وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُفْتَرُونَ 50
Translations
And to ʿAad [We sent] their brother Hūd. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. You are not but inventors [of falsehood].
Transliteration
Wa-ilaa AAdin akhāhum hūdan qāla yā qawmi oAAbudū Allāha mā lakum min ilāhin ghayruhu in antum illā muftarūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah sent Hud, a messenger from among the people of 'Ad themselves, to call them to monotheistic worship and abandon idolatry. Hud's message was clear: there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, and the people's assertion of multiple gods is nothing but fabrication and falsehood. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes the divine pattern of sending messengers from within communities to ensure clarity of message and remove the excuse of unfamiliarity.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Meccan surah Hud, which extensively narrates the stories of various prophets and their peoples. The context is the account of Prophet Hud's mission to the 'Ad people, an ancient Arabian civilization known for their arrogance and rejection of monotheism. This narrative serves as a warning to the Quraysh and all disbelievers about the consequences of rejecting divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The theme of messengers being sent from among their own people is corroborated by Surah Al-Ankabut (29:28). A related concept appears in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is described as a mercy to the worlds, similar to how each messenger was sent as a mercy to their people.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true guidance comes from Allah through His chosen messengers, and that rejecting monotheism in favor of invented deities is a form of deception and self-delusion. For modern believers, it reinforces the importance of adhering to authentic Islamic teachings and recognizing that the message of pure monotheism is universal and timeless across all prophetic traditions.
Related Ayahs
وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنَّا عَـٰمِلُونَ
And say to those who do not believe, "Work according to your position; indeed, we are working.
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا نُوَفِّ إِلَيْهِمْ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فِيهَا وَهُمْ فِيهَا لَا يُبْخَسُونَ
Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments - We fully repay them for their deeds therein, and they therein will not be deprived.
وَأُتْبِعُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ عَادًا كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ ۗ أَلَا بُعْدًا لِّعَادٍ قَوْمِ هُودٍ
And they were [therefore] followed in this world with a curse and [as well] on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, ʿAad denied their Lord; then away with ʿAad, the people of Hūd.
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْـَٔلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِى وَتَرْحَمْنِىٓ أَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
[Noah] said, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers."