229 Page Notes

11 Surah Hud (continued)

Page 229 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

11:63

11:64

11:65

11:66

11:67

11:68

11:69

11:70

11:71

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 229 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 229 of the Qur'an contains verses 63 through 71 of Surah Hud (Chapter 11). This page spans two massive prophetic landmarks: it details the tragic execution of the miraculous She-Camel of Thamud followed by their thunderous destruction, and then pivots gracefully into a lighter, hopeful narrative—the arrival of the angelic messengers to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to give him glad tidings of a son.

The Hadith and Sunnah offer profound historical and legal commentary on these specific events, detailing the exact nature of Thamud’s sin and establishing the foundational Islamic rules of hospitality.

1. The Slaughter of the She-Camel and the Cry of Thamud (Verses 63–68)

"And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allah - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allah's earth and do not touch her with harm, lest you be taken by an impending punishment." But they hamstrung her, so he said, "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. That is a promise not to be denied." (Qur'an 11:64-65)

The Character of the One Who Slew the Camel

The text notes that the entire society bore the collective blame ("they hamstrung her"), but the actual physical act was spearheaded by a single, highly powerful, and corrupt individual. The Prophet Muhammad explicitly identified this figure in the Hadith literature, using him as a warning against unchecked societal arrogance:

The Messenger of Allah delivered a sermon and mentioned the she-camel and the one who hamstrung her. He recited: "When the most wretched of them was sent forth..." (Q: 91:12) and then said: "A powerful, wicked, and malicious man, who was unique and destructive among his people—much like Abu Zam'ah—stepped forward to kill her."

— Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 65, Hadith 4942 & Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2855

The Miracle of the Water Sharing

Though detailed primarily on this page as "let her feed upon Allah's earth," the Sunnah explicitly details her unique miracle: she would drink all the water from the valley's well on her designated day, and in return, she would stand still and allow the entire nation of Thamud to milk her, filling all their vessels with enough milk to sustain them until her next rotation.

The Ultimate Punishment: The Awful Cry (As-Sayhah)

In verse 67, their defiance ends: "And the shriek overtook those who had wronged, and they became within their homes [corpses] fallen prone."

The Prophet Muhammad explicitly identified the physical remnant of this nation during his military expedition to Tabuk. He passed the valley of Al-Hijr (Hegra), where the people carved homes directly into the mountains. He forbade his companions from drinking from their wells or using the water to make bread dough, commanding them to throw away the food and weep over the terrifying reality of how quickly Allah's Sayhah (blast) can wipe out an entire civilization (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3378).

2. Ibrahim, the Angelic Guests, and the Sunnah of Hospitality (Verses 69–70)

"And certainly did Our messengers come to Abraham with good tidings; they said, 'Peace.' He said, 'Peace,' and did not delay in bringing a roasted calf." (Qur'an 11:69)

The Gold Standard of Islamic Hospitality (Diyāfah)

Verse 69 is highly celebrated in Islamic jurisprudence as the supreme blueprint for hosting guests. When the strangers arrived, Ibrahim did three things flawlessly:

1. He returned their greeting of peace immediately ("He said, 'Peace'").

2. He did not delay or keep them waiting.

3. He served them an incredibly generous, high-quality meal ("a roasted calf") without even asking them if they were hungry first.

The Prophet Muhammad solidified Ibrahim's behavioral pattern on this page into a binding, cross-generational Sunnah for all Muslims, linking excellent hospitality directly to a person's core faith:

The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his neighbor. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest according to his right." The companions asked, "What is his right, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied, "One day and one night of special treatment, and hospitality for three days. Whatever is beyond that is a charity."

— Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 78, Hadith 6019 & Sahih Muslim, Hadith 48

Fear of Strangers Refusing Food

In verse 70, the mood shifts: "But when he saw their hands not reaching for it, he distrusted them and felt from them apprehension."

In ancient Semitic and Arabian culture, if a traveling stranger entered your home or tent and flatly refused to taste your food, it was an explicit, universally understood declaration of war, hostility, or an intent to rob you. The Sunnah validates Ibrahim’s fear as completely rational for the time. The angels quickly recognized his anxiety and comforted him: "Fear not. We have been sent to the people of Lot."

3. Sarah’s Laughter and the Tidings of Isaac (Verse 71)

"And his Wife was standing, and she laughed. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob." (Qur'an 11:71)

The Interpretation of "Laughter"

Verse 71 notes that Ibrahim’s wife, Sarah, laughed (daḥikat). In foundational prophetic commentaries preserved via the companions (such as Ibn Abbas and Mujahid), her laughter is explained as an expression of pure amazement and relief—both because the terrifying strangers turned out to be noble angels, and because of the sheer impossibility of the news that she, an elderly, barren woman, would soon bear a child named Isaac, who would then live long enough to father Jacob.

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. I. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari.

• Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim.

• Ibn Kathir, I. (n.d.). Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azeem.

(Note: "n.d." denotes classical texts where modern standardized publication years vary across publishers, cited instead by their universally recognized book and Hadith numbers).