Tafsir of Hud 11:63

Surah Hud (11): Verse 63

{He said, "O my people! If I am upon a clear proof from my Lord...}

Know that His statement, {If I am upon a clear proof from my Lord} (إن كنت على بينة من ربي), was stated using the particle of doubt (kāna). Yet, he (Salih) was completely certain of his matter. However, addressing an opponent in this manner is closer to acceptance.

It is as if he said: "Suppose that I am upon a clear proof from my Lord, and that I am truly a Prophet. Now, if I follow you and disobey my Lord in His commands, who will protect me from the punishment of Allah?"

In this context, what more can you add to this supposition other than loss? There are two interpretations for the phrase {فما تزيدونني} (What do you increase me with?):

1. The First View: Based on this supposition, you only increase me in the loss and nullification of my deeds.
2. The Second View: The meaning is: "What you say to me and what you compel me to do will not increase me beyond causing you loss—that is, attributing you to loss, and telling you that you are the losers."

The first view is closer because His subsequent statement, {then who will help me against Allah if I disobey Him?} (فمن ينصرنى من الله إن عصيته) (Hud: 63), indicates that if he followed them in the disbelief they called him to, he would only increase in religious loss, becoming one of the doomed losers.

Surah Hud (11): Verses 64-65

{And, "O my people! This is the she-camel of Allah, a sign for you. So leave her to eat in Allah's land, and do not touch her with evil, lest a near punishment seize you." But they hamstrung her, and he said, "Enjoy yourselves in your dwellings for three days. That is a promise that will not be falsified."}