Surah Hud , 11

Recitation of surah Hud by Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_b78VcQag8

Commenting on the destruction of the Pharaohs and the people of Madyan, God informs the Prophet saying: "That is (something) of the tidings of the townships (which were destroyed of old). We relate it unto thee (Muhammad). Some of them are standing and some (already) reaped "(100). Towards the end of the surah we note that God addresses Muhammad  directly on not less than eighteen occasions, in addition to the accompanying instructions, which goes to explain the enormity of the impact the surah must have had on Prophet Muhammad personally. This section starts from verse 101, which says:

We wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves; and their gods on whom they call beside Allah availed them naught when came thy Lord's command; they added to them naught save ruin. (101)

The word "your Lord" are repeated three times in two consecutive verses, thus:

As for those who will be wretched (on that day) they will be in the Fire; sighing and wailing will be their portion therein, (106) Abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for that which thy Lord willeth. Lo! thy Lord is Doer of what He will. (107) And as for those who will be glad (that day) they will be in the Garden, abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for that which thy Lord willeth: a gift unfailing. (108)

Then God says to Prophet Muhammad: "So be not thou in doubt concerning that which these (folk) worship. They worship only as their fathers worshipped aforetime. Lo! we shall pay them their whole due unabated (109). He reminds him of the fact that God's judgement of humankind shall be deferred till the appointed day, sayiing: "... and had it not been for a Word that had already gone forth from thy Lord, the case would have been judged between them, and lo! they are in grave doubt concerning it (110) . Until that day should come, Prophet Muhammad was obliged to endure and persist with his mission, facing whatever hardships and tribulations arose in the meantime. Those who follow Muhammad would also be expected to do likewise: "So tread thou the straight path as thou art commanded, and those who turn (unto Allah) with thee, and transgress not. Lo! He is Seer of what ye do "(112]. He was further instructed to: " Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Lo! good deeds annul ill-deeds. This is reminder for the mindful '(114). Personal speech does not end there. Let us read on :

In truth thy Lord destroyed not the townships tyrannously while their folk were doing right. (117) And if thy Lord had willed, He verily would have made mankind one nation, yet they cease not differing, (118) Save him on whom thy Lord hath mercy; and for that He did create them. And the Word of thy Lord hath been fulfilled: Verily I shall fill hell with the jinn and mankind together. (119) 

Would not Muhammad be justified, after all this, in saying that the surah Hud had given him gray hairs?

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





Commentary by Dr Israr Ahmad,[ up to final verse ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBsdP0pE-qQ
[ up till 09:50...beyond that surah yusuf ]



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Fresh Catch from "Pearls & Gem " :-
A Very Civil Conversation, Anwar al-Awlaki, Christopher Hithens and All That Jazz..................
http://drnikisahak.blogspot.com/2011/12/christopher-hitchens-anwar-al-awlaki.html