سُوْرَةُ هُوْدٍ

Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 28

Hud · Meccan · Juz 12 · Page 224

قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَءَاتَىٰنِى رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِهِۦ فَعُمِّيَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنُلْزِمُكُمُوهَا وَأَنتُمْ لَهَا كَـٰرِهُونَ ﴿28﴾
He said: "O my people! Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Lord, and a Mercy (Prophethood) has come to me from Him, but that (Mercy) has been obscured from your sight. Shall we compel you to accept it (Islâmic Monotheism) when you have a strong hatred for it?
قَالَ qāla He said
يَـٰقَوْمِ yāqawmi O my people
أَرَءَيْتُمْ ara-aytum Do you see
إِن in if
كُنتُ kuntu I was
عَلَىٰ ʿalā on
بَيِّنَةٍۢ bayyinatin (the) clear proof
مِّن min from
رَّبِّى rabbī my Lord
وَءَاتَىٰنِى waātānī while He has given me
رَحْمَةًۭ raḥmatan mercy
مِّنْ min from
عِندِهِۦ ʿindihi Himself
فَعُمِّيَتْ faʿummiyat but (it) has been obscured
عَلَيْكُمْ ʿalaykum from you
أَنُلْزِمُكُمُوهَا anul'zimukumūhā should We compel you (to accept) it
وَأَنتُمْ wa-antum while you (are)
لَهَا lahā averse to it
كَـٰرِهُونَ kārihūna averse to it

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 28) ➊ { قَالَ يٰقَوْمِ اَرَءَيْتُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُ عَلٰى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّيْ …:} Noah (peace be upon him) gave a comprehensive answer to all their objections: firstly, that I possess strong proofs and firm conviction from my Lord regarding the oneness of Allah and my prophethood, that is, {’’ وَ اٰتٰىنِيْ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِنْدِهٖ ‘‘}. Secondly, this prophethood is not the result of anyone’s effort or an inheritance from anyone’s forefathers; rather, it is a special favor from Allah Himself, and its distribution is not in your hands. Allah gives it to whomever He wills, whether poor or rich, just as the people of Makkah objected about our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him): «وَ قَالُوْا لَوْ لَا نُزِّلَ هٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنُ عَلٰى رَجُلٍ مِّنَ الْقَرْيَتَيْنِ عَظِيْمٍ» [ الزخرف : ۳۱ ] “And they said, ‘Why was this Qur’an not sent down upon a great man from [one of] the two towns (Makkah and Ta’if)?’” Allah gave their answer: «{ اَهُمْ يَقْسِمُوْنَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ مَّعِيْشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا [ الزخرف : ۳۲ ] “Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? We have distributed among them their livelihood in the life of this world.”

{ فَعُمِّيَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ:} Its root is {’’عَمْيٌ‘‘}, meaning to be blind, that is, tell me, if you have been blinded from this proof and mercy, and due to your foolishness it remained so hidden from you that you could not see it, then what fault is ours in this?

{اَنُلْزِمُكُمُوْهَا وَ اَنْتُمْ لَهَا كٰرِهُوْنَ:} That is, should we forcibly make you accept this proof and push you under the shade of this mercy, while you dislike it and run away from it? In {’’ اَنُلْزِمُكُمُوْهَا ‘‘}, three pronouns have been combined in such a way within one word that the word has become extremely beautiful and clear.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

28.1 By "Bayyinah" is meant faith and conviction, and by "mercy" is meant prophethood, with which Allah ﷻ honored Prophet Nuh (Noah) (علیہ السلام).
28.2 That is, you became blind to seeing it. Thus, you neither recognized its value nor were willing to accept it; rather, you denied it and became intent on rejecting it.
28.3 When this is the case, then how can guidance and mercy come to your share?

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

Noah said, "O my people! Consider if I am upon a clear proof from my Lord, and He has granted me mercy from Himself (prophethood) which has been made hidden from you [36], can we force it upon you if you are averse to it?"

[36]
The Difference Between the Life of a Prophet and Ordinary Disbelievers:

Noah (peace be upon him) replied that distinguishing qualities do exist in me, but it is a different matter that your standard of distinction is different, and mine is another. I have never worshipped anyone except Allah, I always speak the truth and invite others to the truth, I am compassionate to everyone, I do not harm anyone nor do I deceive or cheat. Furthermore, Allah has blessed me with prophethood by His mercy. In short, there is a world of difference between my life and yours. Still, if you do not see any distinguishing difference, how can I force you to be convinced?