whenever the chiefs of his people passed by him, they laughed at him. He said: If you laugh at us, surely we, too, laugh at you as you laugh (at us).
The laughing of the righteous at the wicked is not to be taken literally. You laugh at a thing to show your contempt for it; just as the disbelieving people showed their contempt for the making of the ark, the believer in Divine promise shows his contempt for their opposition and their plans to destroy him.
11:39
فَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ۙ مَنۡ یَّاۡتِیۡہِ عَذَابٌ یُّخۡزِیۡہِ وَ یَحِلُّ عَلَیۡہِ عَذَابٌ مُّقِیۡمٌ ﴿۳۹﴾
So you shall know who it is on whom will come a punishment which will disgrace him, and on whom a lasting punishment will fall.
11:40
حَتّٰۤی اِذَا جَآءَ اَمۡرُنَا وَ فَارَ التَّنُّوۡرُ ۙ قُلۡنَا احۡمِلۡ فِیۡہَا مِنۡ کُلٍّ زَوۡجَیۡنِ اثۡنَیۡنِ وَ اَہۡلَکَ اِلَّا مَنۡ سَبَقَ عَلَیۡہِ الۡقَوۡلُ وَ مَنۡ اٰمَنَ ؕ وَ مَاۤ اٰمَنَ مَعَہٗۤ اِلَّا قَلِیۡلٌ ﴿۴۰﴾
At length when Our command came and water gushed forth from the valley, We said: Carry in it two of all things, a pair, and your own family — except those against whom the word has already gone forth — and those who believe. And only a few believed with him.
Fār al-tannūr has often been translated as the oven poured forth water or the oven boiled or the earth’s surface boiled up. But the meaning of fāra which suits the context here, is not of boiling, but of water spouting forth, and that of tannūr applicable here is not oven but a place where the water of a valley collects.
11:41
وَ قَالَ ارۡکَبُوۡا فِیۡہَا بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ مَجۡؔرٖىہَا وَ مُرۡسٰىہَا ؕ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ لَغَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۴۱﴾
And he said: Embark in it, in the name of Allah be its sailing and its anchoring. Surely my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.
11:42
وَ ہِیَ تَجۡرِیۡ بِہِمۡ فِیۡ مَوۡجٍ کَالۡجِبَالِ ۟ وَ نَادٰی نُوۡحُۨ ابۡنَہٗ وَ کَانَ فِیۡ مَعۡزِلٍ یّٰـبُنَیَّ ارۡکَبۡ مَّعَنَا وَ لَا تَکُنۡ مَّعَ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۴۲﴾
And it moved on with them amid waves like mountains. And Noah called out to his son, who was apart: My son, embark with us and do not be with the disbelievers.
The Quran does not support the story that the deluge covered the whole surface of the earth. On the other hand, it repeatedly speaks of Noah as having been sent to his people, i.e. to a single tribe, and according to the Divine law the punishment must have overtaken his people, who not only rejected the truth, but also sought to destroy Noah and his followers. The mention of the water flowing from the valley also shows that it was only a tract of land that was deluged, and not the entire earth. The taking in of a pair of all things does not mean that Noah had travelled over the whole earth and taken a pair of every living animal wherever it could be found. The order is clearly to take in pairs of all those things that he considered necessary for himself and those who were with him in the ark. The Bible narrative, which speaks of God “bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life,” (Genesis, 6:17), and then makes Noah collect and lodge in an ark a pair of each of the thousands of animals and birds, cannot be accepted.
11:43
قَالَ سَاٰوِیۡۤ اِلٰی جَبَلٍ یَّعۡصِمُنِیۡ مِنَ الۡمَآءِ ؕ قَالَ لَا عَاصِمَ الۡیَوۡمَ مِنۡ اَمۡرِ اللّٰہِ اِلَّا مَنۡ رَّحِمَ ۚ وَ حَالَ بَیۡنَہُمَا الۡمَوۡجُ فَکَانَ مِنَ الۡمُغۡرَقِیۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
He said: I will take refuge on a mountain that will save me from the water. He said: There is none safe today from Allah’s command, but he on whom He has mercy. And a wave intervened between them, so he was among the drowned.
11:44
وَ قِیۡلَ یٰۤاَرۡضُ ابۡلَعِیۡ مَآءَکِ وَ یٰسَمَآءُ اَقۡلِعِیۡ وَ غِیۡضَ الۡمَآءُ وَ قُضِیَ الۡاَمۡرُ وَ اسۡتَوَتۡ عَلَی الۡجُوۡدِیِّ وَ قِیۡلَ بُعۡدًا لِّلۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۴﴾
And it was said: O earth, swallow your water, and O cloud, clear away. And the water was made to subside, and the affair was decided, and it rested on the Jūdī, and it was said: Away with the wrongdoing people!
The Greek name of this mountain is said to be Gordyoei, being one of those mountains which divide Armenia on the south from Mesopotamia (Iraq).
11:45
وَ نَادٰی نُوۡحٌ رَّبَّہٗ فَقَالَ رَبِّ اِنَّ ابۡنِیۡ مِنۡ اَہۡلِیۡ وَ اِنَّ وَعۡدَکَ الۡحَقُّ وَ اَنۡتَ اَحۡکَمُ الۡحٰکِمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۵﴾
And Noah cried to his Lord and said: My Lord, surely my son is of my family, and Your promise is true, and You are the most just of the judges.
11:46
قَالَ یٰنُوۡحُ اِنَّہٗ لَیۡسَ مِنۡ اَہۡلِکَ ۚ اِنَّہٗ عَمَلٌ غَیۡرُ صَالِحٍ ٭۫ۖ فَلَا تَسۡـَٔلۡنِ مَا لَـیۡسَ لَکَ بِہٖ عِلۡمٌ ؕ اِنِّیۡۤ اَعِظُکَ اَنۡ تَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡجٰہِلِیۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
He said: O Noah, he is not of your family; he is (an embodiment of) unrighteous conduct. So do not ask of Me that of which you have no knowledge. I admonish you so you may not be of the ignorant ones.
