Verses 50-60 summarize the story of Hud, a prophet who spoke to the nation of Ad. Details about the story are not given in this section (or in the parallel-passage in 7:65-72), so it might be a good idea to provide the backstory.
Ad was a polytheistic nation in Arabia. After suffering three years of drought, the men of Ad sent some of their leaders to Mecca. Mecca was ruled at that time by the Amalekites, and their ruler was Muawiyah Ibn Baqr, who acted as their gracious host for a month before he arranged for them to be reminded why they had come to Mecca. One of them, named Murthad, told the others that the only way to remove the drought would be to repent and listen to their prophet. But the rest of the men of Ad were persuaded by another leader, named Kail Ibn Ithar, and they arranged for Murthad to be imprisoned. Then Kail and the others prayed for rain. Three clouds then appeared -- a white cloud, a red cloud, and a black cloud -- and a voice from heaven told Kail to select one cloud. He selected the black one, but when it arrived, it delivered a destructive tempest which swept away Kail and his followers.
The gist of the conversation between Hud and the men of Ad in verses 50-57 resembles the gist of the conversation presented in 7:65-71, which, in turn, resembled the discussions which had taken place between Muhammad and the leaders of Mecca. Verse 57 reflects Muhammads own circumstances: when this surah was given, contact had been made between him and the people of Medina. If the soil in Mecca was too stony, perhaps the field in Medina would be more promising.
Next, in verses 61-68, Muhammad uses the story about Salih and the Thamud nation as yet another illustration of what happens to people who reject the prophet Allah sends to them. Verses 64-65 refer to the interesting story of the She-camel of Allah, which is told in more detail in 26:141-158 and 27:45-53, 51:43-45, and 54:23-31. For further details, see my comments about Salih in surah 7.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
Ad was a polytheistic nation in Arabia. After suffering three years of drought, the men of Ad sent some of their leaders to Mecca. Mecca was ruled at that time by the Amalekites, and their ruler was Muawiyah Ibn Baqr, who acted as their gracious host for a month before he arranged for them to be reminded why they had come to Mecca. One of them, named Murthad, told the others that the only way to remove the drought would be to repent and listen to their prophet. But the rest of the men of Ad were persuaded by another leader, named Kail Ibn Ithar, and they arranged for Murthad to be imprisoned. Then Kail and the others prayed for rain. Three clouds then appeared -- a white cloud, a red cloud, and a black cloud -- and a voice from heaven told Kail to select one cloud. He selected the black one, but when it arrived, it delivered a destructive tempest which swept away Kail and his followers.
The gist of the conversation between Hud and the men of Ad in verses 50-57 resembles the gist of the conversation presented in 7:65-71, which, in turn, resembled the discussions which had taken place between Muhammad and the leaders of Mecca. Verse 57 reflects Muhammads own circumstances: when this surah was given, contact had been made between him and the people of Medina. If the soil in Mecca was too stony, perhaps the field in Medina would be more promising.
Next, in verses 61-68, Muhammad uses the story about Salih and the Thamud nation as yet another illustration of what happens to people who reject the prophet Allah sends to them. Verses 64-65 refer to the interesting story of the She-camel of Allah, which is told in more detail in 26:141-158 and 27:45-53, 51:43-45, and 54:23-31. For further details, see my comments about Salih in surah 7.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
