Sūrat Hūd (peace be upon him)

Classification: Meccan (except for verses 12, 17, and 114, which are Medinan).

Length: One hundred and twenty-three verses.

Chronology: Revealed after Sūrat Yūnus.

{ Alif-Lām-Rā. [This is] a Book whose verses have been perfected, then explained in detail, from [One who is] Wise, Acquainted. }

{Alif-Lam-Ra. A Book [whose verses] have been perfected...}

It has been organized with a solid, precise organization, such that no contradiction or flaw occurs within it, like a well-constructed, tightly-fitted building.

It is also possible that it is derived from the form with a hamza (aḥkamtu), from ḥakuma (to become wise), meaning: "It was made wise," as in His saying: "The Wise Book" (Yunus: 1).

It is also said: "It was prevented from corruption," from the expression: "I put a bridle (ḥikmah) on the beast," to prevent it from rearing. Jarir said: O Banu Hanifa, restrain (aḥkimū) your fools, For I fear that I might become angry with you.

According to Qatada: "It was perfected against falsehood."

{...then explained in detail...} Just as necklaces are adorned with pearls, it is adorned with proofs of monotheism, legal rulings, admonitions, and stories. Or, it means it was divided into sections—surah by surah, and verse by verse—and revealed gradually rather than all at once. Or, it means that what the servants need was explained in it, meaning it was clarified and summarized.

It has been recited: "Its verses were perfected, then explained in detail," meaning: I perfected them, then I explained them. According to Ikrimah and al-Daḥḥāk: "Then explained in detail" means: distinguished between truth and falsehood.

If you ask: What is the meaning of "then" (thumma)? I say: It does not denote a delay in time, but rather a sequence in status. It is like saying: "She is perfected in the best of perfection, then explained in the best of explanation," or "So-and-so is noble in origin, then noble in action."

"A Book" is the predicate of an omitted subject, and "perfected" is an adjective for it. His saying: {...from One who is Wise and Acquainted} is a second adjective. It is also permissible for it to be a predicate following a predicate, or a connection to "perfected" and "explained," meaning: from Him comes its perfection and its explanation. There is a beautiful correspondence here, for the meaning is: A Wise One perfected it, and an Acquainted One—who knows the nature of all things—explained it.

{That you worship none but Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a warner and a bringer of good tidings. And [saying], "Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision for a specified term and give every doer of favor his favor. But if you turn away, then indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a great Day. To Allah is your return, and He is over all things competent."}