When it is meant to speak of a person as the very embodiment of a certain quality, he is designated not as the possessor of that quality, but as that quality itself. In 2:177 it is said, literally, righteousness is the one who believes, the meaning being that such a person is the embodiment of righteousness.
11:47
قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡۤ اَعُوۡذُ بِکَ اَنۡ اَسۡـَٔلَکَ مَا لَـیۡسَ لِیۡ بِہٖ عِلۡمٌ ؕ وَ اِلَّا تَغۡفِرۡ لِیۡ وَ تَرۡحَمۡنِیۡۤ اَکُنۡ مِّنَ الۡخٰسِرِیۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
He said: My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking of You that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I shall be among the losers.
11:48
قِیۡلَ یٰنُوۡحُ اہۡبِطۡ بِسَلٰمٍ مِّنَّا وَ بَرَکٰتٍ عَلَیۡکَ وَ عَلٰۤی اُمَمٍ مِّمَّنۡ مَّعَکَ ؕ وَ اُمَمٌ سَنُمَتِّعُہُمۡ ثُمَّ یَمَسُّہُمۡ مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۴۸﴾
It was said: O Noah, descend with peace from Us and blessing on you and on nations (springing) from those with you. And there are nations whom We afford provisions, then a painful punishment from Us afflicts them.
11:49
تِلۡکَ مِنۡ اَنۡۢبَآءِ الۡغَیۡبِ نُوۡحِیۡہَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ ۚ مَا کُنۡتَ تَعۡلَمُہَاۤ اَنۡتَ وَ لَا قَوۡمُکَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِ ہٰذَا ؕۛ فَاصۡبِرۡ ؕۛ اِنَّ الۡعَاقِبَۃَ لِلۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿٪۴۹﴾
These are announcements relating to the unseen which We reveal to you; you did not know them — (neither) you nor your people — before this. So be patient. Surely the (good) end is for the dutiful.
The announcement relating to the unseen is the fate of the opponents of the Holy Prophet as read in Noah’s history. The words that follow — be patient — are a clear indication, for patient waiting was needed for the fate of the Prophet’s opponents, not for anything relating to Noah’s history.
Section 5 (Verses 11:50–11:60): History of Hud
11:50
وَ اِلٰی عَادٍ اَخَاہُمۡ ہُوۡدًا ؕ قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرُہٗ ؕ اِنۡ اَنۡتُمۡ اِلَّا مُفۡتَرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۰﴾
And to Ād (We sent) their brother Hūd. He said: My people, serve Allah, you have no god other than Him. You are only fabricators.
See 7:65 footnote.
11:51
یٰقَوۡمِ لَاۤ اَسۡـَٔلُکُمۡ عَلَیۡہِ اَجۡرًا ؕ اِنۡ اَجۡرِیَ اِلَّا عَلَی الَّذِیۡ فَطَرَنِیۡ ؕ اَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۵۱﴾
My people, I ask of you no reward for it. My reward is only with Him Who created me. Do you not then understand?
11:52
وَ یٰقَوۡمِ اسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡا رَبَّکُمۡ ثُمَّ تُوۡبُوۡۤا اِلَیۡہِ یُرۡسِلِ السَّمَآءَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ مِّدۡرَارًا وَّ یَزِدۡکُمۡ قُوَّۃً اِلٰی قُوَّتِکُمۡ وَ لَا تَتَوَلَّوۡا مُجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾
And, my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him, He will send on you clouds pouring down abundance of rain and add strength to your strength, and do not turn back, guilty.
11:53
قَالُوۡا یٰہُوۡدُ مَا جِئۡتَنَا بِبَیِّنَۃٍ وَّ مَا نَحۡنُ بِتَارِکِیۡۤ اٰلِہَتِنَا عَنۡ قَوۡلِکَ وَ مَا نَحۡنُ لَکَ بِمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۵۳﴾
They said: Hūd, you have brought us no clear argument, and we are not going to desert our gods for your word, and we are not believers in you.
11:54
اِنۡ نَّقُوۡلُ اِلَّا اعۡتَرٰىکَ بَعۡضُ اٰلِہَتِنَا بِسُوۡٓءٍ ؕ قَالَ اِنِّیۡۤ اُشۡہِدُ اللّٰہَ وَ اشۡہَدُوۡۤا اَنِّیۡ بَرِیۡٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۴﴾
We say nothing but that some of our gods have struck you with evil. He said: Surely I call Allah to witness, and you should bear witness too, that I am innocent of what you set up (with Allah)
11:55
مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖ فَکِیۡدُوۡنِیۡ جَمِیۡعًا ثُمَّ لَا تُنۡظِرُوۡنِ ﴿۵۵﴾
besides Him. So scheme against me all together, then give me no respite.
11:56
اِنِّیۡ تَوَکَّلۡتُ عَلَی اللّٰہِ رَبِّیۡ وَ رَبِّکُمۡ ؕ مَا مِنۡ دَآبَّۃٍ اِلَّا ہُوَ اٰخِذٌۢ بِنَاصِیَتِہَا ؕ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ عَلٰی صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِیۡمٍ ﴿۵۶﴾
Surely I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no living creature but He grasps it by its forelock. Surely my Lord is on the right path.
My Lord is on the right path signifies that He does not deviate from justice.
11:57
فَاِنۡ تَوَلَّوۡا فَقَدۡ اَبۡلَغۡتُکُمۡ مَّاۤ اُرۡسِلۡتُ بِہٖۤ اِلَیۡکُمۡ ؕ وَ یَسۡتَخۡلِفُ رَبِّیۡ قَوۡمًا غَیۡرَکُمۡ ۚ وَ لَا تَضُرُّوۡنَہٗ شَیۡئًا ؕ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ حَفِیۡظٌ ﴿۵۷﴾
But if you turn away, then indeed I have delivered to you the message with which I am sent to you. And my Lord will bring another people in your place, and you cannot do Him any harm. Surely my Lord is the Preserver of all things.
