Surah Hud (Hud) 11 : 73

Overview (Verses 69 - 73)

Good News for Abraham

The account of Abraham opens here with the fact that he was to receive good news: “Our messengers came to Abraham with good news.” (Verse 69) We are not told immediately what the good news was. This would come at the right moment, when his wife was present. The messengers were angels whose identity is left a mystery. Although some commentators on the Qur’ān mention names and numbers, we prefer not to speculate, since we have no evidence to support such contentions.

“They bade him peace, and he answered: ‘Peace [be to you].’” (Verse 69) Abraham had emigrated from his birthplace in Iraq, crossed the Jordan and settled in the land of the Canaanites which was largely a desert. Following the Bedouin tradition of hospitality, Abraham immediately went about preparing food for his guests. “He then hastened to bring them a roasted calf” (Verse 69) He gets a fat calf, roasts and prepares it. He presents it to his guests who, as we have already said, were angels. Angels, however, do not eat what human beings eat. Hence, they could not partake of the calf, and this worried Abraham: “When he saw that their hands did not reach out to it, he felt their conduct strange and became apprehensive of them.” (Verse 70) A guest who does not eat of the food given him causes worry. He makes his host nervous that he intends some kind of treachery. To this day, country people and Bedouins consider it a grave crime to act treacherously towards someone with whom they have shared food. Hence, if they refuse to eat someone’s food, their action suggests that they either intend to do harm or that they do not trust the host’s intentions. Hence, the messengers reveal their identity to Abraham and tell him about their mission: “They said: Do not be alarmed. We are sent to the people of Lot.” (Verse 70)

Abraham realized what sending angels to Lot’s people meant, but then something else happens and the subject is changed: “His wife, standing nearby, laughed.” (Verse 71) She might have been pleased by the imminent destruction of the evil-doers! Then she is given her own news: “whereupon We gave her the happy news of [her giving birth to] Isaac and, after Isaac, Jacob.” (Verse 71) She was an old woman who had never given birth to a child. Hence, the news of giving birth to Isaac was extremely surprising. Yet, it was happy news of double significance because Isaac would have offspring of his own. Jacob would be born to him. Any woman, especially a sterile one, would be overjoyed at such news. But she is also confused and her confusion is evident: “Said she: ‘Woe is me! Shall I bear a child now that I am an old woman, and this my husband is well-advanced in years? This is a strange thing indeed.’” (Verse 72)

It is strange indeed. All women cease to menstruate after a certain age. When this happens, they can no longer conceive. But nothing is strange when God wills it: “They said: ‘Do you marvel at God’s decree? May God’s mercy and blessings be upon you, people of this house. He is indeed ever to be praised, Glorious.’” (Verse 73)