إِن نَّقُولُ إِلَّا ٱعْتَرَىٰكَ بَعْضُ ءَالِهَتِنَا بِسُوٓءٍ ۗ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ وَٱشْهَدُوٓا۟ أَنِّى بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ 54
Translations
We only say that some of our gods have possessed you with evil [i.e., insanity]." He said, "Indeed, I call Allāh to witness, and witness [yourselves] that I am free from whatever you associate with Allāh
Transliteration
In naqūlu illā ʿtarāka baʿḍu ālihatinā bisuūʾ, qāla innī ushḥidu Allāha washshhadū annī barīʾun mimmā tushrikūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The people of Prophet Hud accuse him of being afflicted by madness or possession from their gods if he does not stop preaching monotheism. Prophet Hud responds with absolute conviction, calling Allah as witness and demanding his people witness as well that he is completely innocent of their polytheistic practices and rejects all their idols. This demonstrates the prophet's unwavering commitment to tawhīd (monotheism) despite the community's rejection and accusations against him.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Hud's call to his people, the ʿĀd. The Meccan surah addresses the Prophet Muhammad's situation, where the Quraysh similarly accused him of being possessed or mad for his monotheistic message. The parallel accounts throughout Surah Hud illustrate how prophets throughout history faced identical accusations and ridicule from their peoples.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3611) where the Prophet said, 'The best of supplications is the supplication on the day of ʿArafah,' relates thematically to the invocation and testimony before Allah mentioned in this verse. Additionally, the Prophet's statement about remaining patient against accusations parallels Hud's steadfastness, referenced in various hadith collections concerning prophetic endurance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that conviction in Allah's oneness may result in ridicule and false accusations, yet the believer's duty is to stand firm in truth and distance themselves completely from falsehood. It demonstrates that bearing witness to one's faith before Allah and others is an act of courage and spiritual integrity in the face of societal pressure.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَرْكَنُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ
And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire, and you would not have other than Allāh any protectors; then you would not be helped.
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّى عَـٰمِلٌ ۖ سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ كَـٰذِبٌ ۖ وَٱرْتَقِبُوٓا۟ إِنِّى مَعَكُمْ رَقِيبٌ
And O my people, work according to your position; indeed, I am working. You are going to know to whom will come a punishment that will disgrace him and who is a liar. So watch; indeed, I am with you a watcher, [awaiting the outcome]."
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۗ وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْمَوْتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you are resurrected after death," those who disbelieve will surely say, "This is not but obvious magic."
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ لَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شِقَاقِىٓ أَن يُصِيبَكُم مِّثْلُ مَآ أَصَابَ قَوْمَ نُوحٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ هُودٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ صَـٰلِحٍ ۚ وَمَا قَوْمُ لُوطٍ مِّنكُم بِبَعِيدٍ
And O my people, let not [your] dissension from me cause you to be struck by that similar to what struck the people of Noah or the people of Hūd or the people of Ṣāliḥ. And the people of Lot are not from you far away.