Surah Hud (Hud) 11 : 11

Overview (Verses 8 - 11)

Man in Different Moods

In their denial of the Day of Judgement, the unbelievers are seen to be totally unaware of its close relation to the law that governs the whole universe. They demonstrate the same ignorance concerning punishment in this life. They question the fact that they have not already been overtaken by suffering and punishment. They wonder at the delay: “If We defer their suffering for a definite term, they are sure to say: ‘What is holding it back?’ On the day when it befalls them there will be nothing to avert it from them; and they shall be overwhelmed by that which they used to deride.” (Verse 8)

Where earlier prophets had produced miracles, it was to no avail for their communities which continued to reject their messages. Immediate punishment was thus their lot. This was due to the fact that the messages delivered by those prophets were addressed to a specific community, or generation. And the miracles they produced were witnessed only by that generation.

The Prophet Muĥammad, however, was given the task of delivering the final message, addressed to all generations and all communities. The miracle supporting his message was not a material one. It could, therefore, be preserved so that it could be contemplated and accepted by generation after generation. It is divine wisdom, then, that has ruled out the infliction on his community of an exterminating punishment. However, such punishment may be visited on groups or individuals of this community at particular times. The same applies to the Jews and Christians, who received earlier Scriptures, and who also have never been subjected to the sort of catastrophe that had eliminated earlier communities.

In their ignorance the unbelievers here question why their punishment, if any, is delayed. They do not realize that it is delayed only to an appointed time. Nor do they recognize that behind this delay lies God’s wisdom and compassion. When the suffering overwhelms them, as it will surely do, they will have no means of averting it. It will encompass them all for their derision, evidenced by their questioning: “On the day when it befalls them there will be nothing to avert it from them; and they shall be overwhelmed by that which they used to deride.” (Verse 8)

A believer, indeed anyone who takes a serious view of things, does not ask for God’s punishment to be hastened. Such people know that if punishment is deferred, such deferment is as a result of God’s compassion and wisdom, so that those who are more responsive to faith may eventually accept it. Indeed in the period during which God chose not to inflict overwhelming punishment on the Quraysh unbelievers many of them adopted Islam and served it well afterwards. Of their offspring many were good servants of Islam. These are only partial manifestations of God’s purpose and wisdom. He alone knows it in full. Man, with his finite reason and hasty view, cannot know it all.

The rest of the passage describes aspects of the psychology of man, a remarkable creature who, without faith, remains short-sighted, inconsistent and vacillating: “And thus it is: if We let man taste some of Our grace, and then take it away from him, he becomes utterly in despair, totally ungrateful. And if We let him taste ease and plenty after hardship has visited him, he is sure to say: ‘Gone is all affliction from me,’ and he grows jubilant and boastful. Not so are the ones who are patient in adversity and do righteous deeds. They shall have forgiveness and a great reward.” (Verses 9-11)

This is a perfectly accurate picture of man as he is: hasty, shortsighted, living only for the present, influenced only by present circumstances, forgetful of what has passed and heedless of what may follow. He is either in despair once God’s grace is removed from him, ungrateful for what he has enjoyed, or overly jubilant, boastful and arrogant when ease and plenty are his lot. He does not persevere when he tastes hardship, hoping and praying that God will have mercy on him and lighten his hardship. Nor does he moderate his jubilation when he enjoys God’s abundant bounty, or consider that it may be withdrawn.

“Not so are the ones who are patient in adversity.” (Verse 11) Such people remain steadfast when they enjoy ease and plenty and when they endure adversity. Many people may be too proud to show weakness when they suffer any hardship. But few indeed are those who do not give themselves airs when they enjoy bliss and affluence. “And do righteous deeds,” in both situations. “They shall have forgiveness and a great reward,” for their commendable attitude in both situations. A serious view of faith, manifested in righteous deeds, is the only thing that protects man from despair during hardship and from arrogance during times of ease and plenty. It is the only factor which helps many adopt a consistent attitude in both situations. With faith man feels his link with God. He is thus not overwhelmed by adversity. Nor is he proud and insolent when he enjoys abundance. To a believer both situations are beneficial. As the Prophet says, only a believer derives benefit from both situations.