Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:126

Hud's preaching to His People `Ad

Here Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger Hud, when he called his people `Ad. His people used to live in the Ahqaf, curved sand-hills near Hadramawt, on the borders of Yemen. They lived after the time of Nuh, as Allah says in Surat Al-A`raf:

(And remember that He made you successors after the people of Nuh and increased you amply in stature) (7:69). This refers to the fact that they were physically strong and well-built, and very violent, and very tall; they had also been given a great deal of provisions, wealth, gardens, rivers, sons, crops and fruits. Yet despite all of that, they worshipped others besides Allah. So Allah sent Hud, one of their own, as a Messenger bringing them good news and delivering warnings. He called them to worship Allah alone, and he warned them of Allah's wrath and punishment if they were to go against him and treating him harshly. He said to them, as Nuh had said to his people:

(Do you build on every Ri` an Ayah for your amusement) The scholars of Tafsir differed over the meaning of the word Ri`. In brief, they said that it refers to an elevated location at a well-known crossroads, where they would build a huge, dazzling, sturdy structure, this is why he said:

(Do you build on every Ri` an Ayah) i.e., a well-known landmark,

(for your amusement) meaning, `you are only doing that for the purpose of frivolity, not because you need it, but for fun and to show off your strength.' So their Prophet, peace be upon him, denounced them for doing that, because it was a waste of time and exhausted people's bodies for no purpose, and kept them busy with something that was of no benefit in this world or the next. He said:

(And do you get for yourselves Masani` as if you will live therein forever) Mujahid said, "This means fortresses built up strong and high and structures that are built to last."

(as if you will live therein forever) means, `so that you may stay there forever, but that is not going to happen, because they will eventually cease to be, just as happened in the case of those who came before you.'

(And when you seize (somebody), seize you (him) as tyrants) They are described as being strong, violent and tyrannical.

(So, have Taqwa of Allah, and obey me.) `Worship your Lord and obey your Messenger.' Then Hud began reminding them of the blessings that Allah had bestowed upon them. He said:

(And have Taqwa of Him, Who has aided you with all that you know. He has aided you with cattle and children, and gardens and springs. Verily, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day.) meaning, `if you disbelieve and oppose (your Prophet).' So he called them to Allah with words of encouragement and words of warning, but it was to no avail.

Nabi Hud a.s. menyeru mereka agar menyembah Allah dan bertakwa kepada-Nya, serta melaksanakan perintah-Nya dan menjauhi larangan-Nya. Pada Surah Hud/11: 50-54 diterangkan bahwa Nabi Hud meminta kaumnya agar menyembah Allah dan tidak menyembah patung-patung, karena tidak ada tuhan selain Allah. Artinya bahwa tidak ada yang menciptakan, memberi rezeki, menghidupkan dan mematikan, berkuasa, membangkitkan dari kubur dan memiliki sifat-sifat ketuhanan, kecuali Allah. Penyembahan terhadap patung-patung itu adalah perbuatan yang mereka ada-adakan sendiri, tidak berdasarkan keterangan dari kitab suci dan bukti nyata sedikit pun. Hud juga menyatakan bahwa dia adalah rasul Allah yang sebenarnya. Segala yang disampaikannya itu berasal dari Allah.

Nabi Hud menerangkan bahwa ia tidak mengharapkan upah dalam pekerjaannya menyeru manusia kepada agama tauhid. Upahnya semata-mata dari Allah yaitu pahala yang ia harapkan nanti di akhirat.

Nabi Hud menyeru kaumnya agar memohon ampun dan bertobat kepada Allah. Kalau mereka berbuat demikian, niscaya Allah mengampuni dosa-dosa mereka, menurunkan hujan yang akan menjadikan negeri mereka bertambah subur, dan menambah rezeki mereka. Di samping itu, Allah akan menjadikan mereka semakin kuat, baik fisik maupun kekuasaan. Nabi Hud mengingatkan agar mereka menghentikan perbuatan dosa yang mereka lakukan dan memohon ampunan Allah.

Dan (Hud berkata), "Wahai kaumku! Mohonlah ampunan kepada Tuhanmu lalu bertobatlah kepada-Nya, niscaya Dia menurunkan hujan yang sangat deras, Dia akan menambahkan kekuatan di atas kekuatanmu, dan janganlah kamu berpaling menjadi orang yang berdosa." (Hud/11: 52).

Kaum 'ad tidak mengindahkan seruan Nabi Hud, bahkan mereka menyatakan bahwa Nabi Hud tidak membawa satu kebenaran pun dalam dakwahnya. Mereka menegaskan untuk tidak akan meninggalkan penyembahan berhala, dan tidak mempercayai seruan Nabi Hud. Allah berfirman:

Mereka (kaum 'Ad) berkata, "Wahai Hud! Engkau tidak mendatangkan suatu bukti yang nyata kepada kami, dan kami tidak akan meninggalkan sesembahan kami karena perkataanmu dan kami tidak akan mempercayaimu. (Hud/11: 53).

Mereka menuduh bahwa Nabi Hud telah dihinggapi penyakit gila yang ditimpakan oleh patung-patung mereka. Allah berfirman:

Kami hanya mengatakan bahwa sebagian sesembahan kami telah menimpakan penyakit gila atas dirimu." (Hud/11: 54).