Ethics of The Prophets

5. The Ethos Of Prophet Hud ===========================

Introduction

Prophet Hud is the son of Shalah, son of Arfkhshath, son of Sam, son of Noah, who was born 2648 years after the fall of Adam. He was engaged in trade in the beginning of his life and earned his livelihood in this way. Hud was appointed as Prophet at the age of forty. Since then, he started propagating his mission and guiding people. He used to say:

"I deliver to you the messages of my Lord and I am a faithful adviser to you." (7:68)

but the people said:

"... and most surely we think you to be of the liars." (7:66)

And eventually, people were afflicted with torment and such a destructive wind started to blow that according to verse 42 of the Quranic chapter — the Scatteres —

"It did not leave aught on which it blew, but it made it like ashes."

Then, Prophet Hud settled in Hazaramaut along with four thousand believers who had been rescued from the torment as a result of his invocation and eventually passed away at the age of 464.

It is reported that over a cave in Hazaramaut Mountain, there is a dome under which his holy body is buried with the following words inscribed on a tablet:

In the Name Of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, the Most High, the Most Sublime:

I am Hud, the Prophet and the Messenger of the Lord of the earth and heavens unto the people of Ad. I invited them to believe in God and renounce idols. However, they disobeyed. Therefore, they were afflicted with a destructive wind hence ruined.

His Advice To People

"And to Ad (We sent) their brother Hud. He said: O my people! Serve Allah, you have no god other than Him; will you not then guard (against evil)? The chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: Most surely we see you in folly, and most surely we think you to be of the liars. He said: O my people! There is no folly in me, but I am an apostle of the Lord of the worlds. I deliver to you the messages of my Lord and I am a faithful adviser to you." (7:65- 68)

Delivering Message Of God

"O my people! I do not ask of you any reward for it; my reward is only with Him Who created me; do you not then understand?" (11:51)

Immunity From Infidels

"He said: surely Allah to witness, and do you bear witness too, that I am clear of what you associate (with Allah)." (11:54)

Reliance On God

"Surely I rely on Allah, my Lord and your Lord; there is no living creature but He holds it by Its forelock; surely my Lord is on the right path." (11:56)

Seeking Help From God

"He said: O my Lord! Help me against their calling me a liar. He said: In a little while they will most certainly be repenting. So the punishment overtook them in justice, and We made them as rubbish; so away with the unjust people." (23:39- 41)

Patience Over An Incompatible Wife

Prophet Hud was a farmer and irrigated farms. One day, a group of people came to his house seeking to meet with him. A one-eyed woman whose hair was mostly gray came out to them asking: Who are you? They said: We are the people of such and such land, and our land has been hit by drought; so, we have come to request Hud to pray for us and ask God to give us rain. She said: Had Hud’s supplication been heeded, he would have supplicated for himself, for his farm has been drought burnt. They said: Now tell us where is he? She said: He is in such and such place. They went to him saying: O Prophet of Allah! Our land has been hit by drought. Ask God to make our land green and give us rain.

Hud performed prayer and supplicated for them saying to them: Go back, for rain has already fallen and your land has become green. They said: O Prophet of Allah! We have seen sometime strange. Hud said: What have you seen? They said: a one- eyed woman most of whose hair is gray. She said: Who are you and what do you want? We said: We have come here to ask Nuh, the Prophet of Allah to supplicate to God to give us rain but she said: Had Hud’s supplication been heeded, he would have supplicated for himself, for, his own land has been drought burnt. Hud said: That was my wife and I invoke Allah to permit her to live long. They asked him why. Nuh said: Allah never created a believer without creating an enemy for him to harm him. She is my enemy. Having an enemy over whom I have control is better than facing one who controls me.

Patience Over Persecution

When Hud turned forty, God inspired him: Go to your people and invite them to worship Me. Should they respond to you positively, I will increase their power and wealth. When the people were gathering together, Hud came to them saying: O my people! Worship Allah, for there is no god for you save Him. They said: O Hud! You are a trustworthy man. Hud said: Then know that I am the Messenger of Allah unto you. Give up worshipping idols. Hearing this, people attacked him, trying to strangle him and leaving him as a dead person. Hud was unconscious for a day and night and when came to, he said: O my Lord! I did my duty and you saw what my people did to me.

His Quietude And Equanimity

Hud was good-tempered. He had a special quietude and enjoyed much endurance.