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The Divine statement inquires:" What ! do you wonder that an admonition has come to you from your Lord through a man from among you, that he might warn you so that you might keep from evil and so that (His) mercy may be shown to you ? " The verse implies that you should not surprise that the Divine statement, the prophethood and the messengership have been sent down upon a man who is from among yourselves in order that he warns you of the divine retribution if you do not believe. When the verse implies that you should not surprise, it is for the reason that if a person sincerely and simpathetically arises for the guidance and improvement of a community, it is not surprising. The wonder is in this that people do not have pity on themselves, and they supply the means of their own wretchedness. Moreover, prophethood is assigned for the interest of people. It adapts the wisdom and common good, and besides that intellect confirms it, too. However, the purpose of coming Noah was that those people to avoid infidelity and sinning, so that they be shown mercy to. * * * * (64) فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَنْجَيْناهُ وَ الَّذِينَ مَعَهُ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَ أَغْرَقْنَا الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآياتِنا إِنَّهُمْ كانُوا قَوْماً عَمِينَ 64. " But they belied him, so We delivered him and those with him in the Ark, and We drowned those who belied Our Signs. Verily they were a blind people." Commentary : As a result of the very undue wonder, the people of Noah rejected him. Therefore, Allah delivered him and those believers who were in Noah's Ark from being drowned, and, thereafter, He drowned all those who belied Noah and the Divine revelations. They were somd blind-hearted people, and they were misguided. " But they belied him, so We delivered him and those with him in the Ark, and We drowned those who belied Our Signs. Verily they were a blind people." The Arabic word /'amin/ is the plural form of /'amy/. It is applied upon a person whose insight and innate vision are unable to do their functions. (Al-Mizan, the commentary). * * * * Section 9The Ministry of Messenger HudMessenger Hud exhosting his people to serve only Allah and none else - The people challengingHud against the threats of the Wrath of Allah - The punishment they suffered. (65) وَ إِلى عادٍ أَخاهُمْ هُوداً قالَ يا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ ما لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلهٍ غَيْرُهُ أَ فَلا تَتَّقُونَ 65. " And unto (the people of) ' Ad (We sent) their brother Hud. He said : ' O' my people ! Serve Allah (alone), you have no god other than Him, will you not keep from evil ? " Commentary : This second story, the prophethood of Hud has been told in this Sura. The detailed story of Prophet Hud has been referred to in Sura Ash-Shu'ara' and Sura Hud. The people of 'Ad had been living in a zone in the south of Arabia by the name of 'Ahghaf. physically they were very strong and, from the point of agriculture and raising cattle, they were a powerful people. This group of people were involved in idolatry and corruption. Hud was one of the relatives of these people. He was appointed to prophethood among them. He invited his people to Unity, as Noah did. Explanations : 1. Invitation to Unity is at the top of the mission of prophets. "... He said : ' O' my people ! Serve Allah (alone), ..." 2. The most sympathetic and compassionate leaders unto people were the divine prophets. " And unto (the people of) 'Ad (We sent) their brother Hud. ..." 3. Preachers should treat as a brother with people. They ought to love them. "... (We sent) their brother Hud. ..." 4. The Wrath of Allah upon the former disbelievers should be taken as a warner by the later generations to be aware and to take example so that they be afraid of rejecting the Divine religion. "... you have no god other than Him, will you not keep from evil ? " * * * * (66) قالَ
الْمَلَأُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ إِنَّا لَنَراكَ فِي سَفاهَةٍ وَ
إِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ الْكاذِبِينَ 66. " The chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: ' Verily we see you in folly, and verily we do think you to be of the liars'." 67. " He said: ' O' my people ! There is no folly in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the worlds '." 68. " I deliver to you the Messages of my Lord, and I am a faithful adviser for you." Commentary : A group of disbelieving people, or a party of the rich, told Hud that they had distinguished him as a foolish, ignorant, and silly person. They added that they thought his words were thoroughly lies. The holy verse says : " The chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: ' Verily we see you in folly, and verily we do think you to be of the liars'." * * * * In Answer to them, Hud said that they would be sure that he did not told them that matter foolishly. He added that he was a messenger from the side of the Lord of the worlds. The verse says : " He said: ' O' my people ! There is no folly in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the worlds '." Thus, the Lord, the Exalted, teaches us that no one should face the ignorant people with a disgrace word, nor the one should answer their unagreeable word with a disgrace statement. But, he should only negate whatever wrong they have attributed him with. The same as Hud did not say anything obscene to them in answer to that undue attribution. * * * * Hud continued his statement and added that he was to deliver them the information that his Lord gave him, and he advised them not to abandon the obedience of Allah. He told them they should be certain that he (Hud) was faithful in conveying the message of Allah to them and he never told a lie, nor he changed anything. The verse says : " I deliver to you the Messages of my Lord, and I am a faithful adviser for you." * * * * (69) أَ وَ عَجِبْتُمْ أَنْ جاءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ عَلى رَجُلٍ مِنْكُمْ لِيُنْذِرَكُمْ وَ اذْكُرُوا إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفاءَ مِنْ بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَ زادَكُمْ فِي الْخَلْقِ بَصْطَةً فَاذْكُرُوا آلاءَ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ 69. " What ! do you wonder that an admonition has come to you from your Lord through a man from among you, that he might warn you ? And remember when He made you successors after Noah's people, and increased you in stature. Therefore, remember the bounties of Allah so that you may be prosperous." Commentary : There is no wonder that the prophecy, or in other word, the miracle and revelation has allocated to a man who is from among themselves and has grown up with them. His aim is to threaten them not to do vice. However, the Qur'anasks them why they wonder from the messengership of a man who is from among them, but they do not wonder that they worship a stone. The verse says : " What ! do you wonder that an admonition has come to you from your Lord through a man from among you, that he might warn you ? ..." Then, they should remember the favours of Allah and that, after the destruction of the people of Noah as a result of their committing sins, He settled them on the earth and increased them in stature and strength. "... And remember when He made you successors after Noah's people, and increased you in stature. ..." When the servants of Allah do remember the bounties of Allah practically, they will consequently be prosperous both in this world and in the Hereafter. "... Therefore, remember the bounties of Allah so that you may be prosperous." (70) قالُوا أَ جِئْتَنا لِنَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ وَ نَذَرَ ما كانَ يَعْبُدُ آباؤُنا فَأْتِنا بِما تَعِدُنا إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ 70. " They said: ' Have you come to us that we should serve Allah alone and give up what our fathers used to serve ? Then bring us what you promise us to, if you are of the truthful ones '." Commentary : The people of 'Adtold Hud whether he had come to them in order that he would make them worship Allah, the One, and restrain them from worshipping their gods which their ancestors had been worshipping. They told him if he was truthful, that he was a messenger of Allah, he would bring upon them down the punishment he had threatened them to for worshipping idols. The verse says : " They said: ' Have you come to us that we should serve Allah alone and give up what our fathers used to serve ? Then bring us what you promise us to, if you are of the truthful ones '." * * * * (71) قالَ قَدْ وَقَعَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ رِجْسٌ وَ غَضَبٌ أَ تُجادِلُونَنِي فِي أَسْماءٍ سَمَّيْتُمُوها أَنْتُمْ وَ آباؤُكُمْ ما نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ بِها مِنْ سُلْطانٍ فَانْتَظِرُوا إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الْمُنْتَظِرِينَ 71. " He (Hud) said: " There have already fallen you punishment and wrath from your Lord. Do you dispute with me about names which you and your fathers have named (your idols), for which Allah has not sent any authority ? Wait then, and verily I, also with you, will be of those who wait." Commentary : The verse begins thus :" He (Hud) said: " There have already fallen you punishment an wrath from your Lord. ..." In answer to them, Hud (a.s.) said to them that the punishment was certain to be fallen on them. They had done something that they deserved the wrath of Allah. The Wrath of Allah is in the manner that He wills punishment for evil-doers. The verse continues