The template of the prophets' accounts
In suras 7, 11 and 26, each account of a prophet follows the same template: the sending (« وَإِلَىٰ X أَخَاهُمْ Y »), the call (« ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ »), the proof, the refusal of a wage, the rescue, the closing. Each element of the template is rendered identically from one account to the next.
In sura 11 the accounts of Nuh (11:25-49), Hud (11:50-60), Salih (11:61-68) and Shu'ayb (11:84-95) take up the same sentences:
- the sending: « وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًۭا », "And to the Recidivists [Aad], their brother Hud";
- the proof: « أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّى », "do you see? If I rely on a clear proof from my Guardian" (11:28 = 11:63 = 11:88);
- the rescue: « وَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا … », "And when Our command came, We saved …" (11:58, 11:66, 11:94);
- the closing: « أَلَا بُعْدًۭا لِّـ… », "Far removed be …!" (11:44, 11:60, 11:68, 11:95).
The template holds in sura 7 (7:59-93) and in sura 26, whose refrains (« إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌۭ », « فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ », « وَمَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ») are identical in all six languages. Each sura keeps its own elements: the refusal of a wage is missing in sura 7; sura 10 tells of Nuh and Moussa without the template.
The call « مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ » is rendered the same way in suras 7, 11 and 23.