11:58
وَ لَمَّا جَآءَ اَمۡرُنَا نَجَّیۡنَا ہُوۡدًا وَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مَعَہٗ بِرَحۡمَۃٍ مِّنَّا ۚ وَ نَجَّیۡنٰہُمۡ مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ غَلِیۡظٍ ﴿۵۸﴾
And when Our commandment came to pass, We delivered Hūd and those who believed with him with mercy from Us; and We delivered them from a hard punishment.
11:59
وَ تِلۡکَ عَادٌ ۟ۙ جَحَدُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِ رَبِّہِمۡ وَ عَصَوۡا رُسُلَہٗ وَ اتَّبَعُوۡۤا اَمۡرَ کُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِیۡدٍ ﴿۵۹﴾
And such were Ād. They denied the messages of their Lord, and disobeyed His messengers and followed the bidding of every insolent opposer (of truth).
11:60
وَ اُتۡبِعُوۡا فِیۡ ہٰذِہِ الدُّنۡیَا لَعۡنَۃً وَّ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّ عَادًا کَفَرُوۡا رَبَّہُمۡ ؕ اَلَا بُعۡدًا لِّعَادٍ قَوۡمِ ہُوۡدٍ ﴿٪۶۰﴾
And they were overtaken by a curse in this world and on the day of Resurrection. Now surely Ād disbelieved in their Lord. Now surely, away with Ād, the people of Hūd!
Section 6 (Verses 11:61–11:68): History of Salih
11:61
وَ اِلٰی ثَمُوۡدَ اَخَاہُمۡ صٰلِحًا ۘ قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرُہٗ ؕ ہُوَ اَنۡشَاَکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ اسۡتَعۡمَرَکُمۡ فِیۡہَا فَاسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡہُ ثُمَّ تُوۡبُوۡۤا اِلَیۡہِ ؕ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ قَرِیۡبٌ مُّجِیۡبٌ ﴿۶۱﴾
And to Thamūd (We sent) their brother Sālih. He said: My people, serve Allah, you have no god other than Him. He brought you forth from the earth and made you dwell in it, so ask forgiveness of Him, then turn to Him. Surely my Lord is near, answering.
See 7:73 footnote 1.
11:62
قَالُوۡا یٰصٰلِحُ قَدۡ کُنۡتَ فِیۡنَا مَرۡجُوًّا قَبۡلَ ہٰذَاۤ اَتَنۡہٰنَاۤ اَنۡ نَّعۡبُدَ مَا یَعۡبُدُ اٰبَآؤُنَا وَ اِنَّنَا لَفِیۡ شَکٍّ مِّمَّا تَدۡعُوۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِ مُرِیۡبٍ ﴿۶۲﴾
They said: Sālih, you were among us a centre of (our) hopes before this. Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped? And surely we are in grave doubt about that to which you call us.
11:63
قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اَرَءَیۡتُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُ عَلٰی بَیِّنَۃٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّیۡ وَ اٰتٰىنِیۡ مِنۡہُ رَحۡمَۃً فَمَنۡ یَّنۡصُرُنِیۡ مِنَ اللّٰہِ اِنۡ عَصَیۡتُہٗ ۟ فَمَا تَزِیۡدُوۡنَنِیۡ غَیۡرَ تَخۡسِیۡرٍ ﴿۶۳﴾
He said: My people, do you see if I have clear proof from my Lord and He has granted me mercy from Himself — who will then help me against Allah, if I disobey Him? So you would add to me nothing but perdition.
11:64
وَ یٰقَوۡمِ ہٰذِہٖ نَاقَۃُ اللّٰہِ لَکُمۡ اٰیَۃً فَذَرُوۡہَا تَاۡکُلۡ فِیۡۤ اَرۡضِ اللّٰہِ وَ لَا تَمَسُّوۡہَا بِسُوۡٓءٍ فَیَاۡخُذَکُمۡ عَذَابٌ قَرِیۡبٌ ﴿۶۴﴾
And, my people, this is Allah’s she-camel, a sign for you, so leave her to pasture on Allah’s earth and do her no harm, or a punishment will soon come upon you.
See 7:73 footnote 2.
11:65
فَعَقَرُوۡہَا فَقَالَ تَمَتَّعُوۡا فِیۡ دَارِکُمۡ ثَلٰثَۃَ اَیَّامٍ ؕ ذٰلِکَ وَعۡدٌ غَیۡرُ مَکۡذُوۡبٍ ﴿۶۵﴾
But they hamstrung her, so he said: Enjoy yourselves in your houses for three days. That is a promise not to be belied.
11:66
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ اَمۡرُنَا نَجَّیۡنَا صٰلِحًا وَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مَعَہٗ بِرَحۡمَۃٍ مِّنَّا وَ مِنۡ خِزۡیِ یَوۡمِئِذٍ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ ہُوَ الۡقَوِیُّ الۡعَزِیۡزُ ﴿۶۶﴾
So when Our commandment came to pass, We saved Sālih and those who believed with him by mercy from Us from the disgrace of that day. Surely your Lord — He is the Strong, the Mighty.
11:67
وَ اَخَذَ الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوا الصَّیۡحَۃُ فَاَصۡبَحُوۡا فِیۡ دِیَارِہِمۡ جٰثِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۶۷﴾
And the cry overtook those who did wrong, so they were motionless bodies in their abodes,
It was an earthquake. See 7:78.
11:68
کَاَنۡ لَّمۡ یَغۡنَوۡا فِیۡہَا ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّ ثَمُوۡدَا۠ کَفَرُوۡا رَبَّہُمۡ ؕ اَلَا بُعۡدًا لِّثَمُوۡدَ ﴿٪۶۸﴾
as though they had never dwelt in them. Now surely Thamūd disbelieved in their Lord. So away with Thamūd!
