Sūrat Hūd
Section 13 of 24 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Glad Tidings in Old Age
After that comes the story of Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him). In the story of Zakariyyā (peace be upon him) we have already read of how he was given a child in old age; we learned that story in Sūrat Āl ʿImrān. Here now is another instance of the same: at an old age, at an advanced stage at least from our point of view. And here too the same thing is said.
وَٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ قَآئِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَـٰهَا بِإِسْحَـٰقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَـٰقَ يَعْقُوبَ
“His wife was standing (nearby), and she laughed. Thus We gave her the good news about IsHāq, and about Ya‘qūb after IsHāq.” (11:71)
Of his wife it says wa-mraʾatuhu qāʾimatun fa-ḍaḥikat fa-bashsharnāhā bi-Isḥāq: We gave her the glad tidings of Isḥāq. And she said: I am old; how can I have a child? I am very old — ʿajūz means very old.
قَالَتْ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ ءَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا۠ عَجُوزٌ وَهَـٰذَا بَعْلِى شَيْخًا ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌ
“She said, “Woe to me! Shall I give birth to a child while I am an old woman and this is my husband, an old man? This is something amazing indeed.”” (11:72)
قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَـٰتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
“They said, “Do you marvel at Allah’s command? Allah’s mercy and His blessings have always been upon you, O people of the house. Surely, He is Praiseworthy, Glorious.”” (11:73)
And then Allah (swt) says that they told her: are you astonished at the command of Allah? The raḥmah and mercy of Allah are upon you.