322 Page Notes

21 Surah Al-Anbya

Page 322 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 322 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 322 of the standard Uthmani codex marks the exact beginning of Surah Al-Anbya (The Prophets), spanning verses 1 through 10. This Meccan chapter opens with a powerful, sobering warning about the imminence of judgment day and the psychological denial of those who reject divine revelation.

1. The Core Hadith on Surah Al-Anbya's Status

The most famous foundational Hadith explicitly naming Surah Al-Anbya speaks to its historical placement and value among the early Muslims.

Hadith: Abdullah ibn Mas'ud reported:

"The surahs of Bani Israel (Al-Isra), Al-Kahf, Maryam, Al-Anbya, and Ta-Ha are among the earliest revelations, and they are my treasured ancient belongings."

Source: Authentic (Sahih), recorded by Imam Al-Bukhari in his Sahih (Book of the Virtues of the Qur'an, Hadith 4994).

The early companions treated this specific block of chapters, beginning on page 322, as foundational spiritual capital, memorized during the intense early years of persecution in Mecca.

2. Sunnah/Hadith Context Linked to Verses 1–4

The Illusion of Time & The Approaching Hour

“Closer and closer to mankind comes their Reckoning: yet they heed not and they turn away.” (Qur'an 21:1)

This verse underscores Iqtirab—the constant shrinking of time before humanity is called to account (Al-Mohammad, 2024). The Prophet Muhammad often reinforced this visually and verbally to his companions to break their worldly distraction:

• The Two Fingers Analogy: The Messenger of Allah said, "I have been sent and the Hour is like these two," phrasing it while joining his index and middle fingers together (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 6504; Sahih Muslim, 2951).

• The Inevitability of Death: The Sunnah establishes that the "personal resurrection" begins at death. The Prophet stated, "When one of you dies, his judgment day has already begun" (recorded in various forms via Al-Mughira ibn Shu'bah).

Dismissing Revelation as "Mixed Dreams" or Magic

“...The wrongdoers say in secret: ‘Is this man more than a human being like yourselves? Will you go to witchcraft with your eyes open?’” (Qur'an 21:3)

“Nay, they say, ‘[These are] mixed dreams!’” (Qur'an 21:5)

The historical context (Asbab al-Nuzul) captured in the Sunnah tells us how the Quraysh elite tried desperately to label the Prophet's state when he received revelation.

• Hadith Context: In a long narration preserved in historical compilations (and referenced by classical commentators like Ibn Kathir), leaders like Utbah ibn Rabi'ah went to the Prophet to offer him medicine if he was "possessed by a jinn," or money if he wanted wealth, directly mirroring the text of verse 5 where they try to rationalize the divine message as psychological hallucinations or worldly ambition.

3. Sunnah/Hadith Context Linked to Verses 7–10

Asking the People of Knowledge

“And We sent not before you, [O Muhammad], except men to whom We revealed [the message], so ask the people of the message [i.e., former scriptures] if you do not know.” (Qur'an 21:7)

While this verse historically referred to asking Jewish and Christian scholars of Mecca/Medina to confirm if previous prophets were men or angels, the Sunnah expanded this into a universal legal and moral directive: the obligation to seek expert knowledge.

• The Tragedy of Ignorance: In a famous Sunnah narration, a companion suffered a severe head wound but was told by others that he must perform full ritual washing (Ghusl). He did so, water entered the wound, and he died. When the Prophet heard of this, he was deeply angered and said:
  "They killed him, may Allah destroy them! Why did they not ask when they did not know? Truly, the cure for ignorance is to ask!"
  — (Sunnan Abi Dawud, 336; authenticated by Al-Albani).

The Humanity of the Prophets

“We did not give them bodies that ate no food, nor were they immortal.” (Qur'an 21:8)

The Quraysh stumbled over the fact that Muhammad walked through the markets and required food. The Sunnah is explicitly filled with the ordinary, vulnerable human realities of the Prophet to destroy any creeping theological exaggeration (like turning a prophet into a divine entity).

• Hadith Context: The Prophet explicitly stated to avoid the traps of previous civilizations: "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising the son of Mary. I am only a slave, so say: The slave of Allah and His Messenger" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 3445). He hungry, he bled at the battle of Uhud, and he forgot in prayer—all of which directly validates the physical, non-immortal layout of prophethood mentioned in verse 8.

References

• Al-Mohammad, S. T. (2024). Critical Reexamination of the Event of the Splitting of the Moon in Light of the Noble Qur'an. Profetika: Jurnal Studi Islam, 25(1), 15-32.

• Al-Bukhari, M. I. (d. 870). Sahih al-Bukhari.

• Al-Sijistani, Abu Dawud (d. 889). Sunan Abi Dawud.