Al-Ahqaf (Arabic: الأحقاف) is the 46th chapter of the Holy Quran. It consists of 4 Rukus, 35 verses, 645 words, and 2667 letters. This is the seventh and final chapter that begins with the Muqattaʿat letters Haʼ Mim حم. It is a Meccan surah and surah al ahqaf meaning is The Wind-Curved Sandhills. The chapter addresses several themes: it cautions against rejecting the Quran while offering reassurance to believers; it advises Muslims to be virtuous towards their parents; it narrates the story of Prophet Hud and the punishment that befell his people; and it encourages Muhammad to remain patient in spreading the message of Islam. It also talks about a period of a child’s gestation and weaning. The chapter derives its name from verse 21, where Hud is mentioned as having warned his people “by the sand dunes” (al-Ahqaf).
Read colour coded Surah Ahqaf with tajweed rules at islamicsurah.com.
Following are the virtues and benefits of reciting Surat Ahqaf:
Surah Al-Ahqaf, within its verses 15 to 17, provides profound insights into the responsibilities of children towards their parents and the virtue of gratitude towards Allah. These verses highlight essential teachings that resonate deeply within the Islamic faith, emphasizing the importance of familial bonds, gratitude, and spiritual growth.
Verse 15 begins with Allah’s command to humans to show kindness and gratitude towards their parents. It vividly portrays the hardships a mother endures during pregnancy and childbirth, and the subsequent stages of raising children. This verse underscores the physical and emotional sacrifices made by parents for their children’s well-being.
وَ وَصَّیْنَا الْاِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَیْهِ اِحْسٰنًاؕ-حَمَلَتْهُ اُمُّهٗ كُرْهًا وَّ وَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًاؕ-وَ حَمْلُهٗ وَ فِصٰلُهٗ ثَلٰثُوْنَ شَهْرًاؕ-حَتّٰۤى اِذَا بَلَغَ اَشُدَّهٗ وَ بَلَغَ اَرْبَعِیْنَ سَنَةًۙ-قَالَ رَبِّ اَوْزِعْنِیْۤ اَنْ اَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِیْۤ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَیَّ وَ عَلٰى وَالِدَیَّ وَ اَنْ اَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضٰىهُ وَ اَصْلِحْ لِیْ فِیْ ذُرِّیَّتِیْ اِنِّیْ تُبْتُ اِلَیْكَ وَ اِنِّیْ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِیْنَ(15)
Surah Al-Ahqaf, Ayat 16 offers profound spiritual benefits and assurances to believers who uphold righteousness and piety towards their parents. It promises that Allah will accept the virtuous deeds of those who fulfill their duties with sincerity and kindness towards their parents. This acceptance signifies Allah’s approval and acknowledgment of their efforts, which serves as a source of spiritual fulfillment and reward.
اُولٰٓىٕكَ الَّذِیْنَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ اَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوْا وَ نَتَجَاوَزُ عَنْ سَیِّاٰتِهِمْ فِیْۤ اَصْحٰبِ الْجَنَّةِؕ-وَعْدَ الصِّدْقِ الَّذِیْ كَانُوْا یُوْعَدُوْنَ(16)
Surat Al Ahqaf, Ayat 17 addresses the response of those who express dissatisfaction or frustration towards their parents by saying, “Alas for you! Do you promise me that I shall be raised up when generations before me have passed away?” This verse reflects a sentiment of disbelief or doubt expressed by some individuals towards the promise of resurrection. In response to their disbelief, the verse portrays these individuals as turning to Allah in supplication, acknowledging their concerns and seeking reassurance about the truth of Allah’s promise.
وَ الَّذِیْ قَالَ لِوَالِدَیْهِ اُفٍّ لَّكُمَاۤ اَتَعِدٰنِنِیْۤ اَنْ اُخْرَ جَ وَ قَدْ خَلَتِ الْقُرُوْنُ مِنْ قَبْلِیْۚ-وَ هُمَا یَسْتَغِیْثٰنِ اللّٰهَ وَیْلَكَ اٰمِنْ ﳓ اِنَّ وَعْدَ اللّٰهِ حَقٌّ ۚۖ-فَیَقُوْلُ مَا هٰذَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اَسَاطِیْرُ الْاَوَّلِیْنَ(17)
وَ وَصَّیْنَا الْاِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَیْهِ اِحْسٰنًاؕ-حَمَلَتْهُ اُمُّهٗ كُرْهًا وَّ وَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًاؕ-وَ حَمْلُهٗ وَ فِصٰلُهٗ ثَلٰثُوْنَ شَهْرًاؕ-حَتّٰۤى اِذَا بَلَغَ اَشُدَّهٗ وَ بَلَغَ اَرْبَعِیْنَ سَنَةًۙ-قَالَ رَبِّ اَوْزِعْنِیْۤ اَنْ اَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِیْۤ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَیَّ وَ عَلٰى وَالِدَیَّ وَ اَنْ اَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضٰىهُ وَ اَصْلِحْ لِیْ فِیْ ذُرِّیَّتِیْ ﱂاِنِّیْ تُبْتُ اِلَیْكَ وَ اِنِّیْ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِیْنَ(15)
And We have enjoined upon man goodness to his parents. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims.”
In the Quran Kareem Surah Ahqaf para no is 26th.
Surah Ahqaf talks about warning those who reject the Quran and comforting those who believe in it. It also teaches Muslims to be respectful and kind to their parents. The chapter recounts the story of Prophet Hud and the punishment his people faced due to their disobedience. Additionally, it advises Prophet Muhammad to remain patient while delivering the message of Islam.
Surah Ahqaf, Ayat 3 discusses how Allah did not create the heavens and the earth and everything between them in vain. Instead, He created them in truth and for a destined purpose. However, many disbelievers turn away from this truth.