Hud 11:5 · SocialQuran

سُورَةُ هُودٍ · 11:5

MeccanRevelation order ٥٢Juzʾ ١١Page ٢٢١

أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ يَثْنُونَ صُدُورَهُمْ لِيَسْتَخْفُوا۟ مِنْهُ ۚ أَلَا حِينَ يَسْتَغْشُونَ ثِيَابَهُمْ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ

Saheeh International · EN

Unquestionably, they the disbelievers turn away their breasts to hide themselves from Him. Unquestionably, [even] when they cover themselves in their clothing, Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.

Introduction Revelation Tafsir Transmission Debate

Bio

Introduction

This is āyah 5 of Sūrat Hud (Hud), the 52nd sūrah in the traditional order of revelation. It was revealed in the Meccan period and sits within Juzʾ 11. Meccan verses tend to address faith, the oneness of God, and the hereafter.

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Bio

Revelation & occasion

Asbāb al-Nuzūl

Period: Meccan
Order revealed: 52 of 114
Surah: Hud (11)

Occasion of revelation · Al-Wahidi

(Lo! now they fold up their breasts that they may hide (their thoughts) from Him�) [11:5]. This verse was revealed about al-Akhnas ibn Shurayq who was good looking and sweet talking. When he met the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, he pleased him but he always kept in his heart that which displeased him. Al-Kalbi said: �He used to sit with the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, and display things that pleased the Prophet while hiding in his heart the opposite of what he displayed. And so Allah, exalted is He, revealed (Lo! now they fold up their breasts that they may hide (their thoughts)) their thoughts of enmity to Muhammad, Allah bless him and give him peace�.

Commentary

Tafsir

4 works

Hafiz Ibn Kathir

No doubt! They did fold up their breasts, that they may hide from Him. Surely, even when they cover themselves with their garments, He knows what they conceal and what they reveal. Verily, He is the All-Knower of the (innermost secrets) of the breasts (5) Allah is Aware of All Things Ibn 'Abbas said, "They used to dislike facing the sky with their private parts, particularly during sexual relations. Therefore, Allah revealed this verse." Al-Bukhari recorded by way of Ibn Jurayj, who reported from Muhammad bin 'Abbad bin Ja'far who said, "Ibn 'Abbas recited, (أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ تَثْنَونِي صُدُورُهُمْ) Behold their breasts did fold up." So I said: 'O Abu Al-'Abbas! What does "their breasts did fold up" mean' He said, 'The man used to have sex with his woman, but he would be shy, or he used to have answering the call of nature (in an open space) but, he would be shy. Therefore, this verse,…

Provenance

Chains of transmission

Oral — isnād

~610–632 CERevelation & memorisation
Received by the Prophet ﷺ and preserved by the ḥuffāẓ (memorisers) among the Companions.
1st century AHMutawātir transmissionawaiting curation
Carried by mass-transmission through the generations of qurrāʾ.
TodayLiving chainsawaiting curation
Continuous ijāzah chains link reciters today back to the Prophet ﷺ.

Verified isnād chains for this āyah will be added by curators.

Written — the manuscript record

~650 CEʿUthmānic codicesawaiting curation
The standardised muṣḥaf sent to the great cities (e.g. the Topkapı and Samarqand codices).
8th–10th c.Early Ḥijāzī & Kūfic foliosawaiting curation
Surviving leaves in Birmingham, Sanaa, Paris (BnF) and beyond.
Modern printModern printawaiting curation
The 1924 Cairo edition → today: the standard printed muṣḥaf used worldwide.

A curated chain of manuscript images for this exact āyah — roughly one per century — is coming. Help us source and verify them.

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Provenance

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