saying : "... Do you dispute with me about names which you and your fathers have named (your idols), for which Allah has not sent any authority ? Wait then, and verily I, also with you, will be of those who wait." Hud asked them whether they hostilely disputed with him about the idols that their fathers had invented and named them with divinity, while those idols had no attribute or sign of divinity and also there had come down no proof for their divinity from the side of Allah. It is evident that such a great claim needed a sharp and firm proof which should be offered by them, not by Hud. He said that he should bring evidences that Allah, One God, was their real deity, and that there is no god but He, from Whom Hud was sent as a messenger. Some commentators have said that they had named each of their idols in a different form. Hud said that those names were from their own wishes. Therefore, they must wait for the punishment which he (a.s.) was waiting for, too. * * * * (72) فَأَنْجَيْناهُ وَ الَّذِينَ مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنَّا وَ قَطَعْنا دابِرَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآياتِنا وَ ما كانُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ 72. " So We delivered him and those who were with him by a mercy from Us, and We cut away the roots of those who belied Our Signs and were not believers." Commentary : The verse implies that Allah brought Hudand those who had believed from among the disbelievers and delivered them from His punishment by His mercy, and He involved those who rejected Allah's signs and did not believe in His messenger in chastisement so that He cut away the roots of them. " So We delivered him and those with him by a mercy from Usand We cut away the roots of those belied Our signs and were not believers." The occurrence of the phrase : " (They) were not believers " in the verse is with the purpose of showing that it was known from their status that they would not have believed if they had remained more. It is understood from this verse that the people of Hud were caught by the punishment of Allah, and they were destroyed. * * * * Section 10The Ministries of Salih and LutSalih's exhortation to believe in an stick to Unity of Allah - The people disbelieved and got punished - Lut preached of life - He was rejected and the people were seized by a severe punishment. (73) وَ إِلى ثَمُودَ أَخاهُمْ صالِحاً قالَ يا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ ما لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلهٍ غَيْرُهُ قَدْ جاءَتْكُمْ بَيِّنَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ هذِهِ ناقَةُ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ آيَةً فَذَرُوها تَأْكُلْ فِي أَرْضِ اللَّهِ وَ لا تَمَسُّوها بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذابٌ أَلِيمٌ 73. " And unto (the people of) Thamud (We sent) their brother Salih. He said: ' O' my people ! Serve Allah. You have no god other than Him. There has come to you a clear proof from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allah, to be a sign for you. So leave her alone to graze in Allah's earth, and do not touch her with any harm, lest a painful chastisement will seize you." Commentary : In the Qur'an, there have been referred to the name of 'she-camel' seven times, and to 'the people of Thamud' twenty six times. The story of the people of Thamud is mentioned in Suras : Ash-Shu'ara, Al-Qamar, Ash-Shams, and Hud. As the commentary book Al-Mizan denotes, the people of Thamud lived in Yemen. The verse says : " And unto (the people of) Thamud (We sent) their brother Salih. He said: ' O' my people ! Serve Allah. You have no god other than Him. There has come to you a clear proof from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allah, to be a sign for you. So leave her alone to graze in Allah's earth, and do not touch her with any harm, lest a painful chastisement will seize you." There are some differences between the meaning of the Qur'anic term /bayyinah/ (divine proof, miracle) and the manner of extraordinary accomplishments of human beings, as follows :A - A miracle needs practice, suggestion, and gaining. B - Miracles are brought forth by some good and immaculate persons, but other accomplishments may be offered even by some inept persons. C - The goal of miracles is guidance, while the aim of ordinary people may be ostentation, popularity, gaining wealth, and amusement. D - The acts of prophets in miracles are accompanied with challenge. That is, they claim that others cannot do the like of them. But there is none of these signs in the acts of outstanding intellectual figures, inventors, and the ascetics. E - Prophets are in need of Divine miracles. Sometimes, miracles have been offered through the demand of people, such as : splitting of the moon, and the she-camel of Salih. The style and the motto of prophets are the same. Monotheism is the first invitation of prophets. "... serve Allah. You have no god other than Him." Prophets have come out from among people, and they treat like brothers with them. Explanations : 1. To whatever the grace and mercy of Allah reaches, it will obtain sanctity, (like the she-camel of Allah). 