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Bismillahi ar-rahmani ar-rahim

Hud (11) 52

وَيَا قَوْمِ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَى قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا مُجْرِمِينَ

My people, ask your Lord’s forgiveness, and repent toward him. Then he will send abundant rain upon you from the sky and increase your strength. Do not turn away and do wrong.

Surah 7, 11 and 26 tell the story of nabi Hud. The eleventh surah is even named after him. In all three places in the Qur’an, the prophet’s narrative follows the story of Nuh (as), and precedes that of nabi Salih. Hud lived several generations after Nuh (as). Muslim historian sultan Abu al-Fida says that Hud can be identified with Heber, who is listed in genealogies in the Tawrat and Injil as the great-great-great-grandson of Nuh (as), through Shem (see Tawrah, Genesis 10:24,25; 11:14-17; Injil, Luke 3:35). Abu al-Fida says that Hud refused to help build the tower of Babel, and therefore got to keep his original language – apparently the language of the Semitic people (the sons of Shem), most notable the Hebrews and the Arabs. Muslims often call Hud the ancestor of pure Arabs, which he was, being an ancestor of Ishmael.

Hud was called to deliver a message from Allah to his people, the ‘Ad. It was the simple, straight message of tawhīd: Leave your idols and worship the One True Creator!

Al A’rāf 7:69

وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ مِن بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَزَادَكُمْ فِي الْخَلْقِ بَسْطَةً فَاذْكُرُوا آلَاءَ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

Remember when he made you regents after Nuh’s people, and he increased your stature among the creation, so remember Allah’s benefits so that you may prosper.

This ayah speaks about the special status the people of Hud enjoyed among the descendants of Nuh (as). It seems to support the idea that Allah gave them special privileges because of the refusal of Hud/Heber to participate in the Babylonian rebellion, although we may never be sure of the certainty of this tradition. It is a strong example of the thanklessness of the human race. Imagine! These are the chosen ones (the faithful remnant of the Babylonian generation) from the chosen ones (those who joined Nuh in the ark). Allah honored them by making them regents (خُلَفَاء, khulafāa, plural of the word خَلِيفَة, khalīfa - caliph), and yet, even they refused to listen to their nabi.

The only person before the ‘Ad, whom the Holy Qur’an calls caliph, was Adam (as). He was the caliph of the Earth, and still he failed by disobeying Allah, his only ruler. The ‘Ad, who were made khulafāa, also failed miserably.

Hud urged his people: “…remember Allah’s benefits so that you may prosper.” But they didn’t. The people of ‘Ad met a tragic end, being destroyed on this Earth, and Hud prophesied that they will meet the same fate at qiyama (judgement). (see Hud 11:60)

Is it reasonable for me to believe that I will be saved, because I am one of the chosen – because I am an Arab or a Turk, because I was born a Muslim etc.? Am I likely to succeed where the khulafāa – Adam, and the chosen from among the post-flood people – failed?

Whose faith will I be asked about at qiyama?

1. my prophet’s

2. my parents’

3. my own