A Surah of Quran That Made Holy Prophet Grow Old

TEHRAN (IQNA) – In addition to the verses talking about God’s mercy, there are verses in the Holy Quran that refer to the divine justice and how oppressors and the unjust are punished. A number of such verses are in Surah Hud.

The picture portrayed in the Surah about how the evil-doers are punished is so overwhelming that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is quoted as saying that this Surah made him grow old.

Surah Hud is the 11th chapter of the Quran and has 123 verses. It is a Makki (Meccan) Surah, that is to say, it has been revealed in Mecca. Surah Hud is in the 11^th and 12^th Juzes of the Quran and is the 52^nd Surah revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH). It relates in part to Prophet Hud.

Hud was a messenger of God who was appointed to prophethood some 700 years BC in the southern parts of Arabia. His name has been mentioned in the Quran several times and one of the Surahs of the Holy Book has also been named after him.

Surah Hud was revealed in Mecca just before the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) Hijra (migration) to Medina. It was a time prior to which the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had lost his uncle and his wife. That is why the Surah begins with sentences addressed the Prophet (PBUH) to console him. It then reviews the hardships that previous messengers of God went through and the victories they achieved.

The stories of prophets like Nuh, Hud, Saleh, Lut, Ibraheem (Abraham), and Moses, the difficulties they endured to guide people and the punishments meted out to people for their evil acts and injustices have been mentioned in this chapter of the Quran. According to this Surah, victory has always belonged to the messengers of God, even though they did not have many helpers and companions.

The first four verses of the Surah include Quranic teachings that have been elaborated on in the rest of the Surah. These teachings are about Tawheed (monotheism), prophethood, the Resurrection, and description of God’s promises to the faithful and good-doers.

There are verses in this Surah about the Resurrection Day, the divine court of justice and the punishments meted out to those who did injustice in their lifetime. That is why in Hadith, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) says: “Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old.”

Abdullah ibn Abbas has been quoted as saying in interpretation of this Hadith that no other verse has been more difficult for the Prophet (PBUH) than verse 112 of Surah Hud: “(Muhammad), be steadfast (in your faith) just as you have been commanded. Those who have turned to God in repentance with you, should also be steadfast in their faith. Do not indulge in rebellion. God is certainly aware of what you do.”