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
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبًا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دِيَـٰرِهِمْ جَـٰثِمِينَ
And when Our command came, We saved Shuʿayb and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us. And the shriek seized those who had wronged, and they became within their homes [corpses] fallen prone
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ
And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allāh - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allāh's earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment."
مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَمَا هِىَ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍ
Marked from your Lord. And it [i.e., Allāh's punishment] is not from the wrongdoers [very] far.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا۟ مُعْجِزِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۘ يُضَـٰعَفُ لَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۚ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يُبْصِرُونَ
Those were not causing failure [to Allāh] on earth, nor did they have besides Allāh any protectors. For them the punishment will be multiplied. They were not able to hear, nor did they see.