Section 7 (Verses 11:69–11:83): Abraham and Lot
11:69
وَ لَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُنَاۤ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ بِالۡبُشۡرٰی قَالُوۡا سَلٰمًا ؕ قَالَ سَلٰمٌ فَمَا لَبِثَ اَنۡ جَآءَ بِعِجۡلٍ حَنِیۡذٍ ﴿۶۹﴾
And certainly Our messengers came to Abraham with good news. They said: ‘Peace!’ ‘Peace!’, said he. And he made no delay in bringing a roasted calf.
Whether they were angels or men, is not made clear here or anywhere else in the Quran. But as they did not partake of food, and the fact that they brought to Abraham news of a son and of the destruction of Lot’s people, they are generally looked upon as angels who appeared in the similitude of men.
11:70
فَلَمَّا رَاٰۤ اَیۡدِیَہُمۡ لَا تَصِلُ اِلَیۡہِ نَکِرَہُمۡ وَ اَوۡجَسَ مِنۡہُمۡ خِیۡفَۃً ؕ قَالُوۡا لَا تَخَفۡ اِنَّاۤ اُرۡسِلۡنَاۤ اِلٰی قَوۡمِ لُوۡطٍ ﴿ؕ۷۰﴾
But when he saw that their hands did not reach to it, he mistrusted them and conceived fear of them. They said: Do not fear; we have been sent to Lot’s people.
11:71
وَ امۡرَاَتُہٗ قَآئِمَۃٌ فَضَحِکَتۡ فَبَشَّرۡنٰہَا بِاِسۡحٰقَ ۙ وَ مِنۡ وَّرَآءِ اِسۡحٰقَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ ﴿۷۱﴾
And his wife was standing (by), so she wondered. Then We gave her the good news of Isaac, and beyond Isaac, of Jacob.
It is made clear in 51:24–34 that the news of the birth of a son was given to Abraham first. This explains Sarah’s wonder. It was after receiving the good news of the birth of a son that Abraham was informed of the destruction of Lot’s people. The statement made further on that Sarah was given the good news of the birth of a son is by way of reassurance on her expression of wonder, and to give the further news of a son’s son, Jacob.
11:72
قَالَتۡ یٰوَیۡلَتٰۤیءَ اَلِدُ وَ اَنَا عَجُوۡزٌ وَّ ہٰذَا بَعۡلِیۡ شَیۡخًا ؕ اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَشَیۡءٌ عَجِیۡبٌ ﴿۷۲﴾
She said: O wonder! Shall I bear a son when I am an extremely old woman, and this my husband an extremely old man? This is a wonderful thing indeed!
The original words yā wailatā, while used to express grief and sorrow, are also used to express wonder.
11:73
قَالُوۡۤا اَتَعۡجَبِیۡنَ مِنۡ اَمۡرِ اللّٰہِ رَحۡمَتُ اللّٰہِ وَ بَرَکٰتُہٗ عَلَیۡکُمۡ اَہۡلَ الۡبَیۡتِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ حَمِیۡدٌ مَّجِیۡدٌ ﴿۷۳﴾
They said: Do you wonder at Allah’s commandment? The mercy of Allah and His blessings be on you, people of the house! Surely He is Praised, Glorious.
Ahl al-bait (“people of the house”) includes the wife of a person; in fact, it is Abraham’s wife who is primarily addressed here. The same phrase in the case of the Holy Prophet (33:33) includes his wives as well as his children.
11:74
فَلَمَّا ذَہَبَ عَنۡ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ الرَّوۡعُ وَ جَآءَتۡہُ الۡبُشۡرٰی یُجَادِلُنَا فِیۡ قَوۡمِ لُوۡطٍ ﴿ؕ۷۴﴾
So when fear departed from Abraham and good news came to him, he began to plead with Us for Lot’s people.
11:75
اِنَّ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ لَحَلِیۡمٌ اَوَّاہٌ مُّنِیۡبٌ ﴿۷۵﴾
Surely Abraham was forbearing, tender-hearted, oft-returning (to Allah).
11:76
یٰۤـاِبۡرٰہِیۡمُ اَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡ ہٰذَا ۚ اِنَّہٗ قَدۡ جَآءَ اَمۡرُ رَبِّکَ ۚ وَ اِنَّہُمۡ اٰتِیۡہِمۡ عَذَابٌ غَیۡرُ مَرۡدُوۡدٍ ﴿۷۶﴾
O Abraham, cease from this. Surely the decree of your Lord has gone forth and a punishment must come to them which cannot be averted.
11:77
وَ لَمَّا جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُنَا لُوۡطًا سِیۡٓءَ بِہِمۡ وَ ضَاقَ بِہِمۡ ذَرۡعًا وَّ قَالَ ہٰذَا یَوۡمٌ عَصِیۡبٌ ﴿۷۷﴾
And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was grieved for them, and he was unable to protect them, and said: This is a distressful day!
11:78
وَ جَآءَہٗ قَوۡمُہٗ یُہۡرَعُوۡنَ اِلَیۡہِ ؕ وَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ السَّیِّاٰتِ ؕ قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ بَنَاتِیۡ ہُنَّ اَطۡہَرُ لَکُمۡ فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَ لَا تُخۡزُوۡنِ فِیۡ ضَیۡفِیۡ ؕ اَلَـیۡسَ مِنۡکُمۡ رَجُلٌ رَّشِیۡدٌ ﴿۷۸﴾
And his people came to him, (as if) driven on towards him, and they were used to the doing of evil deeds before. He said: My people, these are my daughters — they are purer for you; so guard against (the punishment of) Allah and do not disgrace me about my guests. Is there not among you any right-minded man?
Lot, it appears from Genesis 19:9, was a stranger in the city, and the messengers being strangers, the townsmen would not allow him to keep them. Lot offered his daughters as hostages so that he might be allowed to keep his guests with him, for according to 15:70 he had not permission to allow any stranger to come under his roof. Another view is that Lot offered his daughters for marriage, as thus he would not be a stranger among them but would be one of them. Some commentators have suggested that Lot did not point to his real daughters, but to women of the tribe, because a prophet would speak of the women of his tribe as his daughters, and in that case he did no more than point to the natural relation of man and woman. The answer of his people seems, however, to relate to his daughters.
