Surah Hud 11:3
سُورَةُ هُودٍ · Meccan · Verse 3 of 123
وَأَنِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَٰعًا حَسَنًا إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِى فَضْلٍۢ فَضْلَهُۥ ۖ وَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍۢ كَبِيرٍ
Translation
Ask your Lord for forgiveness, then turn back to Him. He will grant you wholesome enjoyment until an appointed time, and give His grace to everyone who has merit. But if you turn away, I fear you will have torment on a terrible Day:
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse opens with a profound invitation to all people, relayed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), urging them towards a path of spiritual renewal. It builds upon the call to worship only Allah, guiding us on how to live in light of that truth.
Seeking Forgiveness and Repentance
Allah commands us, through His Prophet, to "seek forgiveness from your Lord, then turn to Him" (وَأَنِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ). The placement of the word *thumma* (ثم, "then") between seeking forgiveness (*istighfar*) and repentance (*tawbah*) is significant. While seeking forgiveness means asking Allah to pardon our past sins, repentance, as scholars like al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi explain, implies a deeper commitment: turning back to Allah with obedience, abandoning sin, and resolving not to return to it. It is a heartfelt return to the right path after acknowledging one's shortcomings. Ibn Ashur notes that this sequencing highlights the importance of truly changing one's intention and actions after seeking pardon. It's not just a verbal request, but a transformative process.
A Good Life in This World
For those who embrace this path, Allah promises a "good enjoyment" (يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَٰعًا حَسَنًا إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى) in this worldly life until a specified term, which is one's appointed death. Ibn Ashur elaborates that this "good enjoyment" means a life free from major disturbances and trials, full of ease and blessings. Al-Razi adds a beautiful insight: true enjoyment for the believer comes from loving Allah, who is unchanging. This connection brings inner peace and joy, making life truly "good," unlike the constant anxiety of those whose hearts are attached to fleeting worldly things.
Reward for Excellence
Beyond this world, the verse promises, "and He will give every possessor of excellence his excellence" (وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِى فَضْلٍۢ فَضْلَهُۥ). Here, the word *faḍl* (فضل), meaning "excellence" or "merit," is used twice. Ibn Ashur explains that the first *faḍl* refers to the good deeds and extra effort one puts in. The second *faḍl* refers to the generous reward Allah bestows in the Hereafter, proportionate to that excellence, though its true measure is known only to Allah. Al-Razi emphasizes that this indicates varying degrees of happiness and blessings in the afterlife, matching the varying levels of devotion and good deeds performed in this life.
The Warning of a Great Day
Finally, the verse issues a solemn warning: "But if you turn away, then I fear for you the punishment of a great Day" (وَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍۢ كَبِيرٍ). The phrase *yawmin kabīr* (يوم كبير), a "great Day," is left indefinite by Allah, creating a sense of terrifying emphasis, as Ibn Ashur points out. While al-Jalalayn identifies it as the Day of Judgment, Ibn Ashur notes that for an audience initially denying resurrection, this general term could also imply severe worldly punishment, making the warning more immediate and impactful. The greatness of the Day refers to the immense severity of its punishment, a stern reminder for those who choose to reject Allah's call.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Hud 11:3 is discussed in 7 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Hud 11:3 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.