وَتِلْكَ عَادٌ ۖ جَحَدُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَعَصَوْا۟ رُسُلَهُۥ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ 59
Translations
And that was ʿAad, who rejected the signs of their Lord and disobeyed His messengers and followed the order of every obstinate tyrant.
Transliteration
Wa tilka 'Adun jahadū bi-āyāti Rabbihim wa 'asaw rusulahu wattaba'ū amra kulli jabbārin 'anīd
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the people of 'Ad who rejected the clear signs (āyāt) of their Lord, disobeyed His messengers, and followed the commands of every arrogant, stubborn tyrant among them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that the 'Ad's destruction was a direct consequence of their collective arrogance and blind adherence to their leaders' oppressive ways, serving as a stark warning against following falsehood despite clear guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Hud's broader narrative of ancient nations and their rejection of divine messengers. It specifically concludes the account of the Prophet Hūd and the 'Ad people, summarizing their spiritual condition that led to their annihilation. The surah was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Quraysh rejected the Prophet Muhammad's message, making this historical parallel particularly relevant to the contemporary audience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, 'Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allah will ease for him a path to Paradise' (Sahih Muslim), contrasting with the 'Ad's rejection of guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that blindly following charismatic or powerful leaders without questioning their alignment with divine truth leads to spiritual and societal destruction. Muslims are reminded to prioritize obedience to Allah and His messengers over loyalty to human authority, no matter how influential or seemingly wise such leaders appear.
Related Ayahs
فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
So who is more unjust than he who invents a lie about Allāh or denies His signs? Indeed, the criminals will not succeed.
۞ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَىٰ رَبَّنَا ۗ لَقَدِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْ عُتُوًّا كَبِيرًا
And those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, "Why were not angels sent down to us, or [why] do we [not] see our Lord?" They have certainly become arrogant within themselves and [become] insolent with great insolence.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَـٰنٍ أَتَىٰهُمْ ۙ إِن فِى صُدُورِهِمْ إِلَّا كِبْرٌ مَّا هُم بِبَـٰلِغِيهِ ۚ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
Indeed, those who dispute concerning the signs of Allāh without [any] evidence having come to them - there is not within their breasts except pride, [the extent of] which they cannot reach. So seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Seeing.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَآئِهِۦ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَزْنًا
Those are the ones who disbelieve in the verses of their Lord and in [their] meeting Him, so their deeds have become worthless; and We will not assign to them on the Day of Resurrection any weight [i.e., importance].