The Wind-curved Sandhills, The Dunes, The Sandhills — Verse 23

He Hūd said ‘The knowledge is with God only He is the One Who knows when chastisement will befall you and I am merely conveying to you what I have been sent with to you. But I see that you are an ignorant lot’ given your hastening on of the chastisement.

The Story of `Ad Allah says, consoling His Prophet in regard to the rejection of those who opposed him among his people, وَاذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ (And remember the brother of `Ad,) This refers to Hud, peace be upon in him. Allah sent him to the first people of `Ad who inhabited Al-Ahqaf. Ahqaf is plural of Haqf. According to Ibn Zayd, it means a sand dune; and according to `Ikrimah, it means a mountain or a cave. Qatadah said: "We were informed that `Ad was a tribe in Yemen. They dwelt among sand (hills), and overlooked the sea in a land called Ash-Shihr." Under the chapter, "He Who supplicates should first mention Himself," Ibn Majah recorded that Ibn `Abbas narrated that the Prophet said: «يَرْحَمُنَا اللهُ وَأَخَا عَاد» (May Allah have mercy on us and the Brother of `Ad.) Allah then says, وَقَدْ خَلَتِ النُّذُرُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ (And surely, warners had already passed on before him and after him.) meaning, Allah had sent Messengers and warners to the towns surrounding the land of `Ad. This is similar to Allah's saying, فَجَعَلْنَـهَا نَكَـلاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا (And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded them. ) (2:66) And it is also similar to Allah's saying, فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُواْ فَقُلْ أَنذَرْتُكُمْ صَـعِقَةً مِّثْلَ صَـعِقَةِ عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ إِذْ جَآءَتْهُمُ الرُّسُلُ مِن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ (But if they turn away, then say: "I have warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt that struck `Ad and Thamud. (That occurred) when the Messengers had come to them from before them and after them (saying): "Worship none but Allah.") (41:13-14) Allah then says, إِنِّى أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ (truly, I fear for you the torment of a mighty Day.) meaning, Hud said this to them (his people), and they responded to him saying, أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَأْفِكَنَا عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا (Have you come to delude us from our gods) meaning, to prevent us. عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا (from our gods) فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ (Then bring us that with which you threaten us, if you are one of the truthful!) They sought to hasten Allah's torment and punishment, believing that it will not happen. This is similar to Allah's saying, يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا (Those who do not believe in it (the Last Hour) seek to hasten it) (42:18). Hud's response was, قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِندَ اللَّهِ (He said: "The knowledge (of that) is only with Allah.") which means, `Allah knows best about you. If you deserve the punishment to be hastened, He will do that to you. As for me, my duty is to deliver my message to you.' وَلَـكِنِّى أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ (But I see that you are a people given to ignorance!) which means, `you have no comprehension or understanding.' Allah then says, فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضاً مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ (Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud approaching their valleys,) meaning, when they saw the punishment coming towards them, they thought it to be clouds full of rain. That made them happy and joyful, because they had a drought and needed rain. Allah then said, بَلْ هُوَ مَا اسْتَعْجَلْتُم بِهِ رِيحٌ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (Nay, but it is that which you were asking to be hastened -- a wind wherein is a painful torment!) meaning, this is the torment that you called for saying, "Bring to us what you promise us if you should be of the truthful." تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ (Destroying every thing) meaning, destroying every part of their land that could normally be destroyed. بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا (by the command of its Lord!) meaning, it had Allah's permission to do that. This is similar to Allah's saying, مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَىْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ جَعَلَتْهُ كَالرَّمِيمِ d(It spared nothing that it reached, but blew it into broken spreads of rotten ruins.) (51:42) meaning, like something dilapidated (or decrepit). Because of this, Allah says, فَأْصْبَحُواْ لاَ يُرَى إِلاَّ مَسَـكِنُهُمْ (So they became such that nothing could be seen except their dwellings!) means, all of them were destroyed, and none of them were spared. Allah then says: كَذلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ (Thus do We recompense the criminal people!) which means that this is Our judgement regarding those who reject Our Messengers and disobey Our commands. Imam Ahmad recorded from `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said, "I never saw Allah's Messenger ﷺ fully laughing so that I would see his uvula. He would only smile." She added that when Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw clouds or wind, that would reflect on his face (as discomfort). She asked him: "O Allah's Messenger! When the people see clouds, they become happy, hoping that they bring them rain. But I notice that when you see them, displeasure appears on your face." Allah's Messenger ﷺ replied, «يَا عَائِشَةُ، مَا يُؤْمِنُنِي أَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ، قَدْ عُذِّبَ قَوْمٌ بِالرِّيحِ، وَقَدْ رَأَى قَوْمٌ الْعَذَابَ وَقَالُوا: هذَا عَارِضٌ مُمْطِرُنَا» (O `A'ishah! What would guarantee to me that they do not bring punishment Some nations had been punished with wind. On seeing the punishment approaching them, a nation once said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain.") This is also recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. Imam Ahmad recorded that `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that when Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw clouds on any of the horizons, he would leave whatever he was doing -- even if he was in prayer -- and say: «اللْهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا فِيه» (O Allah! I seek refuge with you from any harm that it (the cloud) contains.) If Allah removed those clouds, the Prophet would praise Allah, and if rain fell, he would say: «اللْهُمَّ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًا» (O Allah! Make it pouring and beneficent.) Muslim also recorded in his Sahih from `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that when the wind blew, Allah's Messenger ﷺ would say, «اللْهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ،وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا، وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا، وَشَرِّ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِه» (O Allah! I ask You of its good, the good that it contains, and the good with which it has been sent. And I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil that it contains, and the evil with which it has been sent.) She added that if the sky became cloudy, his color would change; he would exit, enter, come, and go. When it rained, his anxiety would be relieved. When `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, noticed that, she asked him about it and he said: «لَعَلَّهُ يَا عَائِشَةُ كَمَا قَالَ قَوْمُ عَادٍ: فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضاً مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُواْ هَـذَا عَارِضٌ مُّمْطِرُنَا» (O `A'ishah! It could be like what the people of `Ad said, (Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain!")) We have previously mentioned the story of the destruction of the people of `Ad in both Surat Al-A`raf and Surah Hud. Thus, there is no need to repeat it here; and verily Allah is worthy of all praise and gratitude.

