سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْقَافِ
Surah Al-Ahqaf (46) — Ayah 21
۞ وَٱذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذْ أَنذَرَ قَوْمَهُۥ بِٱلْأَحْقَافِ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦٓ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And remember (Hûd) the brother of ‘Âd, when he warned his people in Al-Ahqâf (the curved sand-hills in the southern part of Arabian Peninsula). And surely, there have passed away warners before him and after him (saying): "Worship none but Allâh; truly, I fear for you the torment of a mighty Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَٱذْكُرْ
wa-udh'kur
And mention
أَخَا
akhā
(the) brother
عَادٍ
ʿādin
(of) Aad
إِذْ
idh
when
أَنذَرَ
andhara
he warned
قَوْمَهُۥ
qawmahu
his people
بِٱلْأَحْقَافِ
bil-aḥqāfi
in the Al-Ahqaf
وَقَدْ
waqad
and had already passed away
خَلَتِ
khalati
and had already passed away
ٱلنُّذُرُ
l-nudhuru
[the] warners
مِنۢ
min
before him
بَيْنِ
bayni
before him
يَدَيْهِ
yadayhi
before him
وَمِنْ
wamin
and after him
خَلْفِهِۦٓ
khalfihi
and after him
أَلَّا
allā
That not
تَعْبُدُوٓا۟
taʿbudū
you worship
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
إِنِّىٓ
innī
Indeed, I
أَخَافُ
akhāfu
[I] fear
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
for you
عَذَابَ
ʿadhāba
a punishment
يَوْمٍ
yawmin
(of) a Day
عَظِيمٍۢ
ʿaẓīmin
Great
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
21. And mention to them the brother of ‘Ad (Hud) [33], when he warned his people in the sand dunes (Ahqaf) [34]—and warners had come before him and after him—saying, "Worship none but Allah. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous Day." [35]
[33] Here, the mention of the people of ‘Ad is made in this context because these people were even more arrogant, proud, and rebellious than the chiefs of Quraysh. In terms of stature, build, and physical strength, this nation far surpassed the disbelievers of Makkah.
[34]
Ahqaf: The Dwelling Place of the People of ‘Ad:
Ahqaf is the plural of “haqf,” meaning large dunes spread over miles of sand. This was the region where the people of ‘Ad lived. At one time, it was a lush and fertile area. The people of ‘Ad had built underground houses there. This region is located in southern Arabia, north of Hadramaut. Nowadays, there are only sand dunes there, stretching for hundreds of miles. This area is now called “Rub‘ al-Khali.” No one dares to enter this desert. And whatever falls into this sand sinks and becomes sand itself, just as something that falls into a salt mine becomes salt.
[35] Many prophets came to this region before Hud ؑ and continued to come after him. The teaching of all of them was that Allah alone is the Creator and Master of the universe and of you. Therefore, only He is worthy of worship. Worship Him alone, because no one else has any power whatsoever. And if you do not obey Allah’s command, and do not refrain from shirk and your rebellion, then a severe punishment will descend upon you.
[33] Here, the mention of the people of ‘Ad is made in this context because these people were even more arrogant, proud, and rebellious than the chiefs of Quraysh. In terms of stature, build, and physical strength, this nation far surpassed the disbelievers of Makkah.
[34]
Ahqaf: The Dwelling Place of the People of ‘Ad:
Ahqaf is the plural of “haqf,” meaning large dunes spread over miles of sand. This was the region where the people of ‘Ad lived. At one time, it was a lush and fertile area. The people of ‘Ad had built underground houses there. This region is located in southern Arabia, north of Hadramaut. Nowadays, there are only sand dunes there, stretching for hundreds of miles. This area is now called “Rub‘ al-Khali.” No one dares to enter this desert. And whatever falls into this sand sinks and becomes sand itself, just as something that falls into a salt mine becomes salt.
[35] Many prophets came to this region before Hud ؑ and continued to come after him. The teaching of all of them was that Allah alone is the Creator and Master of the universe and of you. Therefore, only He is worthy of worship. Worship Him alone, because no one else has any power whatsoever. And if you do not obey Allah’s command, and do not refrain from shirk and your rebellion, then a severe punishment will descend upon you.
