Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Story of Prophet Hud and the People of `Ad Allah, the Exalted, says, و (And) This is an introductory to what is implied: "Verily, We sent." إِلَى عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا (to the `Ad (people) their brother Hud.) Hud came to them commanding them to worship Allah alone, without any associates. He forbade them from worshipping the idols which they made up, inventing names as gods. He informed them that he did not want any reward from them for his sincere advising and conveying of Allah's Message. He only sought his reward from Allah, the One Who created him. أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ (Will you not then understand) Someone has come calling you to what will benefit your situation in this life and the Hereafter without asking for any wage (from them). Then he commanded them to seek the forgiveness of the One Who is capable of expiating previous sins. He also commanded them to repent for that which they may do in the future. Whoever has these characteristics, Allah will make his sustenance easy for him, grant him ease in his affairs and guard over his situation. For this reason Allah says, يُرْسِلِ السَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَاراً (He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain,)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Story of Prophet Hud and the People of `Ad Allah, the Exalted, says, و (And) This is an introductory to what is implied: "Verily, We sent." إِلَى عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا (to the `Ad (people) their brother Hud.) Hud came to them commanding them to worship Allah alone, without any associates. He forbade them from worshipping the idols which they made up, inventing names as gods. He informed them that he did not want any reward from them for his sincere advising and conveying of Allah's Message. He only sought his reward from Allah, the One Who created him. أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ (Will you not then understand) Someone has come calling you to what will benefit your situation in this life and the Hereafter without asking for any wage (from them). Then he commanded them to seek the forgiveness of the One Who is capable of expiating previous sins. He also commanded them to repent for that which they may do in the future. Whoever has these characteristics, Allah will make his sustenance easy for him, grant him ease in his affairs and guard over his situation. For this reason Allah says, يُرْسِلِ السَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَاراً (He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain,)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Conversation between (the People of) `Ad and Hud Allah, the Exalted, informs that they said to their Prophet, مَا جِئْتَنَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ (No evidence have you brought us.) This means that they claimed that Hud had not brought them any proof or evidence for what he claimed. وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِى ءالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ (and we shall not leave our gods for your (mere) saying!) They were saying how could his mere statement, "Leave these gods," be sufficient proof for them to leave their idols وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ (and we are not believers in you.) This means that they did not believe what he was saying was true. إِن نَّقُولُ إِلاَّ اعْتَرَاكَ بَعْضُ ءَالِهَتِنَا بِسُوءٍ (All that we say is that some of our gods have seized you with evil.) They were saying, "We think that some of our idols have afflicted you with madness and insanity in your intellect because you are trying to stop them from being worshipped and defame them." قَالَ إِنِّى أُشْهِدُ اللَّهِ وَاشْهَدُواْ أَنِّى بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَمِن دُونِهِ (He said: "I call Allah to witness and bear you witness, that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship besides Him (Allah).)11:54-55 Here, he is saying, "Verily, I am innocent of all of the rivals and idols (that you associate with Allah). فَكِيدُونِى جَمِيعًا (So plot against me, all of you,) you and your gods if they are true." ثُمَّ لاَ تُنظِرُونِ (and give me no respite.) the blinking of an eye." Then, Allah says, إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُمْ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ ءاخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ (I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature but He has the grasp of its forelock.) Every creature is under His (Allah's) power and His authority. He is the Best Judge, the Most Just, Who does not do any injustice in His ruling. For verily, He is upon the straight path. Verily, this argument contains a far-reaching proof and absolute evidence of the truthfulness of what Hud had come to them with. It also proves the falsehood of them worshipping idols that could not benefit nor harm them. Rather, these idols were inanimate objects that could not hear, see, befriend, or make enmity. The only One Who is worthy of having worship directed solely towards Him is Allah alone, without any partners. He is the One in Whose Hand is the sovereignty and He is in control of all things. There is nothing except that it is under His owner- ship, power and authority. Thus, there is no deity worthy of worship except Him and there is no Lord other than Him.