290 Page Notes

17 Al-Isra (continued)

Page 290 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 290 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 290 of the Quran contains verses 76 through 86 of Surah Al-Isra (The Journey by Night), also known as Surah Bani Isra'il. These verses address the intense pressure the Prophet Muhammad face from the disbelievers to expel him from Makkah, the obligation of the daily prayers, the status of the Quran, and the famous question regarding the nature of the soul (Ruh).

The specific Hadiths and Sunnah traditions connected to these verses provide essential historical context (Asbab al-Nuzul, or reasons for revelation) and practical applications.

1. The Threat of Expulsion (Verses 76–77)

"And indeed, they were about to provoke [i.e., scare] you from the land to evict you therefrom. And then [when they do], they will not remain [there] after you, except for a little." (Quran 17:76)

Connected Hadith Context:

Classical commentators like Ibn Kathir highlight that this verse was revealed when the Quraysh plotted to exile or heavily pressure the Prophet to leave Makkah.

The Sunnah of Allah (Sunnatullah) mentioned in verse 77 dictates that whenever a nation expels its Prophet, divine punishment swiftly follows. Historically, this was fulfilled exactly: the Prophet migrated to Madinah, and a mere year and a half later, the leaders of the Quraysh were defeated at the Battle of Badr.

2. The Timings of Prayer & Tahajjud (Verses 78–79)

"Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Quran [i.e., recitation] of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed. And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station." (Quran 17:78-79)

These verses are foundational to the legal framework of the daily prayers (Salah) and the night prayer (Tahajjud).

The Timings of the Five Daily Prayers

While the verse summarizes the prayer windows (the decline of the sun to the darkness of the night, and dawn), the Sunnah explicitly defined them. In a famous Hadith found in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet detailed what these segments mean:

• Dulook al-Shams (Decline of the sun) encompasses Zuhr and Asr.

• Ghasaq al-Layl (Darkness of the night) encompasses Maghrib and Isha.

• Quran al-Fajr is the dawn prayer.

The Prophet’s Night Prayer (Tahajjud)

Verse 79 commands the Prophet to wake up at night for Tahajjud as an "additional voluntary prayer" (Nafilah). The Sunnah provides extensive guidance on how he practiced this.

Sahih al-Bukhari (1147): Narrated 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): "The Prophet used to offer eleven Rakat (in the night prayer) and that was his prayer. He used to prolong the prostration to such an extent that one could recite fifty verses (of the Quran) before he would lift his head."

The Praised Station (Al-Maqam al-Mahmud)

The "praised station" mentioned in verse 79 refers to the exclusive right of intercession (Shafa'ah) granted to the Prophet Muhammad on the Day of Judgment. The Sunnah teaches Muslims a daily supplication to help attain this closeness to the Prophet.

Sahih al-Bukhari (614): The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever says Rosh HaShanah / hears the Adhan (call to prayer) and says: 'O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and established prayer, grant Muhammad the Wasilah (a station in Paradise) and Al-Fadilah (virtue) and resurrect him to the Praised Station (Al-Maqam al-Mahmud) which You have promised him,' then my intercession for him will be allowed on the Day of Resurrection."

3. Entering and Leaving with Truth (Verse 80)

"And say, 'My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority.'" (Quran 17:80)

Connected Hadith Context:

According to prophetic traditions recorded by Imam Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi, this supplication was directly tied to the transition of power and the Hijrah (migration).

Musnad Ahmad (reported via Ibn Abbas): The Prophet was in Makkah, and then he was commanded to emigrate. It was on this occasion that Allah revealed: "My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance [Madinah] and to exit a sound exit [Makkah]..."

4. The Fall of Idols (Verse 81)

"And say, 'Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart.'" (Quran 17:81)

Connected Hadith Context:

The direct physical implementation of this verse is recorded in the Sunnah during the Conquest of Makkah in 8 AH, when the Prophet cleansed the Kaaba of its pagan idols.

Sahih al-Bukhari (4720): Narrated Abdullah bin Mas'ud: "The Prophet entered Makkah (on the day of the Conquest) and there were three hundred and sixty idols around the Kaaba. He started striking them with a stick he had in his hand and was saying, 'Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Surely falsehood is ever bound to vanish' (Quran 17:81)..."

5. The Question Concerning the Soul / Spirit (Verse 85)

"And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, 'The soul is of the affair [i.e., concern] of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little.'" (Quran 17:85)

This is one of the most famous verses in this section, and its exact Asbab al-Nuzul (reason for revelation) is meticulously documented in the Hadith literature.

