11.Surah Hud

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَى بِآيَاتِنَا وَسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٩٦﴾

11: 96.   And We sent Moses, with Our Clear (Signs) and an authority manifest,

C1598. The story of Moses and Pharaoh is referred to in many places in the Quran, each in connection with some special point to be illustrated.

Here the point is that Allah's dealings with man are in all things and at all times just. But man falls under false leadership by deliberate choice and perishes along with his false leaders accordingly.

In exercise of the intelligence and choice given him, man should be particularly careful to understand his own responsibilities and to profit from Allah's Signs, so as to attain to Allah's Mercy and blessings.

إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ...   

11: 97.   Unto Pharaoh and his Chiefs:

...فَاتَّبَعُواْ أَمْرَ فِرْعَوْنَ...

but they followed the command of Pharaoh,

C1599. Pharaoh is the type of the arrogant, selfish, and false leader, who poses as a power in rivalry with that of Allah.

Such an attitude seems to attract unregenerate humanity, which falls a willing victim, in spite of the teaching and warning given by the men of Allah and the many moral and spiritual forces that beckon man towards Allah's Grace.

...وَمَا أَمْرُ فِرْعَوْنَ بِرَشِيدٍ ﴿٩٧﴾

and the command of Pharaoh was no right (guide).

يَقْدُمُ قَوْمَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَأَوْرَدَهُمُ النَّارَ...   

11: 98.   He will go before his people on the Day of Judgment, and lead them into the Fire (as cattle are led to water):

C1600. Awrada: to lead, as cattle, down to their watering place.

The metaphor is apt. The true herdsman is trusted by his normal flock, and he leads them in the heat of the day down to pleasant and cool watering places in order that they may slake their thirst and be happy.

The false leader does the opposite: he takes them down to the fire of eternal misery! And yet men sin against their own intelligence, and follow the false leader like cattle without intelligence!

...وَبِئْسَ الْوِرْدُ الْمَوْرُودُ ﴿٩٨﴾

but woeful indeed will be this leading (and) the place led to!

وَأُتْبِعُواْ فِي هَـذِهِ لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ...   

11: 99.   And they are followed by a curse in this (life) and on the Day of Judgment:

...بِئْسَ الرِّفْدُ الْمَرْفُودُ ﴿٩٩﴾

and woeful is the gift which shall be given (unto them)!

ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاء الْقُرَى نَقُصُّهُ عَلَيْكَ...   

11: 100. These are some of the stories of communities which We relate unto thee:

...مِنْهَا قَآئِمٌ ...

of them some are standing,

C1601. Some are standing: like corn, which is ready to be reaped.

Among the communities which remained was, and is, Egypt, although the Pharaoh and his wicked people have been swept away.

The simile of standing corn also suggests that at no time can town or community expect permanency, except in the Law of the Lord.

... وَحَصِيدٌ ﴿١٠٠﴾

and some have been mown down (by the sickle of time).

C1602. Notions grow and ripen and are mown down. If they disobeyed Allah, their end is evil; if they were true and godly, their harvest was good.

Other versions:

11: 96 [Hud, Mecca 52]

Asad And, Indeed, We sent Moses with Our Messages and a manifest authority [from Us].

Yusuf Ali And We sent Moses with Our Clear (Signs) and an authority manifest

Pickthall And verily We sent Moses with Our revelations and a clear warrant.

Yuksel We sent Moses with Our signs and a clear authority.

Transliteration Wa laqad arsalna_ mu_sa_ bi a_ya_tina_ wa sulta_nim mubin(in),

[[ Ali’s notes - 1598 The story of Moses and Pharaoh is referred to in many places in the Qur-an, each in connection with some special point to be illustrated. Here the point is that Allah's dealings with man are in all things and at all times just. But man falls under false leadership by deliberate choice and perishes along with his false leaders accordingly. In exercise of the intelligence and choice given him, man should be particularly careful to understand his own responsibilities and to profit from Allah's Signs, so as to attain to Allah's Mercy and blessings. (11.96)]]

11: 97

Asad unto Pharaoh and his great ones: but these followed [only] Pharaoh’s bidding led by noe means to what is right [note 129].

Yusuf Ali Unto Pharaoh and his Chiefs: but they followed the command of Pharaoh and the command of Pharaoh was no right (guide).

Pickthall Unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they did follow the command of Pharaoh, and the command of Pharaoh was no right guide.

Yuksel To Pharaoh and his leaders; but they followed the command of Pharaoh, and Pharaoh's command was not wise.

Transliteration Ila_ fir'auna wa mala'ihi fa- ttaba'u_ amra fir'aun(a), wa ma_ amru fir'auna bi rasyid(in).