11:79
قَالُوۡا لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتَ مَا لَنَا فِیۡ بَنٰتِکَ مِنۡ حَقٍّ ۚ وَ اِنَّکَ لَتَعۡلَمُ مَا نُرِیۡدُ ﴿۷۹﴾
They said: Certainly you know that we have no claim on your daughters, and you know what we desire.
11:80
قَالَ لَوۡ اَنَّ لِیۡ بِکُمۡ قُوَّۃً اَوۡ اٰوِیۡۤ اِلٰی رُکۡنٍ شَدِیۡدٍ ﴿۸۰﴾
He said: If only I had the power to repel you! — rather I shall have recourse to a strong support.
Allah is the strong support to Whom the righteous have recourse when they are in trouble. The particle au signifies or, as well as rather.
11:81
قَالُوۡا یٰلُوۡطُ اِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّکَ لَنۡ یَّصِلُوۡۤا اِلَیۡکَ فَاَسۡرِ بِاَہۡلِکَ بِقِطۡعٍ مِّنَ الَّیۡلِ وَ لَا یَلۡتَفِتۡ مِنۡکُمۡ اَحَدٌ اِلَّا امۡرَاَتَکَ ؕ اِنَّہٗ مُصِیۡبُہَا مَاۤ اَصَابَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ مَوۡعِدَہُمُ الصُّبۡحُ ؕ اَلَـیۡسَ الصُّبۡحُ بِقَرِیۡبٍ ﴿۸۱﴾
They said: Lot, we are the messengers of your Lord. They shall not reach you. So travel with your people for a part of the night — and let none of you turn back — except your wife. Surely whatsoever befalls them shall befall her. Surely their appointed time is the morning. Is not the morning near?
11:82
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ اَمۡرُنَا جَعَلۡنَا عَالِیَہَا سَافِلَہَا وَ اَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَیۡہَا حِجَارَۃً مِّنۡ سِجِّیۡلٍ ۬ۙ مَّنۡضُوۡدٍ ﴿ۙ۸۲﴾
So when Our decree came to pass, We turned them upside down, and rained on them stones, as decreed, one after another,
It was a severe earthquake, which so utterly demolished the cities as to turn them upside down. In 15:73 it is called a rumbling that precedes an earthquake; see 7:84. The raining down of stones might have been the result of a volcanic eruption which was accompanied by an earthquake.
11:83
مُّسَوَّمَۃً عِنۡدَ رَبِّکَ ؕ وَ مَا ہِیَ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ بِبَعِیۡدٍ ﴿٪۸۳﴾
marked (for punishment) with your Lord. And it is not far off from the wrongdoers.
The concluding words indicate a reversion to the subject of the punishment of the opponents of the Holy Prophet. It refers to the punishment.
Section 8 (Verses 11:84–11:95): History of Shuaib
11:84
وَ اِلٰی مَدۡیَنَ اَخَاہُمۡ شُعَیۡبًا ؕ قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرُہٗ ؕ وَ لَا تَنۡقُصُوا الۡمِکۡیَالَ وَ الۡمِیۡزَانَ اِنِّیۡۤ اَرٰىکُمۡ بِخَیۡرٍ وَّ اِنِّیۡۤ اَخَافُ عَلَیۡکُمۡ عَذَابَ یَوۡمٍ مُّحِیۡطٍ ﴿۸۴﴾
And to Midian (We sent) their brother Shuaib. He said: My people, serve Allah, you have no god other than Him. And do not give short measure and weight. I see you in prosperity, and I fear for you the punishment of an all-encompassing day.
11:85
وَ یٰقَوۡمِ اَوۡفُوا الۡمِکۡیَالَ وَ الۡمِیۡزَانَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ وَ لَا تَبۡخَسُوا النَّاسَ اَشۡیَآءَہُمۡ وَ لَا تَعۡثَوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۸۵﴾
And, my people, give full measure and weight justly, and do not defraud people of their things, nor act corruptly in the land, making mischief.
11:86
بَقِیَّتُ اللّٰہِ خَیۡرٌ لَّکُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ۬ۚ وَ مَاۤ اَنَا عَلَیۡکُمۡ بِحَفِیۡظٍ ﴿۸۶﴾
What remains with Allah is better for you, if you are believers. And I am not a keeper over you.
Baqiyyat Allāh would properly signify that part of man’s doing which remains with Allah, i.e., the righteous or good works, of which the recompense remains, the word conveying the same significance as bāqiyāt in 18:46 and 19:76. But it may also mean what Allah leaves to you after you have paid the dues of others.
11:87
قَالُوۡا یٰشُعَیۡبُ اَصَلٰوتُکَ تَاۡمُرُکَ اَنۡ نَّتۡرُکَ مَا یَعۡبُدُ اٰبَآؤُنَاۤ اَوۡ اَنۡ نَّفۡعَلَ فِیۡۤ اَمۡوَالِنَا مَا نَشٰٓؤُاؕ اِنَّکَ لَاَنۡتَ الۡحَلِیۡمُ الرَّشِیۡدُ ﴿۸۷﴾
They said: Shuaib, does your prayer enjoin you that we should give up what our fathers worshipped or that we should not do what we please with regard to our property? So you are the one who is the forbearing, the right-directing!
11:88
قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اَرَءَیۡتُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُ عَلٰی بَیِّنَۃٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّیۡ وَ رَزَقَنِیۡ مِنۡہُ رِزۡقًا حَسَنًا ؕ وَ مَاۤ اُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ اُخَالِفَکُمۡ اِلٰی مَاۤ اَنۡہٰکُمۡ عَنۡہُ ؕ اِنۡ اُرِیۡدُ اِلَّا الۡاِصۡلَاحَ مَا اسۡتَطَعۡتُ ؕ وَ مَا تَوۡفِیۡقِیۡۤ اِلَّا بِاللّٰہِ ؕعَلَیۡہِ تَوَکَّلۡتُ وَ اِلَیۡہِ اُنِیۡبُ ﴿۸۸﴾
He said: My people, do you see if I have a clear proof from my Lord and He has given me a goodly sustenance from Himself? And I do not desire to act in opposition to you, in what I forbid you. I desire nothing but reform, so far as I am able. And with none but Allah is the direction of my affair to a right issue. In Him I trust and to Him I turn.
