Tafsir of Hud 11:44

"And it was said, 'O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain].'"

The calling of the earth and the sky—addressing them as one would address a sentient, discerning being—and directing the speech specifically to them from among all other creations, as in His saying: "O earth" and "O sky," then commanding them as one commands those endowed with discernment and intellect, saying: "Swallow your water" and "Withhold," is a demonstration of His immense power. It shows that the heavens, the earth, and these massive celestial bodies are submissive to His creation, doing whatever He wills without resistance. It is as if they were rational, discerning beings who have recognized His greatness, majesty, reward, punishment, and power over all things. They perceive the necessity of obeying Him and submitting to Him; they fear Him and dread any delay in complying with His command or fulfilling His will instantly, without hesitation. Just as His command reaches them, the commanded action is performed—without obstruction or delay.

• "Swallow" (al-bal'): An expression for absorbing.
• "Withhold" (al-iqla'): To cease. It is said: "The rain has ceased" (aqla'a) and "The fever has ceased" (aqla'at).
• "And the water subsided" (wa-ghida al-ma'): From ghadahu, meaning to diminish it.
• "And the matter was concluded" (wa-qudiya al-amr): What God promised Noah regarding the destruction of his people was fulfilled.
• "And it came to rest" (wa-istawat): The ship settled and became stable.
• "On [Mount] Judi" (ala al-Judi): A mountain in Mosul.
• "And it was said, 'Away with...'" (wa-qila bu'dan): It is said bu'dan and bu'dan when one intends a distant removal, such as destruction, death, and the like. This is why it is specifically used for invoking evil.

The use of the passive voice in these reports serves to indicate majesty and pride. It shows that these momentous events occur only through the act of a Powerful Creator and the formation of an Overpowering Originator. It signifies that their Doer is One, with no partner in His actions. Thus, the mind should not imagine that anyone other than Him could say, "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold," nor that anyone else could conclude such a terrifying matter, nor that the ship could settle and rest upon the back of Judi except by His leveling and establishing it.

Because of the meanings and subtleties we have mentioned, scholars of rhetoric have deemed this verse to be of the highest eloquence and have bowed their heads in appreciation. This is not merely because of the alliteration between the two words "swallow" (ibla'i) and "withhold" (aqla'i). While that does not leave the speech devoid of beauty, it is insignificant compared to those deeper merits, which are the core, while everything else is merely the husk.

Historical Reports:

• Qatada: The ship carried them for ten days into Rajab. It remained on the water for one hundred and fifty days, rested on Judi for a month, and they descended on the day of Ashura.
• Narrated: It passed by the House (the Kaaba) and circled it seven times, for God had protected it from the flood.
• Narrated: Noah fasted on the day of the descent and commanded those with him to fast as well, in gratitude to God Almighty.

"And Noah called to his Lord and said, 'My Lord, indeed my son is of my family; and indeed, Your promise is the truth; and You are the most just of judges.' [God] said, 'O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant.'"