وَيَـٰقَوْمِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ 52
Translations
And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals."
Transliteration
Wa ya qawmi istaghfiroo rabbakum thumma tooboo ilayhi yursil as-samaa alaikum midrar wa yazdkum quwwatan ila quwwatikum wa la tatawallao mujrimin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Hud calls his people to seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him, promising that if they do so, Allah will send abundant rain upon them and increase their strength and capability. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this verse demonstrates the conditional nature of divine mercy—repentance and asking forgiveness are prerequisites for receiving Allah's blessings in both material (rain for crops) and spiritual (increased strength) forms. The closing warning against turning away while committing sin emphasizes personal accountability and the consequences of rejecting divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Prophet Hud's message to the people of 'Ad, one of the ancient Arab nations destroyed for their disbelief and arrogance. The surah contextually presents Hud addressing his people after they rejected his warnings, offering them one final opportunity for repentance and promising relief from the drought they were experiencing.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Whoever seeks forgiveness from Allah, Allah will grant him a way out from every distress and will provide for him from sources he could never have imagined' (Sunan Abu Dawud). Additionally, 'Repentance wipes away sins as water wipes away dust from the face' (authenticated in various collections), thematically reinforcing the power of istighfar and tawbah mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that genuine repentance and seeking Allah's forgiveness are not merely spiritual acts but transformative practices that unlock divine mercy in all dimensions of life. For believers today, it reminds us that turning back to Allah with sincere hearts, combined with abandoning sin, is the path to receiving both worldly provisions and inner strength to face life's challenges.