11:89
وَ یٰقَوۡمِ لَا یَجۡرِمَنَّکُمۡ شِقَاقِیۡۤ اَنۡ یُّصِیۡبَکُمۡ مِّثۡلُ مَاۤ اَصَابَ قَوۡمَ نُوۡحٍ اَوۡ قَوۡمَ ہُوۡدٍ اَوۡ قَوۡمَ صٰلِحٍ ؕ وَ مَا قَوۡمُ لُوۡطٍ مِّنۡکُمۡ بِبَعِیۡدٍ ﴿۸۹﴾
And, my people, do not let opposition to me make you guilty so that there may befall you the like of what befell the people of Noah, or the people of Hūd, or the people of Sālih. Nor are the people of Lot far off from you.
11:90
وَ اسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡا رَبَّکُمۡ ثُمَّ تُوۡبُوۡۤا اِلَیۡہِ ؕ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ رَحِیۡمٌ وَّدُوۡدٌ ﴿۹۰﴾
And ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him. Surely my Lord is Merciful, Loving-kind.
11:91
قَالُوۡا یٰشُعَیۡبُ مَا نَفۡقَہُ کَثِیۡرًا مِّمَّا تَقُوۡلُ وَ اِنَّا لَنَرٰىکَ فِیۡنَا ضَعِیۡفًا ۚ وَ لَوۡ لَا رَہۡطُکَ لَرَجَمۡنٰکَ ۫ وَ مَاۤ اَنۡتَ عَلَیۡنَا بِعَزِیۡزٍ ﴿۹۱﴾
They said: Shuaib, we do not understand much of what you say and surely we see you to be weak among us. And if it were not for your family, we would surely stone you, and you are not strong against us.
11:92
قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اَرَہۡطِیۡۤ اَعَزُّ عَلَیۡکُمۡ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ اتَّخَذۡتُمُوۡہُ وَرَآءَکُمۡ ظِہۡرِیًّا ؕ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ مُحِیۡطٌ ﴿۹۲﴾
He said: My people, is my family more esteemed by you than Allah? And you neglect Him as a thing cast behind your backs! Surely my Lord encompasses what you do.
11:93
وَ یٰقَوۡمِ اعۡمَلُوۡا عَلٰی مَکَانَتِکُمۡ اِنِّیۡ عَامِلٌ ؕ سَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ۙ مَنۡ یَّاۡتِیۡہِ عَذَابٌ یُّخۡزِیۡہِ وَ مَنۡ ہُوَ کَاذِبٌ ؕ وَ ارۡتَقِبُوۡۤا اِنِّیۡ مَعَکُمۡ رَقِیۡبٌ ﴿۹۳﴾
And, my people, act according to your ability, I too am acting. You will soon know upon whom will come the punishment, that will dis-grace him, and who is a liar. And watch, surely I too am watching with you.
11:94
وَ لَمَّا جَآءَ اَمۡرُنَا نَجَّیۡنَا شُعَیۡبًا وَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مَعَہٗ بِرَحۡمَۃٍ مِّنَّا وَ اَخَذَتِ الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوا الصَّیۡحَۃُ فَاَصۡبَحُوۡا فِیۡ دِیَارِہِمۡ جٰثِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۴﴾
And when Our decree came to pass, We delivered Shuaib and those who believed with him by mercy from Us. And the cry overtook those who did wrong, so they were motionless bodies in their abodes,
11:95
کَاَنۡ لَّمۡ یَغۡنَوۡا فِیۡہَا ؕ اَلَا بُعۡدًا لِّمَدۡیَنَ کَمَا بَعِدَتۡ ثَمُوۡدُ ﴿٪۹۵﴾
as though they had never dwelt in them. So away with Midian, just as Thamūd perished!
Section 9 (Verses 11:96–11:109): The Wrongdoers and the Righteous
11:96
وَ لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوۡسٰی بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ سُلۡطٰنٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿ۙ۹۶﴾
And certainly We sent Moses with Our signs and a clear authority,
11:97
اِلٰی فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ مَلَا۠ئِہٖ فَاتَّبَعُوۡۤا اَمۡرَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ ۚ وَ مَاۤ اَمۡرُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِرَشِیۡدٍ ﴿۹۷﴾
to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they followed the bidding of Pharaoh; and Pharaoh’s bidding was not right-directing.
11:98
یَقۡدُمُ قَوۡمَہٗ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ فَاَوۡرَدَہُمُ النَّارَ ؕ وَ بِئۡسَ الۡوِرۡدُ الۡمَوۡرُوۡدُ ﴿۹۸﴾
He will lead his people on the day of Resurrection, and bring them down to the Fire. And evil the place to which they are brought!
11:99
وَ اُتۡبِعُوۡا فِیۡ ہٰذِہٖ لَعۡنَۃً وَّ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ ؕ بِئۡسَ الرِّفۡدُ الۡمَرۡفُوۡدُ ﴿۹۹﴾
And they are followed by a curse in this (world), and on the day of Resurrection. Evil the gift which shall be given!
11:100
ذٰلِکَ مِنۡ اَنۡۢبَآءِ الۡقُرٰی نَقُصُّہٗ عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡہَا قَآئِمٌ وَّ حَصِیۡدٌ ﴿۱۰۰﴾
This is an account of the towns which We relate to you. Of them are some that stand and (others) mown down.