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Conversation between (the People of) `Ad and Hud Allah, the Exalted, informs that they said to their Prophet, مَا جِئْتَنَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ (No evidence have you brought us.) This means that they claimed that Hud had not brought them any proof or evidence for what he claimed. وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِى ءالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ (and we shall not leave our gods for your (mere) saying!) They were saying how could his mere statement, "Leave these gods," be sufficient proof for them to leave their idols وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ (and we are not believers in you.) This means that they did not believe what he was saying was true. إِن نَّقُولُ إِلاَّ اعْتَرَاكَ بَعْضُ ءَالِهَتِنَا بِسُوءٍ (All that we say is that some of our gods have seized you with evil.) They were saying, "We think that some of our idols have afflicted you with madness and insanity in your intellect because you are trying to stop them from being worshipped and defame them." قَالَ إِنِّى أُشْهِدُ اللَّهِ وَاشْهَدُواْ أَنِّى بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَمِن دُونِهِ (He said: "I call Allah to witness and bear you witness, that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship besides Him (Allah).)11:54-55 Here, he is saying, "Verily, I am innocent of all of the rivals and idols (that you associate with Allah). فَكِيدُونِى جَمِيعًا (So plot against me, all of you,) you and your gods if they are true." ثُمَّ لاَ تُنظِرُونِ (and give me no respite.) the blinking of an eye." Then, Allah says, إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُمْ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ ءاخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ (I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature but He has the grasp of its forelock.) Every creature is under His (Allah's) power and His authority. He is the Best Judge, the Most Just, Who does not do any injustice in His ruling. For verily, He is upon the straight path. Verily, this argument contains a far-reaching proof and absolute evidence of the truthfulness of what Hud had come to them with. It also proves the falsehood of them worshipping idols that could not benefit nor harm them. Rather, these idols were inanimate objects that could not hear, see, befriend, or make enmity. The only One Who is worthy of having worship directed solely towards Him is Allah alone, without any partners. He is the One in Whose Hand is the sovereignty and He is in control of all things. There is nothing except that it is under His owner- ship, power and authority. Thus, there is no deity worthy of worship except Him and there is no Lord other than Him.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Conversation between (the People of) `Ad and Hud Allah, the Exalted, informs that they said to their Prophet, مَا جِئْتَنَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ (No evidence have you brought us.) This means that they claimed that Hud had not brought them any proof or evidence for what he claimed. وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِى ءالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ (and we shall not leave our gods for your (mere) saying!) They were saying how could his mere statement, "Leave these gods," be sufficient proof for them to leave their idols وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ (and we are not believers in you.) This means that they did not believe what he was saying was true. إِن نَّقُولُ إِلاَّ اعْتَرَاكَ بَعْضُ ءَالِهَتِنَا بِسُوءٍ (All that we say is that some of our gods have seized you with evil.) They were saying, "We think that some of our idols have afflicted you with madness and insanity in your intellect because you are trying to stop them from being worshipped and defame them." قَالَ إِنِّى أُشْهِدُ اللَّهِ وَاشْهَدُواْ أَنِّى بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَمِن دُونِهِ (He said: "I call Allah to witness and bear you witness, that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship besides Him (Allah).)11:54-55 Here, he is saying, "Verily, I am innocent of all of the rivals and idols (that you associate with Allah). فَكِيدُونِى جَمِيعًا (So plot against me, all of you,) you and your gods if they are true." ثُمَّ لاَ تُنظِرُونِ (and give me no respite.) the blinking of an eye." Then, Allah says, إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُمْ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ ءاخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ (I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature but He has the grasp of its forelock.) Every creature is under His (Allah's) power and His authority. He is the Best Judge, the Most Just, Who does not do any injustice in His ruling. For verily, He is upon the straight path. Verily, this argument contains a far-reaching proof and absolute evidence of the truthfulness of what Hud had come to them with. It also proves the falsehood of them worshipping idols that could not benefit nor harm them. Rather, these idols were inanimate objects that could not hear, see, befriend, or make enmity. The only One Who is worthy of having worship directed solely towards Him is Allah alone, without any partners. He is the One in Whose Hand is the sovereignty and He is in control of all things. There is nothing except that it is under His owner- ship, power and authority. Thus, there is no deity worthy of worship except Him and there is no Lord other than Him.