Quran Universe
11:120

وَكُلّٗا نَّقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَۚ وَجَآءَكَ فِي هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَمَوۡعِظَةٞ وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

Wakullan naqussu AAalayka min anbai alrrusuli ma nuthabbitu bihi fuadaka wajaaka fee hathihi alhaqqu wamawAAithatun wathikra lilmumineena

And each [story] We relate to you from the news of the messengers is that by which We make firm your heart. And there has come to you, in this, the truth and an instruction and a reminder for the believers.

Word by word
  1. وَكُلّٗاAnd each
  2. نَّقُصُّWe relate
  3. عَلَيۡكَto you
  4. مِنۡof
  5. أَنۢبَآءِ(the) news
  6. ٱلرُّسُلِ(of) the Messengers
  7. مَا(for) that
  8. نُثَبِّتُWe may make firm
  9. بِهِۦwith it
  10. فُؤَادَكَۚyour heart
  11. وَجَآءَكَAnd has come to you
  12. فِيin
  13. هَٰذِهِthis
  14. ٱلۡحَقُّthe truth
  15. وَمَوۡعِظَةٞand an admonition
  16. وَذِكۡرَىٰand a reminder
  17. لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَfor the believers
Hud · 11:120Makkah

These stories were told to steady your heart.

Why the surah gathered all these prophets

What the stories carry
the messengersrejected, harmed
told to
the Prophet ﷺto firm his heart
bringing
truthreal events
a reminderfor the believers
What the stories are for
entertainmentold tales
a steady heartyou are not the first

Allah tells the Prophet ﷺ that He related all these stories of the messengers to make his heart firm. They show how the prophets were rejected and harmed, and how Allah helped the believers. Ibn Abbas and Mujahid said "in this" means this surah: it brings the truth, an admonition, and a reminder for the believers.

You feel alone in trying to live your faith: the only one praying at the office, the only one in the family who fasts. Read the stories again. Nuh, Hud, Salih, Shu'ayb, Musa all stood where you stand, and they were helped.

No one has ever faced what I am facing.

The prophets faced it before me, and their stories are there to steady my heart.

Try this

Reread one prophet's story from this surah tonight and note one thing that steadies you.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

And all that We relate to you of the news of the Messengers is in order that We may make strong and firm your heart thereby. And in this has come to you the truth, as well as an admonition and a reminder for the believers (120)

The Conclusion

Allah, the Exalted, is saying, 'We relate all of these stories to you (Muhammad) concerning what happened with the Messengers who came before you with their nations. This is an explanation of what transpired in their arguments and disputes and how the Prophets were all rejected and harmed. These stories also explain how Allah helped His party of believers and disgraced His enemies, the disbelievers. We relate all of this to you (Muhammad) in order to make your heart firm and so that you may take an example from your brothers who passed before you of the Messengers.' Concerning Allah's statement,

وَجَاءَكَ فِي هَٰذِهِ الْحَقُّ

(And in this has come to you the truth,) This is referring to this Surah itself. This was said by Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid and a group of the Salaf and it is the correct view. This means, 'This comprehensive Surah contains the stories of the Prophets and how Allah saved them, and the believers along with them and how He destroyed the disbelievers. There has come to you (Muhammad) stories of truth and true events in this Surah. In this Surah is an admonition that prevents the disbelievers, and a reminder that causes the believers to reflect.'