11:101
وَ مَا ظَلَمۡنٰہُمۡ وَ لٰکِنۡ ظَلَمُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ فَمَاۤ اَغۡنَتۡ عَنۡہُمۡ اٰلِہَتُہُمُ الَّتِیۡ یَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ لَّمَّا جَآءَ اَمۡرُ رَبِّکَ ؕ وَ مَا زَادُوۡہُمۡ غَیۡرَ تَتۡبِیۡبٍ ﴿۱۰۱﴾
And We did not wrong them but they wronged themselves. And their gods whom they called upon besides Allah did not avail them in the least when the decree of your Lord came to pass. And they added to them nothing but ruin.
11:102
وَ کَذٰلِکَ اَخۡذُ رَبِّکَ اِذَاۤ اَخَذَ الۡقُرٰی وَ ہِیَ ظَالِمَۃٌ ؕ اِنَّ اَخۡذَہٗۤ اَلِیۡمٌ شَدِیۡدٌ ﴿۱۰۲﴾
And such is the punishment of your Lord, when He punishes the towns while they are wrongdoers. Surely His punishment is painful, severe.
11:103
اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیَۃً لِّمَنۡ خَافَ عَذَابَ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ یَوۡمٌ مَّجۡمُوۡعٌ ۙ لَّہُ النَّاسُ وَ ذٰلِکَ یَوۡمٌ مَّشۡہُوۡدٌ ﴿۱۰۳﴾
Surely there is a sign in this for him who fears the punishment of the Hereafter. That is a day on which people will be gathered together, and that is a day to be witnessed.
11:104
وَ مَا نُؤَخِّرُہٗۤ اِلَّا لِاَجَلٍ مَّعۡدُوۡدٍ ﴿۱۰۴﴾ؕ
And We do not delay it but for an appointed term.
11:105
یَوۡمَ یَاۡتِ لَا تَکَلَّمُ نَفۡسٌ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِہٖ ۚ فَمِنۡہُمۡ شَقِیٌّ وَّ سَعِیۡدٌ ﴿۱۰۵﴾
On the day when it comes, no soul will speak except by His permission; so (some) of them will be unhappy and (others) happy.
11:106
فَاَمَّا الَّذِیۡنَ شَقُوۡا فَفِی النَّارِ لَہُمۡ فِیۡہَا زَفِیۡرٌ وَّ شَہِیۡقٌ ﴿۱۰۶﴾ۙ
Then as for those who are unhappy, they will be in the Fire; for them there will be in it sighing and groaning —
11:107
خٰلِدِیۡنَ فِیۡہَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمٰوٰتُ وَ الۡاَرۡضُ اِلَّا مَا شَآءَ رَبُّکَ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا یُرِیۡدُ ﴿۱۰۷﴾
abiding in it so long as the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord please. Surely your Lord is Doer of what He intends.
This limitation on the duration of abiding in hell — except as your Lord please — is given here and in 6:128, showing clearly that the punishment of hell is not everlasting. The next verse states that those in paradise will abide there as long as the heavens and the earth endure, “except as your Lord please”, but this statement is immediately followed by another: A gift never to be cut off. This shows that in fact there is no limitation upon the eternity of paradise, and the words except as your Lord please have been used, in the case of paradise, only to express the unbounded power of the Divine Being and the fact that it is due to God’s pleasure that they are there. In the case of hell, however, the words except as your Lord please are followed by a statement which corroborates the limitation thus placed, for, Fa“āl or Doer, as an attribute of God, indicates that He does even those things which seem impossible to others. Three times in the Quran (4:169, 33:65, 72:23) abiding in hell for abad is mentioned, which is generally considered as meaning forever. However, abad signifies a long time as well as time without end. The Quran makes clear in 78:23 that a long time is meant as it states there that the disbelievers will remain in hell for aḥqāb, i.e. long years.
11:108
وَ اَمَّا الَّذِیۡنَ سُعِدُوۡا فَفِی الۡجَنَّۃِ خٰلِدِیۡنَ فِیۡہَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمٰوٰتُ وَ الۡاَرۡضُ اِلَّا مَا شَآءَ رَبُّکَ ؕ عَطَآءً غَیۡرَ مَجۡذُوۡذٍ ﴿۱۰۸﴾
And as for those who are made happy, they will be in the Garden abiding in it so long as the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord please — a gift never to be cut off.
In accordance with what is said here, that heavenly life is a gift never to be cut off, we have in 15:48: “Nor will they be ejected from there”.
11:109
فَلَا تَکُ فِیۡ مِرۡیَۃٍ مِّمَّا یَعۡبُدُ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ ؕ مَا یَعۡبُدُوۡنَ اِلَّا کَمَا یَعۡبُدُ اٰبَآؤُہُمۡ مِّنۡ قَبۡلُ ؕ وَ اِنَّا لَمُوَفُّوۡہُمۡ نَصِیۡبَہُمۡ غَیۡرَ مَنۡقُوۡصٍ ﴿۱۰۹﴾٪
So do not be in doubt as to what these (people) worship. They worship only as their fathers worshipped before. And surely We shall pay them in full their due undiminished.
Section 10 (Verses 11:110–11:123): Believers are Comforted
11:110
وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَا مُوۡسَی الۡکِتٰبَ فَاخۡتُلِفَ فِیۡہِ ؕ وَ لَوۡ لَا کَلِمَۃٌ سَبَقَتۡ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ لَقُضِیَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ ؕ وَ اِنَّہُمۡ لَفِیۡ شَکٍّ مِّنۡہُ مُرِیۡبٍ ﴿۱۱۰﴾
And indeed We gave Moses the Book, but differences arose concerning it. And if a word had not already gone forth from your Lord, judgment would have been given between them. And they are surely in a disquieting doubt about it.
11:111
وَ اِنَّ کُلًّا لَّمَّا لَیُوَفِّیَنَّہُمۡ رَبُّکَ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ بِمَا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ خَبِیۡرٌ ﴿۱۱۱﴾
And your Lord will surely pay back to all their deeds in full. He indeed is Aware of what they do.
