His Call to Worship Allah Alone

Generations after the flood of Nuh (AS), a new nation arose called 'Ad — a people known for their immense physical strength and architectural skill, who built tall structures upon high ground. But with their prosperity came arrogance, and they turned away from the worship of Allah toward false gods. Allah sent them a messenger from among themselves: Hud (AS).

وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًۭا ۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُفْتَرُونَ

"And to ʿAad [We sent] their brother Hūd. He said, 'O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. You are not but inventors [of falsehood].'"

— Surah Hud 11:50

Hud (AS) was described as their "brother" — a member of their own tribe, speaking their language, sharing their lineage. This closeness made his message harder to dismiss as foreign, yet his people still rejected him. He called them directly to the worship of Allah alone, telling them plainly that the false gods they had invented held no truth.

يَٰقَوْمِ لَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنِىٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

"O my people, I do not ask you for it [i.e., my advice] any reward. My reward is only from the one who created me. Then will you not reason?"

— Surah Hud 11:51

Like every prophet before and after him, Hud (AS) sought no worldly reward for delivering his message. He reminded them that his only reward would come from Allah, his Creator. He asked them to use their reasoning — to think clearly rather than follow blind tradition.

وَيَٰقَوْمِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًۭا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ

"And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals."

— Surah Hud 11:52

Hud (AS) offered them a powerful incentive: if they sought Allah's forgiveness and turned to Him in repentance, Allah would bless them with abundant rain and increase their strength even further. This was a direct appeal — the very things they valued, prosperity and power, were tied to their obedience to Allah.

But the people of 'Ad responded with hostility and disbelief.

قَالُوا۟ يَٰهُودُ مَا جِئْتَنَا بِبَيِّنَةٍۢ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِىٓ ءَالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ

"They said, 'O Hūd, you have not brought us clear evidence, and we are not ones to leave our gods on your say-so. Nor are we believers in you.'"

— Surah Hud 11:53

They demanded clear evidence, dismissing his sincere call as insufficient — even though his message itself, calling them to truth and reason, was evidence enough for those willing to listen. They declared outright that they would not abandon their idols and that they did not believe him.

إِن نَّقُولُ إِلَّا ٱعْتَرَىٰكَ بَعْضُ ءَالِهَتِنَا بِسُوٓءٍۢ ۗ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ وَٱشْهَدُوٓا۟ أَنِّى بَرِىٓءٌۭ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ

"We only say that some of our gods have possessed you with evil [i.e., insanity]." He said, "Indeed, I call Allāh to witness, and witness [yourselves] that I am free from whatever you associate with Allāh"

— Surah Hud 11:54

In their arrogance, they accused him of being struck with madness by their false gods — turning the truth on its head, blaming the idols' supposed power for his sincerity. Hud (AS) responded with unwavering clarity, calling Allah as his witness that he was entirely free of the false gods they worshipped.

مِن دُونِهِۦ ۖ فَكِيدُونِى جَمِيعًۭا ثُمَّ لَا تُنظِرُونِ

"Other than Him. So plot against me all together; then do not give me respite."

— Surah Hud 11:55

With complete confidence in Allah's protection, Hud (AS) challenged them openly: let them conspire against him together, with no delay, for he feared nothing from their schemes.

إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم ۚ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ ءَاخِذٌۢ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

"Indeed, I have relied upon Allāh, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds it by its forelock [i.e., controls it]. Indeed, my Lord is on a path [that is] straight."

— Surah Hud 11:56

He declared his complete reliance — tawakkul — upon Allah, the Lord of all creation, who holds every creature in His complete control. Nothing could threaten him except by Allah's permission, and he affirmed that his Lord's way is the straight path.

فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُم مَّآ أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِۦٓ إِلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَيَسْتَخْلِفُ رَبِّى قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّونَهُۥ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيظٌۭ

"But if you turn away, then I have already conveyed that with which I was sent to you. My Lord will give succession to a people other than you, and you will not harm Him at all. Indeed my Lord is, over all things, Guardian."

— Surah Hud 11:57

Hud (AS) made clear that he had fulfilled his duty by delivering the message. If they turned away, the consequence would be theirs alone — Allah would raise another nation in their place, and their rejection would not harm Allah in the slightest. Allah remains the Guardian over all things, regardless of human defiance.