قال هود عليه السلام: إنما العلم بوقت مجيء ما وُعدتم به من العذاب عند الله، وإنما أنا رسول الله إليكم، أبلغكم عنه ما أرسلني به، ولكني أراكم قومًا تجهلون في استعجالكم العذاب، وجرأتكم على الله.

"قال إنما العلم عند الله " أي الله أعلم بكم إن كنتم مستحقين لتعجيل العذاب فسيفعل ذلك بكم وأما أنا فمن شأني أني أبلغكم ما أرسلت به "ولكني أراكم قوما تجهلون" أي لا تعقلون ولا تفهمون.

ولكن هودا - عليه السلام - قابل كل هذه الجهالات بالحلم والأناة ، فرد عليهم بقوله : ( قَالَ إِنَّمَا العلم عِندَ الله . . ) أى : قال لهم : إنما علم وقت نزول العذاب كم عند الله - تعالى - وحده ، ولا مدخل لى فى ذلك .وإنما أنا ( وَأُبَلِّغُكُمْ مَّآ أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ ) إليكم من ربى وربكم ، وتلك هى وظيفتى .ثم عقب على هذا الرد بما يدل على حمقهم وغبائهم فقال : ( ولكني أَرَاكُمْ قَوْماً تَجْهَلُونَ ) .أى : أنا لا علم لى بوقت نزول العذاب عليكم ، لأن رسالتى محصورة فى التبليغ والإِنذار . .وهذا كان يجب أن يكون مفهوما لديكم لوضوحه . . ولكنى أراكم قوما تجهلون ما هو واضح ، وتنكرون ما هو حق ، وتصرون على ما هو باطل ، وتطالبونى بما لا أملكه .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُمْ مَا أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ (23)يقول تعالى ذكره: قال هود لقومه عاد: ( إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ ) بوقت مجيء ما أعدكم به من عذاب الله على كفركم به عند الله, لا أعلم من ذلك إلا ما علمني ( وَأُبَلِّغُكُمْ مَا أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ ) يقول: وإنما أنا رسول إليكم من الله, مبلغ أبلغكم عنه ما أرسلني به من الرسالة ( وَلَكِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ ) مواضع حظوظ أنفسكم, فلا تعرفون ما عليها من المضرّة بعبادتكم غير الله, وفي استعجال عذابه.