11:112
فَاسۡتَقِمۡ کَمَاۤ اُمِرۡتَ وَ مَنۡ تَابَ مَعَکَ وَ لَا تَطۡغَوۡا ؕ اِنَّہٗ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ بَصِیۡرٌ ﴿۱۱۲﴾
Continue, then, in the right way as you are commanded, as also (should) those who turn (to Allah) with you. And do not be inordinate (O people). Surely He is Seer of what you do.
11:113
وَ لَا تَرۡکَنُوۡۤا اِلَی الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا فَتَمَسَّکُمُ النَّارُ ۙ وَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ اَوۡلِیَآءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنۡصَرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۳﴾
And do not incline to those who do wrong, so that the fire touch you; and you have no protectors besides Allah, then you would not be helped.
Not only is man forbidden to do any wrong himself, but he should keep himself at a safe distance from wrong and refrain from leaning towards the wrongdoers.
11:114
وَ اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوۃَ طَرَفَیِ النَّہَارِ وَ زُلَفًا مِّنَ الَّیۡلِ ؕ اِنَّ الۡحَسَنٰتِ یُذۡہِبۡنَ السَّیِّاٰتِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ ذِکۡرٰی لِلذّٰکِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۴﴾ۚ
And keep up prayer at the two ends of the day and in the first hours of the night. Surely good deeds take away evil deeds. This is a reminder for the mindful.
The times of prayer are clearly indicated here. Of the two ends of the day, the first is the fajr, or the prayer before sunrise, and the second includes the ẓuhr, or the early afternoon, and the ‘aṣr, or the later afternoon, prayers. In the first hours of the night we have the maghrib, or the after sunset prayer, and the ‘ishā’, or the prayer before going to bed. The two afternoon prayers and the two after sunset prayers, which are spoken of together, may under exceptional circumstances be said together in each case.
11:115
وَ اصۡبِرۡ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یُضِیۡعُ اَجۡرَ الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۵﴾
And be patient, for surely Allah does not waste the reward of the doers of good.
11:116
فَلَوۡ لَا کَانَ مِنَ الۡقُرُوۡنِ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ اُولُوۡا بَقِیَّۃٍ یَّنۡہَوۡنَ عَنِ الۡفَسَادِ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اِلَّا قَلِیۡلًا مِّمَّنۡ اَنۡجَیۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ ۚ وَ اتَّبَعَ الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا مَاۤ اُتۡرِفُوۡا فِیۡہِ وَ کَانُوۡا مُجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۶﴾
Why were there not, then, among the generations before you, those possessing understanding who forbade mischief in the earth except a few among them whom We delivered? And the unjust pursued the enjoyment of plenty, and they were guilty.
11:117
وَ مَا کَانَ رَبُّکَ لِیُہۡلِکَ الۡقُرٰی بِظُلۡمٍ وَّ اَہۡلُہَا مُصۡلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۷﴾
And your Lord would not destroy towns unjustly, while their people acted well.
God does not destroy people unjustly. He destroys them only when they act corruptly and make mischief in the world. He would not destroy them if they act well, whatever their beliefs. Most of the commentators take the word ẓulm (injustice in the word “unjustly”) here as meaning shirk or setting up partners with God, and the meaning becomes that God would not destroy people, even though they were guilty of shirk, provided they acted well. The translation in this case would be: your Lord would not destroy towns for wrong beliefs, while their people acted well.
11:118
وَ لَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّکَ لَجَعَلَ النَّاسَ اُمَّۃً وَّاحِدَۃً وَّ لَا یَزَالُوۡنَ مُخۡتَلِفِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۸﴾ۙ
And if your Lord pleased, He would have made people a single nation. And they do not cease to differ,
God does not force people to one particular belief. He has given them the choice to accept or reject the truth.
11:119
اِلَّا مَنۡ رَّحِمَ رَبُّکَ ؕ وَ لِذٰلِکَ خَلَقَہُمۡ ؕ وَ تَمَّتۡ کَلِمَۃُ رَبِّکَ لَاَمۡلَـَٔنَّ جَہَنَّمَ مِنَ الۡجِنَّۃِ وَ النَّاسِ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۹﴾
except those on whom your Lord has mercy; and for this did He create them. And the word of your Lord is fulfilled: I will certainly fill hell with jinn and people, all together.
Here it is clearly stated that Allah created all human beings to have mercy on them. By His mercy He guides some to the right path, while to others, who go over to evil and make themselves deserving of hell, mercy will come only after suffering. It is by their own hands that they get into distress and difficulty, while Allah has mercy on them in extricating them from it. The filling of hell with jinn and people would be because they went against the ways which Allah had mercifully shown to them. Therefore they must pass through another ordeal, so that they may be purged of evil and made fit for spiritual progress.
11:120
وَ کُلًّا نَّقُصُّ عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡ اَنۡۢبَآءِ الرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِہٖ فُؤَادَکَ ۚ وَ جَآءَکَ فِیۡ ہٰذِہِ الۡحَقُّ وَ مَوۡعِظَۃٌ وَّ ذِکۡرٰی لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۰﴾
And all We relate to you from the account of the messengers is to strengthen your heart with it. And in this has come to you the truth and an admonition and a reminder for the believers.
11:121
وَ قُلۡ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ اعۡمَلُوۡا عَلٰی مَکَانَتِکُمۡ ؕ اِنَّا عٰمِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۱﴾ۙ
And say to those who do not believe: Act according to your power, surely we too are acting;
11:123
وَ لِلّٰہِ غَیۡبُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ اِلَیۡہِ یُرۡجَعُ الۡاَمۡرُ کُلُّہٗ فَاعۡبُدۡہُ وَ تَوَکَّلۡ عَلَیۡہِ ؕ وَ مَا رَبُّکَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۳﴾٪
And Allah’s is the unseen in the heavens and the earth, and to Him the whole affair will be returned. So serve Him and put your trust in Him. And your Lord is not heedless of what you do.