The People's Arrogance and Rejection

Surah Al-A'raf provides another account of Hud (AS)'s mission to 'Ad, revealing additional details about the arrogance of his people and the depth of their denial.

۞ وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًۭا ۗ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

"And to the ʿAad [We sent] their brother Hūd. He said, 'O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. Then will you not fear Him?'"

— Surah Al-A'raf 7:65

Once again, Hud (AS) calls his people to worship Allah alone, this time appealing to their sense of taqwa — fear and consciousness of Allah. Rather than reasoning alone, he asks them to feel the weight of accountability before their Creator.

قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِى سَفَاهَةٍۢ وَإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ

"Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, 'Indeed, we see you in foolishness, and indeed, we think you are of the liars.'"

— Surah Al-A'raf 7:66

The leaders and elites of his people — those with the most to lose by abandoning their idols and traditions — accused him of foolishness and lying. Their arrogance blinded them to the sincerity in his words.

قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِى سَفَاهَةٌۭ وَلَٰكِنِّى رَسُولٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

"[Hūd] said, 'O my people, there is not foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.'"

— Surah Al-A'raf 7:67

Hud (AS) calmly rejected their accusation. He was no fool — he was a messenger sent by Rabb al-'Alameen, the Lord of all the worlds, carrying a message of supreme importance.

أُبَلِّغُكُمْ رِسَٰلَٰتِ رَبِّى وَأَنَا۠ لَكُمْ نَاصِحٌ أَمِينٌ

"I convey to you the messages of my Lord, and I am to you a trustworthy adviser."

— Surah Al-A'raf 7:68

He described his role with two qualities: nasih (a sincere adviser) and amin (trustworthy). His advice came from genuine concern for their wellbeing, and his character had earned him a reputation for honesty even among those who now rejected him.

أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍۢ وَزَادَكُمْ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ بَصْۜطَةًۭ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

"Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you? And remember when He made you successors after the people of Noah and increased you in stature extensively. So remember the favors of Allāh that you might succeed."

— Surah Al-A'raf 7:69

Hud (AS) reminded them of Allah's favor upon them. They had become successors after the people of Nuh (AS), inheriting the earth, and Allah had blessed them with great physical stature and strength. He urged them to remember these blessings, hoping it would lead them to gratitude and success rather than arrogance.

قَالُوٓا۟ أَجِئْتَنَا لِنَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَحْدَهُۥ وَنَذَرَ مَا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا ۖ فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ

"They said, 'Have you come to us that we should worship Allāh alone and leave what our fathers have worshipped? Then bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the truthful.'"

— Surah Al-A'raf 7:70

Their response revealed the true root of their resistance: blind attachment to ancestral tradition. They were unwilling to abandon what their forefathers worshipped, even when shown the truth. In their arrogance, they demanded he bring forth the punishment he warned of, as if daring Allah to act.

قَالَ قَدْ وَقَعَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ رِجْسٌۭ وَغَضَبٌ ۖ أَتُجَٰدِلُونَنِى فِىٓ أَسْمَآءٍۢ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَٰنٍۢ ۚ فَٱنتَظِرُوٓا۟ إِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُنتَظِرِينَ

"[Hūd] said, 'Already have defilement and anger fallen upon you from your Lord. Do you dispute with me concerning [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allāh has not sent down any authority? Then wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait.'"

— Surah Al-A'raf 7:71

Hud (AS) declared that Allah's punishment and anger had already become due upon them. He pointed out the emptiness of their idols — mere names invented by them and their forefathers, with no divine authority behind them. He told them to wait for what was coming, for he too would wait, confident in Allah's promise.

فَأَنجَيْنَٰهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍۢ مِّنَّا وَقَطَعْنَا دَابِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا ۖ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ

"So We saved him and those with him by mercy from Us. And We eliminated those who denied Our signs, and they were not [at all] believers."

— Surah Al-A'raf 7:72

Allah fulfilled His promise. Hud (AS) and those who believed with him were saved by Allah's mercy, while those who denied the signs were completely eliminated. Their disbelief had reached such a depth that not a single one among them held true faith.