( قال ) هود ( إنما العلم عند الله ) وهو يعلم متى يأتيكم العذاب ( وأبلغكم ما أرسلت به ) من الوحي ( ولكني أراكم قوما تجهلون ) .

قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُمْ مَا أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ (23(لما جعلوا قولهم : { فأتنا بما تعدنا إن كنت من الصادقين } [ الأحقاف : 22 ] فصْلا بينهم وبينه فيما أنذرهم من كون عبادة غير الله توجب عذاب يوم عظيم ، كان الأمر في قولهم { فأتنا } مقتضياً الفور ، أي طلب تعجيله ليدل على صدقه إذ الشأن أن لا يتأخر عن إظهار صدقه لهم .وإسناد الإتيان بالعذاب إليه مجاز لأنه الواسطة في إتيان العذاب أن يدعو الله أن يعجّله ، أو جعلوا العذاب في مكنته يأتي به متى أراد ، تهكما به إذ قال لهم إنه مرسل من الله فجعلوا ذلك مقتضياً أن بينه وبين الله تعاوناً وتطاوعاً ، أي فلا تتأخر عن الإتيان به .وقد دل على هذا الاقتضاء قوله لهم حين نزول العذاب { بل هو ما استعجلتم به } [ الأحقاف : 24 ] فلذلك كان جوابه أنْ قال : { إنما العلم عند الله } أي علم وقت إتيان العذاب محفوظ عند الله لا يطلع عليه أحد ، فالتعريف في { العلم } للاستغراق العرفي ، أي علم المغيبات ، أو التعريف عوض عن المضاف إليه ، أي وقت العذاب . صلى الله عليه وسلم وهذا الجواب يجري على جميع الاحتمالات في معنى قولهم : { فأتِنا بما تَعِدُنا } لأن جميعها يقتضي أنه عالم بوقته .والحصر هنا حقيقي كقوله : { لا يُجَلِّيها لوقتها إلا هو } [ الأعراف : 187 ] والمقصود من هذا الحصر شموله نفي العلم بوقت العذاب عن المتكلم رداً على قولهم : { فأتنا بما تعدنا } .و { عند } هنا مجاز في الانفراد بالعلم ، أي فالله هو العالم بالوقت الذي يرسل فيه العذاب لحكمة في تأخيره .ومعنى { وأبلغكم ما أرسلت به } أنه بُعث مبلغاً أمر الله وإنذاره ولم يُبعث للإعلام بوقت حلول العذاب كقوله تعالى : { يسألونك عن الساعة أيان مرساها فِيمَ أنت من ذكراها إلى ربك منتهاها إنما أنت منذر من يخشاها } [ النازعات : 42 45 ] ، فقوله : { أبلغكم ما أرسلت به } جملة معترضة بين جملة { إنما العلم عند الله } وجملة { ولكني أراكم قوماً تجهلون } .وموقع الاستدراك بقوله : { ولكني أراكم قوماً تجهلون } أنه عن قوله : { إنما العلم عند الله } ، أي ولكنكم تجهلون صفات الله وحِكمة إرساله الرسل ، فتحسبون أن الرسل وسائط لإنهاء اقتراح الخلق على الله أن يريهم العجائب ويساجلهم في الرغائب ، فمناط الاستدراك هو معمول خبر ( لكنّ ( وهو { قوماً تجهلون } ، والتقدير : ولكنكم قوم يَجهلون ، فإدخال حرف الاستدراك على ضمير المتكلم عدول عن الظاهر لئلا يبادرهم بالتجهيل استنزالاً لطائرهم ، فجعل جهلهم مظنوناً له لينظروا في صحة ما ظنه من عدمها . وإنما زيد { قوماً } ولم يقتصر على { تجهلون } للدلالة على تمكن الجهالة منهم حتى صارت من مقوّمات قوميتهم وللدلالة على أنها عمت جميع القبيلة كما قال لوط لقومه { أليس منكم رجل رشيد } [ هود : 78 ] .وقرأ الجمهور { وأبلّغكم } بتشديد اللام . وقرأه أبو عمرو بتخفيف اللام . يقال : بلّغ الخبر بالتضعيف وأبلغه بالهمز ، إذا جعله بالغاً .

{ قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ } فهو الذي بيده أزمة الأمور ومقاليدها وهو الذي يأتيكم بالعذاب إن شاء. { وَأُبَلِّغُكُمْ مَا أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ } أي: ليس علي إلا البلاغ المبين، { وَلَكِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ } فلذلك صدر منكم ما صدر من هذه الجرأة الشديدة، فأرسل الله عليهم العذاب العظيم وهو الريح التي دمرتهم وأهلكتهم.

قال إنما العلم بوقت مجيء العذاب . عند الله لا عندي وأبلغكم ما أرسلت به عن ربكم . ولكني أراكم قوما تجهلون في سؤالكم استعجال العذاب .

The people of ‘Ad once inhabited that area of southern Arabia which is now known as ar-Rub al-Khali. They made considerable progress, but their development pushed them into arrogance and neglectfulness. Then Almighty God made Hud, a member of that community, a prophet, and sent him to them. Hud warned his community of God’s displeasure but, unwilling to be reformed, it received its prophet with rudeness. Ultimately, God’s wrath descended upon it and it received such a severe punishment that its glorious and lush green surroundings turned into a totally arid desert.

{ 1} The reference here is to the towns of Thamud and the people of Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) that were in the way of the people of Arabia while they travelled to Syria. The people of ` Ad were in Yemen, towards South from Makkah, while the towns of Thamud and those of Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) were towards North, hence the words, "around you" Commentary These verses are to remind the infidels of the severe punishments faced by earlier people who rejected the messengers sent to them. Special reference is made to ` Ad, the people of Sayyidna Hud (علیہ السلام) who has been described as their 'brother', firstly because he belonged to their tribe, and secondly because he was their well-wisher as a brother. Since this nation lived in valleys surrounded by long, curved sand dunes, called in Arabic Ahqaf , special reference is made to these dunes, so that one could find out their places, if he so wishes when traveling to their localities. It is mentioned in verse 22 that they themselves demanded Allah's punishment to be brought upon them. Then verse 24 states that the punishment was sent to them in the form of a cloud that appeared to be benign, and therefore they were happy to see it in the hope that it would bring rain to them, but in fact it contained the divine punishment in the form of a violent wind that destroyed everything, leaving nothing except their empty homes that remained as a sign for those who might learn a lesson. The detailed account of the story of ` Ad and Thamud has already been given in Surah Hud (11:50) for which volume 4, page 643 of this book may be consulted. Mention of these events in these verses is in the form of a brief reference, and in verse 26 the infidels of Makkah are reminded that those nations were much more powerful and well-established than the people of Makkah. Still, their power and strength was of no use to them against Allah's punishment. Moreover, verse 28 points out that the false gods believed by them to be their patrons could not save them from the torment they faced, because they were coined only by their false imagination, having no real existence at all.

(He said) Hud said to them: (The knowledge) of when the torment shall come (is with Allah only. I convey unto you that wherewith I have been sent) of the message of Allah's divine Oneness, (but I see you are a folk that know not) Allah's command and His torment.