254 Page Notes

13 Surah Ar-Rad (continued)

Page 254 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 254 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 254 of the standard Uthmani Mushaf comprises the conclusion of Surah Ar-Ra'd (13), specifically verses 35 through 42. This page serves as a critical thematic junction, detailing the sensory realities of Paradise, the standard mandate of monotheism given to all past Messengers, the concept of divine decree (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz), and the ultimate victory of truth over political plotting.

Classical works of Tafsir consistently cross-reference these verses with foundational Hadiths that clarify their legal, historical, and spiritual contexts.

1. Verse 35: The Sensory Description of Paradise

"The example of Paradise, which the righteous have been promised, is [that] beneath it rivers flow. Its fruit is lasting, and its shade..."

The Sunnah on the Everlasting Food of Jannah

The verse states that the sustenance of Paradise is Dā'im (eternal and never-ending). Unlike worldly crops that are seasonal, the food of Jannah does not spoil or cease to exist. The Prophet ﷺ experienced a physical glimpse of this during the Eclipse Prayer (Salat al-Kusuf).

• The Hadith:
  Ibn Abbas narrated that the companions said, "O Messenger of Allah! We saw you reaching out for something while you were standing in your place, and then we saw you step back." The Prophet ﷺ replied: "I saw Paradise and reached out for a bunch of its grapes. Had I taken it, you would have eaten from it as long as this world remains." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1052; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 907).

The Sunnah on the Eternal Shade

The verse highlights the permanent shade (Zill) of Paradise. The Prophetic Sunnah expands on the sheer scale of this comfort.

• The Hadith:
  Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "In Paradise, there is a tree under whose shade a rider can travel for one hundred years without ever crossing out of it. Recite if you wish: 'And extended shade' [Quran 56:30]." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4881; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2827).

2. Verse 38: The Humanity of the Messengers

"And We have already sent messengers before you and assigned to them wives and descendants. And it was not for a messenger to come with a sign except by permission of Allah..."

The Historical Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)

Commentators note that Jewish rabbis and Makkan polytheists used to mock the Prophet ﷺ, saying, "If this man were truly a messenger, he would be preoccupied with the heavens rather than marrying women and having a family." Allah revealed this verse to assert that practicing family life is the natural Sunnah of all previous prophets (such as Abraham, David, and Solomon).

The Sunnah on Marriage as a Prophetic Path

The Prophet ﷺ explicitly cited this principle to rebuke individuals who wanted to abandon normal human life and marriage under the guise of extreme asceticism.

• The Hadith:
  Anas bin Malik reported that a group of three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ asking about his worship... One of them said, "I will isolate myself from women and never marry." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to them and said: "Are you the ones who said such and such? By Allah, I am the most God-fearing and conscious of Him among you, yet I fast and break my fast, I pray and I sleep, and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5063; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1401).

3. Verse 39: Erasure and Alteration in the Divine Decree

"Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book (Ummu al-Kitab)."

The Sunnah on Maintaining Ties to Alter Destiny

Classical scholars divide the divine decree (Qadar) into two categories: the unalterable blueprint (Al-Qadar al-Mubram) kept in the Mother of the Book, and the conditional decree (Al-Qadar al-Mu'allaq) given to the angels, which can change based on human action. The Prophet ﷺ explained how actions can cause Allah to "confirm or eliminate" what is written for a servant.

• The Hadith:
  Anas bin Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever loves that his provision be increased and his lifespan be extended, let him maintain his family ties (Silat ar-Rahim)." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5986; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2557).

• The Hadith on Changing Decree via Dua:
  Thawban narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Nothing repels divine decree except supplication (Dua), and nothing increases lifespan except righteousness." (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 90; Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2139).

4. Verse 41: The Gradual Diminishing of the Earth

"Have they not seen that We set upon the land, reducing it from its borders?..."

The Interpretive Sunnah on the Death of Scholars

While this verse has dynamic modern applications regarding geographical and political shifts, classical authorities like Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal explained that the spiritual and intellectual "reduction of the earth from its borders" refers to the death of foundational scholars and righteous leaders. This directly aligns with a stark Prophetic warning.

• The Hadith:
  Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it away from the hearts of the people, but He takes away knowledge by the death of the religious scholars. Then, when no scholar remains, the people will take ignorant individuals as their leaders. They will be asked, and they will give verdicts without knowledge, going astray themselves and leading others astray." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 100; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2673).

