Surah Hud , 11 : Prologue...

Beautiful recitation of part of surah Hud by Shaykh Al- Oyoon Koshe :-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMhk8A_Bk0Y

Surah Hud, full chapter recitation by Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais with translation :-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_b78VcQag8



Prologue:

LiKE SEVERAL QUR"ANIC surahs, H'ud opens with a reference to the Qur'an as ".. a Scripture the revelations whereof are perfected and then expounded. (It cometh) from One Wise, Aware," (1) . This should cause no surprise because the Qur'an contains proof of its own veracity, universality, and everlasting qualities. It was delivered to Prophet Muhammad to pass on to all humankind with the aim of saving them from the dire consequence and the wilderness of polytheism [shirk], and lead them into enlightened realm of 'tawhid', the bed-rock of salvation. The surah continues: "Serve none but Allah. Lo! I am unto you from Him a warner and a bringer of good tidings. "(2)

The task of Muhammad had been charged with  was not easy or ordinary one. When his trusted friend and Companion, Abu Bakr, pointed to out to him that his hair was going gray, Muhammad reported to have said: "Indeed! Hud, and its sister surahs[ reportedly al-Waqiah, al- Mursalat, al- Naba and al- Takwir ] are all  the cause  of my hair graying. " I have always been intrigued by this comment and this spurred me to try and find out what it is about this surah that would cause the Prophet's hair to go gray. Would it be the the trials and ordeals suffered by earlier nations? Could the cause be the stubbornness and dogged attitude of some of his own people towards him? the surah says:

Lo! now they fold up their breasts that they may hide (their thoughts) from Him. At the very moment when they cover themselves with their clothing, Allah knoweth that which they keep hidden and that which they proclaim. Lo! He is Aware of what is in the breasts (of men). (5)

However, I discounted that as a reason for the troubling impact the surah had on the Prophet because he was too strong for that. I therefore decided to look for another reason.

Excerpt from " A Thermatic Commentary On The Qur'an "
Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]



Reflection and commentary by Dr Israr Ahmed:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2diPkhRDfY