218 Page Notes

10 Surah Yunus (continued)

Page 218 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

10:79

10:80

10:81

10:82

10:83

10:84

10:85

10:86

10:87

10:88

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 218 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 218 of the Qur'an comprises verses 79 through 88 of Surah Yunus (Chapter 10). This section details the peak of the confrontation between Prophet Musa (Moses) and Pharaoh’s sorcerers, the profound reliance of the children of Israel on Allah despite severe persecution, and the famous supplication (Dua) made by Musa against Pharaoh's wealth and power.

Prophetic traditions (Hadith), historical narrations (Athan / Tafsir bi-l-Ma'thur), and the Sunnah provide deep contextual clarity on these verses.

1. Moses and the Sorcerers (Verses 79–82)

"And Pharaoh said, 'Bring to me every learned magician.' So when the magicians came, Moses said to them, 'Throw down whatever you will throw.' Then when they had thrown, Moses said, 'What you have brought is [only] magic. Indeed, Allah will expose its worthlessness...'" (Qur'an 10:79-81)

The Legal Prohibition and Reality of Magic (Sihr)

In verse 81, Musa confidently declares that Allah will expose the falsehood of magic because "Allah does not amend the work of corrupters." In Islamic jurisprudence and Prophetic teachings, this passage serves as a primary source establishing the ontological reality of magic while strictly condemning its practice as a major, corrupting sin.

The Prophet Muhammad explicitly aligned the Sunnah with this condemnation, categorizing magic as one of the seven most destructive sins a person can commit:

The Prophet said: "Avoid the seven destructive sins." The Companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what are they?" He replied: "Associating partners with Allah (Shirk), magic (Sihr), killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden except by right, consuming riba (usury), consuming the wealth of an orphan, fleeing from the battlefield, and slandering chaste, innocent believing women."

— Sahih al-Bukhari, 2766 & Sahih Muslim, 89

The Sunnah of Using the Qur'an as Ruqyah (Spiritual Healing)

Historically, early scholars and companions utilized verses 81 and 82 ("And Allah will establish the truth by His words...") as core components of Ruqyah (recitation for healing and countering sorcery).

• The Sunnah Application: According to classical commentaries compiled by scholars such as Ibn Kathir, when a person is suspected of being afflicted by magic or spiritual harm, these specific verses from Surah Yunus are recited over water or directly over the individual to undo the psychological effects of corruption, mirroring Musa's divine triumph over the sorcerers.

2. Faith in Times of Fear & The Home as a Sanctuary (Verses 83–87)

"But no one believed Moses, except offspring among his people, for fear of Pharaoh and their establishment lest they persecute them... And We inspired to Moses and his brother, 'Settle your people in Egypt in houses and make your houses places of worship (Qiblah) and establish prayer and give good tidings to the believers.'" (Qur'an 10:83-87)

Defining True Trust (Tawakkul) in Hardship

In verse 84, Musa instructs his terrified people: "O my people, if you have believed in Allah, then rely upon Him, if you should be Muslims."

The Sunnah defines Tawakkul not as passive resignation, but as pairing active, logical measures with an unwavering internal reliance on Allah. When the Prophet Muhammad faced severe opposition during the early Meccan period—highly analogous to the plight of the early followers of Musa—he reinforced this exact command. He reminded believers that when the heart is attached strictly to Allah, external tyrants lose their power to break the spirit (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 2344).

Making Houses a "Qiblah" (Places of Worship)

Verse 87 provides a fascinating historical command: "make your houses places of worship (Qiblah) and establish prayer."

The authentic historical context (Asbab al-Nuzul) behind this verse directly links the experience of the early Muslims in Mecca to the children of Israel in Egypt:

Abdullah ibn Abbas (the Prophet's cousin and premier Qur'anic commentator) explained that when Pharaoh tightened his persecution, the children of Israel were banned from praying openly in public spaces or temples. Consequently, Allah permitted them to convert their private living rooms and homes into secret places of prayer (Masajid) oriented toward the Qiblah so they could maintain their spiritual connection without being slaughtered by Pharaoh's guards.

— Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Contextualizing Q: 10:87)

The Sunnah of Voluntary Prayer at Home

The Prophet Muhammad adopted this historical lesson into a perpetual Sunnah for Muslims, particularly during times of extreme safety concerns or to keep homes spiritually alive:

The Messenger of Allah said: "Perform some of your prayers in your houses and do not make them graves."

— Sahih al-Bukhari, 432 & Sahih Muslim, 777

3. Musa's Supplication Against Oppressive Wealth (Verse 88)

"And Moses said, 'Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [men] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment.'" (Qur'an 10:88)

The Permissibility of Praying Against Tyrants

Verse 88 outlines a severe, targeted prayer by a prophet against an oppressor who used economic dominance to subjugate people. Musa does not pray for their guidance here; he asks Allah to "obliterate their wealth" because their luxury had become a structural tool for misguiding humanity.

The Sunnah confirms that praying against a tyrant—and specifically invoking a change in their material fortune to stop their oppression—is a legitimate recourse for the oppressed. The Prophet Muhammad famously warned his representatives to be terrified of the prayers of those experiencing tyranny:

The Prophet said to Mu'adh ibn Jabal: "Beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah."

— Sahih al-Bukhari, 1496

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. I. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari.

• Ibn Kathir, I. (n.d.). Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azeem.

• Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim.

• Al-Tirmidhi, Muhammad ibn Isa. (n.d.). Sunan al-Tirmidhi.

(Note: "n.d." denotes classical texts where modern standardized publication years vary across publishers, cited instead by their universally recognized book and Hadith numbers).