وَيَـٰقَوْمِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ 52
Translations
And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals."
Transliteration
Wa ya qawmi istaghfiroo rabbakum thumma tooboo ilayhi yursil as-samaa alaikum midrar wa yazdkum quwwatan ila quwwatikum wa la tatawallao mujrimin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Hud calls his people to seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him, promising that if they do so, Allah will send abundant rain upon them and increase their strength and capability. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this verse demonstrates the conditional nature of divine mercy—repentance and asking forgiveness are prerequisites for receiving Allah's blessings in both material (rain for crops) and spiritual (increased strength) forms. The closing warning against turning away while committing sin emphasizes personal accountability and the consequences of rejecting divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Prophet Hud's message to the people of 'Ad, one of the ancient Arab nations destroyed for their disbelief and arrogance. The surah contextually presents Hud addressing his people after they rejected his warnings, offering them one final opportunity for repentance and promising relief from the drought they were experiencing.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Whoever seeks forgiveness from Allah, Allah will grant him a way out from every distress and will provide for him from sources he could never have imagined' (Sunan Abu Dawud). Additionally, 'Repentance wipes away sins as water wipes away dust from the face' (authenticated in various collections), thematically reinforcing the power of istighfar and tawbah mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that genuine repentance and seeking Allah's forgiveness are not merely spiritual acts but transformative practices that unlock divine mercy in all dimensions of life. For believers today, it reminds us that turning back to Allah with sincere hearts, combined with abandoning sin, is the path to receiving both worldly provisions and inner strength to face life's challenges.
Related Ayahs
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ شَقُوا۟ فَفِى ٱلنَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ
As for those who were [destined to be] wretched, they will be in the Fire. For them therein is [violent] exhaling and inhaling.
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."
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَرَزَقَنِى مِنْهُ رِزْقًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنْهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ ۚ إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلْإِصْلَـٰحَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُ ۚ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ
He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I am upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has provided me with a good provision from Him...? And I do not intend to differ from you in that which I have forbidden you; I only intend reform as much as I am able. And my success is not but through Allāh. Upon Him I have relied, and to Him I return.
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَسُلْطَـٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ
And We did certainly send Moses with Our signs and a clear authority