ভূমিকা

Then bring us that with which you threaten us, if you are one the truthful!” 23. He said: “The knowledge [of the time of Resurrection] is with Allah only. And I convey to you that wherewith I have been sent, but I see that you are a people given to ignorance!” At times polytheism and disbelief appear so true that monotheism and belief are considered to be deviation from the right path.

Requesting the prophet to bring torment upon them rather than pondering on the True Word is a token of ignorance. Such obdurate people stood against Divine Invitation and said unto Hud: “Have you come to turn us away from our gods with your lies. Then bring us that with which you threaten us, if you are one of the truthful!” The two sentences clearly demonstrate the deviation and obduracy of this disobedient people.

According to the former, they say that Hud’s call to Monotheism is false since it is against their common practice regarding their objects of worship passed down to them from their forefathers. In the latter, they request the prophet to bring torment upon them, a torment which will be totally irreversible. In response to their unwise request, Hud says: “The knowledge is with Allah only.

He is the only One who knows when and under what circumstances the torment shall be brought forth whose occurrence shall be irrelevant to their request or his will and desire. The purpose is giving the ultimatum since Divine Wisdom requires the same. He further adds that it is his duty to convey to them that wherewith he has been sent. It is his responsibility but they are to decide concerning obeying God and it rests upon His Will to bring torment upon them.

However, he sees that they are a people given to ignorance. Their misfortune has its roots in their ignorance that together with obduracy and false pride impedes them from giving their ears to the Messengers of God and makes you persist in requesting God to send down His torment upon them and cause their annihilation.