In the standard Uthmani script of the Quran, page 254 contains the concluding verses of Surah Ar-Rad (Chapter 13), specifically focusing on verses 41 and 42. These verses provide comfort to Prophet Muhammad while delivering a stark warning to those who plot against the message of Islam.

Text and Context of the Verses

Verse 41: "Have they not seen that We set upon the land, reducing it from its borders? And Allah decides; there is no adjuster of His decision. And He is swift in account."

Verse 42: "And verily, those before them did devise plots, but all planning is Allah's. He knows what every person earns, and the disbelievers will know who gets the good end."

While these verses do not have an exclusive Asbab al-Nuzul (specific singular narrative reason for revelation) found in a lone Hadith, classical scholars of Tafsir (such as Ibn Kathir, Al-Baghawi, and Al-Qurtubi) rely on the Sunnah of the Companions (Athar) and general Hadiths to explain their profound meanings.

1. Hadith & Athar Related to Verse 41: "Reducing the Land from its Borders"

The phrase “nanqusuha min atrafiha” (reducing it from its borders) has two prominent interpretations backed by the Sunnah and early authorities.

A. The Loss of Knowledge and the Death of Scholars

The most famous spiritual and societal interpretation given by the Companions is that the "shrinking of the earth" refers to the death of Islamic scholars ('Ulama). When a scholar dies, a piece of the earth’s light and guidance disappears.

This is directly grounded in a highly authenticated Hadith from the Prophet Muhammad:

"Allah does not take away knowledge by wresting it from the hearts of the people, but He takes away knowledge by the death of the religious scholars, until when no scholar remains, people will take as their leaders ignorant persons who, when consulted, will give fatwas without knowledge, and so they will go astray and will lead others astray."

— Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 100) & Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2673)

Commenting on Verse 41, the great Companion Abdullah ibn Mas’ud stated:

"You must seek knowledge before it is taken away, and it is taken away by the departure (death) of its people." Al-Hasan al-Basri similarly noted that the death of a scholar is a "crack in Islam" that cannot be repaired (Tulayhah, 2020).

B. The Geopolitical Shifting of Power (Victories of Islam)

From a literal and historical context, early commentators like Abdullah ibn Abbas noted that this verse refers to the physical expansion of Islamic territory and the shrinking of the strongholds of disbelief (Kufr).

This aligns with the overarching Sunnah of the Prophet's life—where Islam began isolated in Makkah and gradually "reduced the borders" of pagan control until the entirety of the Arabian Peninsula submitted to Allah.

2. Hadith Related to Verse 42: "But all planning is Allah's"

Verse 42 addresses the complex "master-planning" (Makr) of the disbelievers who tried to assassinate the Prophet and extinguish Islam, reminding them that Allah's plan always supersedes human schemes.

A. The Plot at Dar al-Nadwah

The historical Sunnah captures the peak of this "plotting" just before the Migration (Hijrah). The leaders of Quraysh gathered at their council hall, Dar al-Nadwah, to scheme against the Prophet. They debated whether to imprison him, exile him, or assassinate him collectively so his tribe could not wage revenge.

The Prophet's escape and safe arrival in Madinah proved the ultimate failure of their master plot, beautifully reflecting this verse.

B. Divine Accounting and Consistency in Deeds

The verse notes: "He knows what every person earns..."—emphasizing that Allah is meticulously aware of small and large actions. In the context of dealing with worldly plots and facing hardships, the Sunnah reminds believers to stay consistent in their righteous actions and leave the ultimate outcome to Allah's plan.

The Prophet Muhammad emphasized:

"Take on only as much as you can do of good deeds, for the best of deeds is that which is done consistently, even if it is little."

— Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 4240) (My Islam, n.d.)

Summary Takeaway

When reading page 254 of the Quran, the Sunnah frames these verses as a dual reminder:

1. Protect and appreciate the scholars of Islam, as their passing physically diminishes the spiritual borders of the earth.

2. Rest easy against the schemes of the world, because history proves that human plots crumble against the divine master-plan of Allah.

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. I. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari. Hadith 100.

• Ibn Majah, M. (n.d.). Sunan Ibn Majah. Hadith 4240.

• Muslim, I. H. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim. Hadith 2673.

• My Islam. (n.d.). Surah Ar-Ra'd Ayat 41 (13:41 Quran) With Tafsir. My Islam.

• Tulayhah. (2020, August 27). The Death of the Scholars: Tafsir al-Baghawi & al-Qurtubi.