232 Page Notes

11 Surah Hud (continued)

Page 232 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

11:89

11:90

11:91

11:92

11:93

11:94

11:95

11:96

11:97

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 232 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 232 of the Quran covers the conclusion of the story of Prophet Shu'ayb (Jethro) and the people of Madyan (Surah Hud, verses 89–95) and transitions into the beginning of the story of Prophet Musa (Moses) confronting Firawn (Pharaoh) (verses 96–97).

Authoritative Sunnah and Hadith collections provide rich context, characterizations, and legal principles connected directly to this passage.

1. Verses 89–93: Prophet Shu'ayb's Eloquence and the Arab Prophets

In these verses, Shu'ayb pleads with his rebellious people, warning them not to let their hatred of him drive them into the same destruction that befell the people of Nuh, Hud, Salih, and Lut (Verse 89). His people mockingly reply in verse 91: "O Shu'ayb, we do not understand much of what you say, and indeed, we consider you among us as weak. And if not for your family, we would have stoned you..."

Prophet Shu'ayb’s Title as Khateeb al-Anbiya (The Orator of the Prophets)

Linguistic historical narrations transmitted from the Companions highlight why his people's claim of "not understanding him" was pure stubbornness. Shu'ayb was incredibly articulate.

Whenever the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned Shu'ayb, he would honor his legacy by saying:

"He was the Khateeb (the orator/speechmaker) of the Prophets," because of his beautiful, persuasive, and elegant style of addressing his community.

— Mustadrak al-Hakim (Vol. 2, Hadith 3213), also cited by classical mufassireen (exegetes) like Ibn Kathir.

The Lineage of Arab Prophets

In verse 89, Shu'ayb references the physical and temporal proximity of past prophets. The Sunnah provides explicit details identifying Shu'ayb as part of a distinct group of prophets native to the Arabian region.

Abu Dharr narrated a long Hadith in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"...Among them are four who are Arabs: Hud, Salih, Shu'ayb, and your Prophet, O Abu Dharr."

— Sahih Ibn Hibban (Hadith 361); Musnad Ahmad (Vol. 5, Hadith 158–159)

2. Verses 94–95: The Ruin of Madyan and Cheating in Trade

Verse 94 records the violent end of Madyan: "And when Our commandment came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us. And As-Sayhah (the awful cry/blast) seized the wrongdoers, and they lay dead in their homes."

While Surah Hud focuses on their violent end, the Sunnah directly links their destruction to their core social and economic crime mentioned earlier in the narrative: commercial fraud, corruption, and manipulation of scales.

Prophetic Warnings Against the Sins of Madyan

The Prophet ﷺ warned his own Ummah (community) that duplicating the economic sins of the people of Madyan would yield equivalent divine structural punishments, like economic inflation and tyranny.

Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned to us and said:

"...They do not cheat in weights and measures (the sin of Madyan) but they will be afflicted with famine, severe living conditions, and the tyranny of their rulers."

— Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 4019), graded Sahih by Al-Albani.

The Absolute Islamic Prohibition on Deceit

The Prophet ﷺ codified strict market regulations to completely dismantle the deceptive trade practices that doomed Madyan.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed by a pile of food in the market. He put his hand inside it and his fingers felt dampness. He said, "O owner of the food, what is this?" The man replied, "It was damaged by rain, O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Why did you not put the rain-damaged part on top so people could see it? Whoever cheats us is not of us."

— Sahih Muslim (Hadith 102)

3. Verses 96–97: Prophet Musa, Clear Authority, and the Tyranny of Firawn

Page 232 transitions instantly in verse 96: "And indeed We sent Musa with Our signs and a manifest authority, to Firawn and his chiefs, but they followed the command of Firawn, and the command of Firawn was no right guide."

The Sin of Blindly Following Corrupt Leadership

Verse 97 emphasizes the severe condemnation of the chiefs who abandoned intellect to blindly follow a tyrannical ruler. The Sunnah underscores that obedience is strictly limited to righteousness and never extends to corruption or sin.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

"There is no obedience to a human being if it involves disobedience to Allah. Rather, obedience is only required in what is good and right (Ma'ruf)."

— Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 7257); Sahih Muslim (Hadith 1840)

Firawn as the Ultimate Prototype of Arrogance

The text highlights Firawn’s failure as a "right guide." The Prophet ﷺ described Firawn in multiple Hadiths as the historical peak of worldly arrogance (Kibr), warning believers that even an atom's weight of this trait prevents entry into paradise.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance will not enter Paradise." A man remarked, "A man likes that his dress should be fine and his shoes should be fine." He replied, "Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance is refusing to accept the truth and looking down upon people."

— Sahih Muslim (Hadith 91)