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Interpretation of Sura Hud - Verses 11-13

11. " Except those who are patient and constant, and do deeds of righteousness; for them is forgiveness and a great reward. "

Commentary

All cases dealt with in the Qur'an concerning good conduct are mentioned along with faith except in this verse which, says: "Except those who are patient and constant". In this verse, too, 'the patient' refers to the true believers compared with those who behave with intolerance.

?Patience is not confined only to cases of frustration and bitter events. On the contrary, in cases of abundant welfare and happiness, one must keep patience, otherwise, it will lead man to unruliness as the Children of Israel were when they were liberated from the yoke of Pharaoh and gained a more comfortable life and independence they went the path of aberration. They then started worshipping cows and when confronted by the protests of Harun, they went so far in their rudeness that they were about to kill their prophet. The Qur'an in this regard says: "Verily the people judged me weak and had well nigh slain me." 3

Therefore, being patient in times of joy and sorrow is one of the best examples of good conduct. A true believer is an integrated person who never despairs, neither is he blasphemous, happy- go lucky, nor arrogant. On the contrary, he is patient and persevering.


12. " So perhaps you may(be inclined)to give up a part of what is revealed unto thee, and your breast becomes straitened by it lest they say, 'Why has not a treasure been sent down unto him or an angel not come with him ' Verily you are only a warner, and Allah is custodian over everything. "

Commentary

Once the unbelievers asked the Prophet(p.b.u.h.) to turn the mountains of Mecca into gold through a miracle or they wished that an angel come to him, thus confirming him. Others, on the contrary, owing to their grudge and hatred, wanted him to say something related to Had rat Ali(a.s.)and whenever he would say something, they would reject all of it. Therefore, the Prophet(p.b.u.h.) felt a strain in his heart, and consequently, he delayed conveying the messages.

Incidentally, his delay did not intrude upon his infallibility nor was it incompatible with it, for at that time, there was no urgency to convey Allah's message. Thus, owing to considerations which were not personal but based upon expediency, he could postpone conveying the verses. With the revelation of this verse, those considerations were set aside and the message had now to be conveyed without delay. The verse says:

" So perhaps you may(be inclined)to give up a part of what is revealed unto thee, and your breast becomes straitened by it lest they say, 'Why has not a treasure been sent down unto him or an angel not come with him ? "

Perhaps, the delay in conveying the revelations had been confined solely to a few obstinate people, of whose guidance the Prophet(p.b.u.h.) had despaired. However, Allah ordered that although they might not become believers, it was the duty of the Prophet(p.b.u.h.) not to abandon them. The verse continues saying:

"... Verily you are only a warner, and Allah is custodian over everything. "

Therefore, a leader and an authority in propagating the message of Islam must be always decisive in propagating and conveying the word of Allah, remaining undaunted by the people's words and pretexts, for Allah is the guarantor of a prophet's duty and prophets are not responsible for the consequences. They must act according to their duty and leave the rest to the Almighty.

The unbelievers used to put pressure upon the Prophet(p.b.u.h.) under various pretexts. It was in addition to the physical tortures that they used to inflict upon him.


13. " Or do they say: 'He has forged it' Say, 'Bring you then ten suras forged, like unto it, and call(to your aid)whomsoever you can, other than Allah, if you are truthful! '"

Commentary

The Qur'an is not only a miracle of eloquence in itself, it is also a miracle from the view point of its wisdom and ideology, its admonitions, its reasoning, the news it gives of the invisible world and its legislations. The sentence, "and call to your aid whomsoever you can" is a call addressed to everyone, and not only to those Arabs who could comprehend the eloquence and the fluency of the noble Qur'an. In this regard He elsewhere reiterates: "Were men and jinn to combine together to bring the like of this Qur'an, they could not bring the like of it, " 4

The miraculous nature of the Qur'an is multi- faceted. It is found in the sweetness of its words when read, the harmony of its content, etc. Although it had been revealed over a period of 32 years, it had revealed scientific knowledge which had been non- existent at that time. It foretold affairs that eventually took place in the future. It provided information concerning the nations of antiquity which had left no trace from themselves. It stated comprehensive laws governing all dimensions of the individual and social life of man. And it has remained intact throughout the ages free of all distortions, changes, and of becoming out- dated and forgotten.

Despite making it easy for them and all these challenges, mankind is still rendered impotent. The Qur'an elsewhere says: " to bring the like of this Qur'an ". 5 In the verse under discussion, it says: "Bring you then ten suras forged like unto it". In another place it makes it even easier by saying: " then bring one Sura the like thereof ". 6 In addition to this, the Qur'an issues thought- provoking challenges. Elsewhere it says: "Were men and jinn to combine together to bring the like of this Qur'an. " 7

Elsewhere it implies that if they call on all the think- tanks of the whole globe; they cannot produce anything like the Qur'an. Here is the text: " they could not bring the like of it, though some of them were aiders of others. " 8

History has also clearly proven that enemies have waged numerous wars against Islam, they have planned conspiracies and yet they have never been able to produce even one Sura like that of the Qur'an. Can any miracle performed be better than this?

However, instead of using their reason, the unbelievers, accused the Prophet(p. b. u. h.)of fabricating the Qur'an, saying that it is not the word of Allah, while the Qur'an is the eternal miracle of history. The verse says:

" Or do they say: 'He has forged it' Say, 'Bring you then ten suras forged, like unto it, and call(to your aid)whomsoever you can, other than Allah, if you are truthful! '"

Notes:

(3)- Sura 'A'raf, No. 7, verse 150

(4) Sura Al- 'Isra', No. 17, verse 88

(5) Sura Al- 'Isra', No. 17, verse 88

(6) Sura Al- Baqarah, No. 2, verse 23

(7) Sura Al- 'Isra', No. 17, verse 88

(8) Ibid

Adopted from the book : "The Light of the Holy Qur'an; Interpretation of Surah Hud" by : "Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and a Group of Muslim Scholars"

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