[قَالَ الْمَلأُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن قَوْمِهِ]

(The leaders of those who disbelieved among his people said...) meaning, the general public, chiefs, masters and commanders of his people said,

[إِنَّا لَنَرَاكَ فِي سَفَاهَةٍ وِإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ الْكَـذِبِينَ]

("Verily, we see you in foolishness, and verily, we think you are one of the liars'') meaning, you are misguided because you call us to abandon worshipping the idols in order to worship Allah Alone. Similarly, the chiefs of Quraysh wondered at the call to worship One God, saying,

[أَجَعَلَ الاٌّلِهَةَ إِلَـهاً وَحِداً]

("Has he (Muhammad) made the gods (all) into One God'') [38:5].

[قَالَ يَـقَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِى سَفَاهَةٌ وَلَكِنِّى رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ]

((Hud) said: "O my people! There is no foolishness in me, but (I am) a Messenger from the Lord of all that exists!'') Hud said, I am not as you claim. Rather, I brought you the Truth from Allah, Who created everything, and He is the Lord and King of all things,

[أُبَلِّغُكُمْ رِسَـلـتِ رَبِّى وَأَنَاْ لَكُمْ نَاصِحٌ أَمِينٌ ]

("I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord, and I am a trustworthy adviser for you. '') These, indeed, are the qualities of the Prophets: conveying, sincerity and honesty,

[أَوَ عَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِّنْكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ]

("Do you wonder that there has come to you a Reminder from your Lord through a man from among you to warn you'') Prophet Hud said, do not wonder because Allah sent a Messenger to you from among yourselves to warn you about Allah's Days (His torment) and meeting with Him. Rather than wondering, you should thank Allah for this bounty.

[وَاذكُرُواْ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِن بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ]

("And remember that He made you successors (generations after generations) after the people of Nuh...'') meaning, remember Allah's favor on you in that He made you among the offspring of Nuh, because of whose supplication Allah destroyed the people of the earth after they defied and opposed him.

[وَزَادَكُمْ فِى الْخَلْقِ بَسْطَةً]

("and increased you amply in stature.'') making you taller than other people. Similarly, Allah said in the description of Talut (Saul),

[وَزَادَهُ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالْجِسْمِ]

(And has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature.) [2:247] Hud continued,

[فَاذْكُرُواْ ءَالآءَ اللَّهِ]

("So remember the graces (bestowed upon you) from Allah. '') in reference to Allah's favors and blessings

[لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ]

("so that you may be successful.'')

[قَالُواْ أَجِئْتَنَا لِنَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ وَنَذَرَ مَا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَاؤُنَا فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ - قَالَ قَدْ وَقَعَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ رِجْسٌ وَغَضَبٌ أَتُجَـدِلُونَنِي فِى أَسْمَآءٍ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤكُمُ مَّا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـنٍ فَانتَظِرُواْ إِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ الْمُنتَظِرِينَ - فَأَنجَيْنَـهُ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَقَطَعْنَا دَابِرَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا وَمَا كَانُواْ مُؤْمِنِينَ ]

(70. They said: "You have come to us that we should worship Allah Alone and forsake that which our fathers used to worship. So bring us that wherewith you have threatened us if you are of the truthful.'') (71. (Hud) said: "Rijs (torment) and wrath have already fallen on you from your Lord. Dispute you with me over names which you have named -- you and your fathers -- with no authority from Allah Then wait, I am with you among those who wait.'') (72. So We saved him and those who were with him out of mercy from Us, and We severed the roots of those who belied Our Ayat; and they were not believers.)