2. The retribution of sacrilege is the punishment of Allah. The verse says : "... and do not touch her ... ." 3. A miracle should be perceptible for human beings in all levels, (like the she-camel which came out of a mountain). 4. The kind of people's demand sometimes concerns to the conditions of their system of thought, and the social and economical circumstances of them. (For example, if it happened to day, perhaps, they might demand that a satellite comes out from the mountain.) (74) وَ اذْكُرُوا إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفاءَ مِنْ بَعْدِ عادٍ وَ بَوَّأَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْ سُهُولِها قُصُوراً وَ تَنْحِتُونَ الْجِبالَ بُيُوتاً فَاذْكُرُوا آلاءَ اللَّهِ وَ لا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ 74. " And remember when He appointed you successors after 'Ad and settled you in the earth, you build castles on its plains and hew the mountains into houses. So remember Allah's bounties, and do not mischief in the earth, doing corruption.' Commentary : In this verse, the Qur'an says :" And remember when He appointed you successors after 'Ad and settled you in the earth, ..." It means that, on one side, do not forget the abundant bounties of Allah, and, on the other side, be aware that there were some other rebellious nations before you, like the people of 'Ad, who were involved in the punishment of Allah and were destroyed as a result of their oppositions. Then, the Qur'an emphasizes on some divine favours and possibilities of the people of Thumud. It says that they lived on a land where there were level plains with some suitable soil. They had built castles on its plains and had made houses inside the mountains for themselves. The verse adds : "... you build castles on its plains and hew the mountains into houses. ..." And, at the end of the verse, it admonishes them to remember all the blessings of Allah so that they do not make mischief in the earth and not to be ungratitude due to His bounties. The verse continues saying : "... So remember Allah's bounties, and do not mischief in the earth, doing corruption.' (75) قالَ
الْمَلَأُ الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا لِمَنْ
آمَنَ مِنْهُمْ أَ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ صالِحاً مُرْسَلٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ قالُوا إِنَّا
بِما أُرْسِلَ بِهِ مُؤْمِنُونَ 75. " The chiefs of the arrogant among his people said to those who were considered weak - those of them who believed - 'Do you know that Salih issent by his Lord ? ' They said: ' Surely we believer in what he has been sent with '." 76. " Those who were arrogant said: ' We, indeed, disbelieve in that which you believe '." Commentary : We see again that the wealthy and notable group of those people, who had a good seeming outward but an evil inward, began to oppose with this great messenger of Allah. This group of notable arrogant persons from among the people of Salih told some believing oppressed ones of them asking whether they really knew that Salih was sent from the side of Allah to guide them. " The chiefs of the arrogant among his people said to those who were considered weak ِ those of them who believed ِ 'Do you know that Salih is sent by his Lord ? ' ..." Then, before long, they faced with their decisive and sharp answer, which indicated of their firm and strong decision. Their answer was that they said not only they knew that Salih was sent by Allah, but also they believed in what he had been missioned for and had invited people to it. The verse says : "... They said: ' Surely we believer in what he has been sent with '." * * * * These proud arrogant chiefs did not cease their enmity and, in order to weaken the spiritual strength of the believers, they said to them that they did not believe in what the believers believed. The verse says : " Those who were arrogant said: ' We, indeed, disbelieve in that which youbelieve '." * * * * (77) فَعَقَرُوا النَّاقَةَ وَ عَتَوْا عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَ قالُوا يا صالِحُ ائْتِنا بِما تَعِدُنا إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ 77. " So they harmstrung the She-camel and revolted against their Lord's commandment, and they said: ' O' Salih ! bring us that you promise us to, ifyou are of the messengers '." Commentary : The arrogant wealthy persons among Salih's people became despair of weakening the foundations of the Faith of masses of people who were faithful. On the other side, they