Name
This Sura has been named after Prophet Hud whose story has been related in vv. 50-60. Period of Revelation If we consider its theme deeply
we come to the conclusion that it was revealed during the same period as Sura Yunus and most probably followed it immediately.
Subject
The Sura deals with the same subject as Sura Yunus
that is
invitation to the Message
admonition and warning
with this difference that the warning is sterner. This is also supported by a Tradition: It is related that after its revelation
once Hadrat Abu Bakr said to the Holy Prophet
Of late I have been noticing that you are growing older and older. What is the cause of it?
The Holy Prophet replied
Sura Hud and the like Suras have made me old.
This shows that it was a very hard time for the Holy Prophet and these stern warnings added greatly to his anxieties that were caused by the persecution from the Quraish
who were doing their worst to crush down the Message of Islam. For it was obvious to the Holy Prophet that the last limit of the respite given by Allah was approaching nearer and nearer and he was afraid lest the term of the respite should expire and his people be seized by the torment. The invitation is this:Obey the Messenger of Allah; discard shirk
and worship Allah and Allah alone: establish the entire system of your life on the belief that you shall be called to account in the Hereafter. The admonition is this:Remember that those people who put their faith in the outward appearance of this worldly life and rejected the Message of the Prophets met with dire consequences. Therefore you should consider it seriously whether you should follow the same way that history has proved to be the path to ruin. The warning is this:You should not be deluded by the delay in the coming of the punishment: it is because of the respite that Allah has granted you by His grace so that you might mend your ways: if you do not make use of this opportunity
you shall be inflicted with an inevitable punishment that will destroy you all except the Believers. Instead of addressing the people directly
the Quran has used the stories of the people of Noah
Hud
Salih
Lot
Shu'aib and Moses to achieve the above mentioned objects. What is most prominent in their stories is that when Allah passes His judgement on the people
He does not spare anyone whatsoever
even if he be the nearest relative of the Prophet of the time. Only that one is rescued who had believed in the Prophet
and none else
not even his own son or wife. More than that: the Faith demands from each and every Believer that he should totally forget his relationships when that judgement comes and remember only the relationship of the Faith. For it is against the spirit of Islam to show any regard whatsoever for the relationships of blood and race. And the Muslims demonstrated these teachings practically in the Battle of Badr
four years after the revelation of this Sura.