Connected Hadith Context:

The Jewish community of Madinah (or the Quraysh consulting them) sought to test the Prophet's authenticity by asking him a profound metaphysical question that only a true Prophet could answer according to scripture.

Sahih al-Bukhari (4721) & Sahih Muslim (2794): Narrated Abdullah bin Mas'ud: *"While I was walking with the Prophet in a wasteland of Madinah and he was leaning on a stick of date-palm leaf, some Jews passed by. Some of them said to the others, 'Ask him about the Ruh (soul).' ... They stood up and said, 'O Abu-l-Qasim! What is the Ruh?'

The Prophet remained silent and I knew that he was receiving Divine Inspiration. I stayed in my place until the inspiration was over. Then the Prophet recited: 'And they ask you concerning the Ruh (soul). Say: The Ruh is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord...' (17:85)."*

This Sunnah text shows that the nature of the soul is a protected divine secret, and acknowledging the limits of human intellect is an act of authentic faith.

Surah Al-Isra Verse 86

Verse 86 of Surah Al-Isra marks the conclusion of page 290. It shifts from the discussion about the nature of the soul to a powerful reminder regarding the divine origin and preservation of the Quran itself.

"And if We willed, We could surely, entirely take away that which We have revealed to you. Then you would not find for yourself concerning it an advocate against Us." (Quran 17:86)

The Hadiths, classical commentaries, and traditions of the companions (Sahabah) related to this specific verse focus heavily on two concepts: the Prophet’s own profound fear of losing the revelation, and a chilling prophecy concerning the end of times when the Quran will physically be removed from the earth.

1. The Historical Context: The Absolute Ownership of Revelation

Classical Quranic commentators like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this verse was revealed as a profound reminder to the Prophet Muhammad and the early believers. It emphasized that the Quran is a pure gift from Allah; it is not human poetry or something stored in human memory by human power alone.

While there isn't a single Asbab al-Nuzul (specific event of revelation) that isolates verse 86 by itself, the Prophet's regular practice (Sunnah) reflected a deep, trembling concern for preserving the words exactly as they were given. Before verses like this settled his heart, he used to rush his tongue to memorize the verses during revelation out of fear of forgetting them (as noted in Surah Al-Qiyamah, 75:16).

2. The Prophetic Warnings: The Ultimate Removal of the Quran

While verse 86 states "If We willed, We could surely take away that which We have revealed," multiple authentic Hadiths and statements of the companions explain that this will actually happen as a major sign before the Day of Judgment.

When society completely turns away from the guidance of the Quran, Allah will enact the literal meaning of this verse by erasing it from human memory and from physical pages overnight.

The Statement of Ibn Mas'ud (The Companion's Commentary)

Abdullah bin Mas'ud—the prominent companion who was present for the revelation of Surah Al-Isra—explicitly tied verse 86 to the end of times. His explanation is widely cited in classical Hadith exegesis:

Sunan Al-Darimi (3343) & Al-Tabarani: Abdullah bin Mas'ud said: "Recite the Quran frequently before it is taken away." The people asked, "These physical copies (Mushaf) will be lifted, but how can it be taken away from the chests of men (who have memorized it)?"

He replied: "An order will be sent out during a single night. It will be erased from the hearts of mankind, and the physical pages will be left completely blank. The next morning, the people will wake up like animals, possessing absolutely nothing of the Book of God." He then recited: "And if We willed, We could surely, entirely take away that which We have revealed to you..." (17:86).

Prophetic Hadith on the Decay of Knowledge

This companion's narrative perfectly aligns with authentic prophetic warnings regarding the gradual loss of Islam's foundational texts when they are neglected by human beings.

Sunan Ibn Majah (4049): The Messenger of Allah said: "Islam will wear out just as the color of a garment fades, until people will no longer know what fasting, prayer, sacrifice, or charity are. And the Book of Allah will be taken away in a single night, and not a single verse of it will be left on the earth..."

Summary of Understandings Linked to Verse 86

• The Preserved Gift: The Sunnah teaches that human intelligence did not create the Quran, and human intellect cannot safeguard it without divine permission.

• The Vulnerability of Neglect: The core lesson drawn by early scholars from this verse is a warning against taking the Quran for granted. The Sunnah places an immense spiritual premium on constantly reviewing, reciting, and acting upon the Quran so that its light is not lifted from a community.