saw that, with the existence of the 'she-camel' which was counted as Salih's miracle, their hostile plots were remained useless. Then, they decided to destroy the 'She-camel'. Before anything else, they harmstrung her and, disobeying Allah's command, they killed her. The verse says : " So they harmstrung the She-camel and revolted against their Lord's commandment, ..." They did not suffice to this vice, but they came to Salih and vividly told him to bring them Allah's punishment as soon as possible, if he was the messenger of Allah. "... and they said: ' O' Salih ! bring us that you promise us to, if you are of the messengers'." This word, in fact, was making a kind of fight against Salih in order to weaken the spirit of both Salih and the believers. * * * * (78) فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دارِهِمْ جاثِمِينَ 78. " Then the earthquake seized them, so they became motionless bodies in their dwellings." Commentary : In this verse, the destruction of the people of Thamudis stated thatit was done by earthquake. And, in Sura Fussilat, No. 41, verse 17, and Sura Ath-Thariyat, No. 51, verse 44 it is said that it was done by rumbling : "... so the rumbling overtook them while they were yet looking on." Rumbling destroyed them while they were gazing. Therefore, there were a combination of two retributions in one moment upon them. The Arabic term /jathim/ is applied for a person who has fallen on his knees and is not capable to stand up. Thus, the Wrath of Allah (s.w.t.) befalls all of a sudden. Beware ! The verse says : " Then the earthquake seized them, so they became motionless bodies in their dwellings." The promises of prophets are practically doable. So, take their warnings earnestly. In the former verses, it was recited : '... and do not touch her with any harm, lest a painful chastisement seizes you.' (1) This 'earthquake' is the same 'painful chastisement'. There are many earthquakes and natural terrible events which themselves are the punishment of Allah. " Then the earthquake seized them, ..." * * * * (1) The current Sura, Verse 73. (79) فَتَوَلَّى عَنْهُمْ وَ قالَ يا قَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسالَةَ رَبِّي وَ نَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ وَ لكِنْ لا تُحِبُّونَ النَّاصِحِينَ 79. " Then he turned away from them and said: ' O' my people ! verily I have delivered to you the Message of my Lord, and advised you sincerely; but you do not like sincere advisers '." Commentary : The word of Salih to his people is probable to be fulfilled eitherbefore the descent of the chastisement in order to complete the argument, or after their destruction. It can be in the same manner that the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) also spoke to the dead bodies of disbelievers which were inside the Badr well. The audience asked him (p.b.u.h.) whether they were alive, and the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said : " yes ". However, the mission of prophets is to convey the Divine message accompanied with sympathy and benevolene. It is not only a dry, bare communication, like the communication of regulations and circulars in formal offices. "... and advised you sincerely; ..." Allah's retributions are given after delivering the message and completing the argument. "... verily I have delivered to you the Message of my Lord, ..." By the way, we ought to like the advisers. He who dislikes those who work symphathetically, provides the means of the Wrath of Allah for himself. "... and advised you sincerely; but you do not like sincere advisers '." * * * * (80) وَ
لُوطاً إِذْ قالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَ تَأْتُونَ الْفاحِشَةَ ما سَبَقَكُمْ بِها مِنْ
أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْعالَمِينَ 80. " And (We sent) Lut when he said to his people: ' What ! Do you commit an indecency which none in the world has ever done before you ? ' " 81. " Verily you come to men in lust instead of women ! Nay, you are an extravagant people." Commentary : Prophet Lut (a.s.) was from the family of Abraham (a.s.). He was the only man who believed in him and migrated with him. Sura Al-'Ankabut, No. 29, Verse 26 says : " And Lut believed in him ..." Abraham (a.s.) sent him to a zone where indecencies were circulated at that time. It has been narrated that they committed the act of sodomy upon their guests so that people be afraid of being a guest. As the Qur'an points out, Prophet Lut suggested them to marry his daughters, but they did not accept. There are some advantages in marriage which are absent in sodomy. A few of them are such as: 1) Affection, mercy, and intimate ease; 2) offspring; 3) forming a family organization; and 4) the subjects of humanity and naturalness existed in marriage. (5)
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