Surah Al-Ahqaf (46) — Ayah 21

(Ayah 21) ➊ If it is from {وَ اذْكُرْ اَخَا عَادٍ: ’’ اذْكُرْ ‘‘ ’’ذِكْرٌ‘‘}, then it means mention it before your people, so that they may take heed, and if it is from {’’ذُكْرٌ‘‘}, then it means remember it, so that you may find comfort from it. Both meanings can be intended at the same time, because {’’ اذْكُرْ ‘‘} is an imperative verb that applies to both. After describing the condition of the arrogant on the Day of Resurrection, mention is made of some arrogant nations in the world, among which the people of ‘Ad are mentioned in some detail, and the state of other nations is described briefly in verse (27): « وَ لَقَدْ اَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُمْ مِّنَ الْقُرٰى». By the brother of ‘Ad is meant Hud (peace be upon him), as He said: «وَ اِلٰى عَادٍ اَخَاهُمْ هُوْدًا » [ الأعراف : ۶۵ ] “And to ‘Ad, their brother Hud (was sent).” For details, see the commentary of Surah Al-A’raf (65). Hud (peace be upon him) is called the brother of the people of ‘Ad because he was one of them. The detailed mention of ‘Ad is because, among the Arab nations, this is the first nation to whom a messenger came after the general prophethood of Noah (peace be upon him). The era of Hud and Salih (peace be upon them) is before that of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). The chiefs of Quraysh, who were proud of their greatness, were told the story of the people of ‘Ad, who were the most powerful nation in their land.

➋ {اِذْ اَنْذَرَ قَوْمَهٗ بِالْاَحْقَافِ: ’’اَلْأَحْقَافُ‘‘ ’’حِقْفٌ‘‘} is the plural of {’’حِقْفٌ‘‘}, which refers to a high and elongated sand dune that is somewhat crooked. {’’اِحْقَوْقَفَ الشَّيْءُ‘‘} is when something is crooked. Here, “Ahqaf” refers to that region of Hadramaut in eastern Yemen, which is part of the great Arabian desert (Rub‘ al-Khali). The people of Hud (peace be upon him) lived there, and at that time it was a very fertile and developed area, with abundant springs, gardens, and livestock, as mentioned in Surah Ash-Shu‘ara (132 to 134). After Allah’s punishment, that area was so destroyed that to this day there is no sign of habitation, only desert everywhere and long, wide sand dunes. It appears that this area is called “Ahqaf” in reference to its present state. In Tafheem-ul-Quran it is stated: “Seeing the present state of Ahqaf, no one can imagine that once a powerful nation with a splendid civilization lived here. It is likely that thousands of years ago it was a lush area, and later changes in climate turned it into a desert. Today, its condition is such that it is a vast, desolate desert, into whose interior no one dares to venture. In 1843, a Bavarian soldier reached its southern edge; he says that standing on the northern plateau of Hadramaut and looking, this desert appears a thousand feet below, and in it there are places with such white patches that if anything falls into them, it keeps sinking into the sand and becomes completely decayed. The Bedouins of Arabia are very afraid of this area and are not willing to go there at any cost. On one occasion, when the Bedouins were not willing to take him there, he went alone. He states that the sand here is as fine as powder; from a distance, he threw a plumb line into it, and within five minutes it was swallowed up, and the end of the rope to which it was tied rotted away. For detailed information, see:
Arabia and the Isles by Harold Ingrams, London 1946
The Unveiling of Arabia. By Reginald Hugh Kiernan, London 1937
The Empty Quarter By St John Philby. London 1933

➌ {وَ قَدْ خَلَتِ النُّذُرُ مِنْۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِهٖۤ …:} Allah Almighty is saying that before Hud (peace be upon him), many warners had passed, and after him, many prophets passed, warning their respective peoples; the teaching of all was that none should be worshipped except Allah. The mention of warners is made because glad tidings are given to those who believe. The beginning of this surah is also with this matter, as He said: «وَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا عَمَّاۤ اُنْذِرُوْا مُعْرِضُوْنَ » [ الأحقاف : ۳ ] “And those who disbelieved turn away from that with which they were warned.”

➍ { اِنِّيْۤ اَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيْمٍ: ’’ عَظِيْمٍ ‘‘ ’’ يَوْمٍ ‘‘} is an attribute of “yawm”. By that great day is meant either the Day of the Hereafter or the day of the destructive punishment in this world, which came upon the people of ‘Ad in the form of a windstorm. The day is called great because of the great events that will occur in it.