[[ Ruby’s note to 11:96 – Clear authority and the highest authority dictating human affairs is from God alone. Human agents are just interpreters and regents of that authority and they are fallible. Therefore an individual always should stand guard against that fallibility of a leader/command. One’s empowerment from God of the faculty or capacity – ‘fitratulallah’ Q 30:30 – to sense right and wrong should always be used in taking full responsibility of one’s own action. ]]

11: 98 [Hud, Mecca 52]

Yusuf Ali He will go before his people on the Day of Judgment and lead them into the Fire (as cattle are led to water): but woeful indeed will be this leading (and) the place led to!

Pickthall He will go before his people on the Day of Resurrection and will lead them to the Fire for watering place. Ah, hapless is the watering place (whither they are) led.

Yuksel He will be at the head of his people on the day of Resurrection, and he will lead them to the fire. What a miserable place they are lead in!

Transliteration Yaqdumu qaumahu_ yaumal qiya_mati fa auradahumun na_r(a), wa bi'sal wirdul mauru_d(u).

11: 99

Asad Seeing that they were pursued by rejection in this, and on the Day of Resurrection; vile was the gift which they were given!

Yusuf Ali And they are followed by a curse in this (life) and on the Day of Judgment: and woeful is the gift which shall be given (unto them)!

Pickthall A. curse is made to follow them in the world and on the Day of Resurrection. Hapless is the gift (that will be) given (them).

Yuksel They were followed by a curse in this, and on the day of Resurrection. What a miserable path to follow!

Transliteration Wa utbi'u_ fi ha_zihi la'natau wa yaumal qiya_mah(ti), bi'sar rifdul marfu_d(u).

11: 100 [Hud, Mecca 52]

Asad This account [note 131],…….

Yusuf Ali These are some of the stories of communities which We relate unto thee: of them some are standing and some have been mown down (by the sickle of time).

Pickthall That is (something) of the tidings of the townships' (which were destroyed of old). We relate it unto thee (Muhammad). Some of them are standing and some (already) reaped.

Yuksel That is from the news of the towns which We relate to you; some are still standing and some have been wiped-out.

Transliteration Za_lika min amba_'il qura_ naqussuhu_ 'alaika minha_ qa_'imuw wa hasid(un).

[[ Ali’s notes - 1601 Some are standing: like corn, which is ready to be reaped. Among the communities which remained was, and is, Egypt, although the Pharaoh and his wicked people have been swept away. The simile of standing corn also suggests that at no time can town or community expect permanency, except in the Law of the Lord. (11.100)

1602 Notions grow and ripen and are mown down. If they disobeyed Allah, their end is evil; if they were true and godly, their harvest was good. (11.100) ]]

[[ Ali’s notes - 1598 The story of Moses and Pharaoh is referred to in many places in the Qur-an, each in connection with some special point to be illustrated. Here the point is that Allah's dealings with man are in all things and at all times just. But man falls under false leadership by deliberate choice and perishes along with his false leaders accordingly. In exercise of the intelligence and choice given him, man should be particularly careful to understand his own responsibilities and to profit from Allah's Signs, so as to attain to Allah's Mercy and blessings. (11.96)

1599 Pharaoh is the type of the arrogant, selfish, and false leader, who poses as a power in rivalry with that of Allah. Such an attitude seems to attract unregenerate humanity, which falls a willing victim, in spite of the teaching and warning given by the men of Allah and the many moral and spiritual forces that beckon man towards Allah's Grace. (11.97)

1600 Awrada = to lead, as cattle, down to their watering place. The metaphor is apt. The true herdsman is trusted by his normal flock, and he leads them in the heat of the day down to pleasant and cool watering places in order that they may slake their thirst and be happy. The false leader does the opposite: he takes them down to the fire of eternal misery! And yet men sin against their own intelligence, and follow the false leader like cattle without intelligence! (11.98)

1601 Some are standing: like corn, which is ready to be reaped. Among the communities which remained was, and is, Egypt, although the Pharaoh and his wicked people have been swept away. The simile of standing corn also suggests that at no time can town or community expect permanency, except in the Law of the Lord. (11.100)

1602 Notions grow and ripen and are mown down. If they disobeyed Allah, their end is evil; if they were true and godly, their harvest was good. (11.100) ]]

[[ Asad’s note 131- Lit., “This is the accounts” (a constitution identitical with that employed in 3:44, 11:49, and 12:102), alluding to the fact that only certain aspects of the relevant stories, and not the complete stories as such, are presented here …: the purpose being, as always in the Quran, the illustration of an ethical principle or principles, and of men’s varying reaction s to the guidance which God offers them directly through His prophets and indirectly through the observable phenomena of His creations. …..]]