Surah Name: Al-Ahqaf (سورة الأحقاف)
Translation: The Wind-Curved Sandhills (or The Sand Dunes)
Origin of name: The Surah is named after the 21st verse, where the word “al-Ahqaf” refers to the sand dune region where the people of ‘Ād lived. “Ahqaf” means curved and elevated sand hills and is connected to the story of the people of ‘Ād who were warned by Prophet Hūd.
Surah Number: 46
Number of Ayahs (Verses): 35
Makki or Madani: Makki (with some narrations suggesting verses 10, 15, and 35 are Madani)
Approximate Time of Revelation: During the later part of the Makkan period, after the revelation of Surah Al-Jathiyah
Historical Context
Surah Al-Ahqaf was revealed during the final years of the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) mission in Makkah, a time when opposition to his message had intensified. The Quraysh leadership was firmly rejecting Islam, and the number and severity of their efforts to discredit and block the Prophet’s mission were increasing.
In this environment, the Qur’an began to draw more heavily on lessons from previous nations and prophets. Surah Al-Ahqaf includes references to the people of ‘Ād, who were punished after rejecting their prophet Hūd. The region referred to as “Al-Ahqaf,” believed to be in the southern Arabian Peninsula, was a largely unknown area to the people of Makkah. It has been suggested that this area was the high sandy region overlooking the sea in the Sihr area of Yemen, or a valley between Oman and Mahra, or a vast sand desert between Oman and Hadramawt. Arabs generally used this name for the sandy desert in the south of the peninsula, a region largely unfamiliar to them.
Main Themes
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The Qur'an as Divine Revelation:
The surah begins by confirming that the Qur’an is a book revealed by Allah. It emphasizes that creation—like the heavens and the earth—was made with purpose and for a set time, pointing logically to the existence and oneness of Allah. -
Futility of Idol Worship:
The surah criticizes those who worship idols, saying that their gods cannot respond to prayers or help them. This shows how misguided and baseless idolatry is. -
Truthfulness of the Prophet and the Qur'an:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is affirmed as a true messenger, and the Qur’an as a clear and powerful guidance. Despite this, many people knowingly reject the truth. -
Importance of Good Character and Family Respect:
True faith is linked to good behavior. Believers are told to be kind, especially to their parents, recognizing the sacrifices of mothers in raising children. Disobedience and disrespect to parents is warned against, especially in relation to disbelief. -
Warning Through the Story of the People of ‘Ad:
The destruction of the people of ‘Ad, who lived in the sandy region of Ahqaf, is given as a warning. They rejected the prophet Hud and were punished with a devastating sandstorm. This serves as a lesson for those who ignore divine warnings. -
Responsibility Shared by Humans and Jinn:
The message of Islam is meant for both humans and jinn. A group of jinn hears the Qur’an and believes in it, acknowledging its truth. This reinforces the universality of the Prophet’s mission. -
Steadfastness in Difficult Times:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is encouraged to stay patient in the face of rejection, just like the previous great prophets (Ulul-Azm). The surah ends with the assurance that disbelievers will face defeat and believers will ultimately succeed.
Key Lessons from Surah Al-Ahqaf
- Only Allah deserves worship; idols have no power to help anyone.
- The Quran is a clear and divine message confirming Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) truthfulness.
- True believers show respect, especially to their parents, and do good to others.
- Both humans and jinn are responsible for following Allah’s guidance.
- In the end, belief will succeed and disbelief will face consequences.
- Warning signs from past nations should be taken seriously as lessons for today.
Notable Ayahs from Surah Al-Ahqaf
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Verse 4:
"Ask ˹them, O Prophet˺, “Have you considered whatever ˹idols˺ you invoke besides Allah? Show me what they have created on earth! Or do they have a share in ˹the creation of˺ the heavens? Bring me a scripture ˹revealed˺ before this ˹Quran˺ or a shred of knowledge, if what you say is true."
A powerful challenge to the disbelievers to provide any evidence for their false gods. -
Verse 9:
Say, “I am not the first messenger ever sent, nor do I know what will happen to me or you. I only follow what is revealed to me. And I am only sent with a clear warning.”
A humble declaration for the Prophet that he follows only revelation and does not claim personal control over destiny. -
Verse 15:
"We have commanded people to honour their parents. Their mothers bore them in hardship and delivered them in hardship. Their ˹period of˺ bearing and weaning is thirty months. In time, when the child reaches their prime at the age of forty, they pray, “My Lord! Inspire me to ˹always˺ be thankful for Your favours which You blessed me and my parents with, and to do good deeds that please You. And instil righteousness in my offspring. I truly repent to You, and I truly submit ˹to Your Will˺.”
A beautiful verse highlighting gratitude, parental respect, and prayer for righteous children. -
Verse 21:
"And remember the brother of ’Ȃd, when he warned his people, who inhabited the sand-hills—there were certainly warners before and after him—˹saying,˺ “Worship none but Allah. I truly fear for you the torment of a tremendous day.”
The warning of Prophet Hud to his people, the ’Âd, who lived among the Ahqaf (sand dunes). -
Verse 24-25:
"Then when they saw the torment as a ˹dense˺ cloud approaching their valleys, they said ˹happily˺, “This is a cloud bringing us rain.” ˹But Hûd replied,˺ “No, it is what you sought to hasten: a ˹fierce˺ wind carrying a painful punishment!” It destroyed everything by the command of its Lord, leaving nothing visible except their ruins. This is how We reward the wicked people."
The misjudgment of a doomed people who mistook divine punishment for rain. -
Verse 29:
"˹Remember, O Prophet,˺ when We sent a group of jinn your way to listen to the Quran. Then, upon hearing it, they said ˹to one another˺, “Listen quietly!” Then when it was over, they returned to their fellow jinn as warners."
An account of the jinn accepting the Quran and becoming warners to their own community. -
Verse 35:
"So endure patiently, as did the Messengers of Firm Resolve. And do not ˹seek to˺ hasten ˹the torment˺ for the deniers. On the Day they see what they have been threatened with, it will be as if they had only stayed ˹in this world˺ for an hour of a day. ˹This is˺ a ˹sufficient˺ warning! Then, will anyone be destroyed except the rebellious people?"
A command for the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to be patient like the strong prophets before him.
