323 Page Notes

21 Surah Al-Anbya (continued)

Page 323 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 323 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 323 of the standard Uthmani codex continues Surah Al-Anbya (The Prophets), covering verses 11 through 24.

This section shifts from warning individuals to describing the literal destruction of tyrant nations (Qaryah), the flawless cosmic order created by Allah, and a fierce logical refutation of polytheism.

1. Sunnah and Hadith Context for Verses 11–15

“How many a community of wrongdoers have We crushed, raising up another people after them!” (Quran 21:11)

“And they became like a field reaped, extinct.” (Quran 21:15)

These verses outline the historical law of divine destruction acting against oppressive civilizations. While these verses refer generally to past destroyed nations (like Aad, Thamud, and Sodom), the Sunnah emphasizes that the Prophet ﷺ explicitly sought refuge from his own nation suffering a similar, total extermination.

• The Prophet's Supplication for his Ummah:
  Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
  "I asked my Lord for three things, and He granted me two and withheld one. I asked my Lord not to destroy my Ummah (nation) by a widespread famine, and He granted it to me. And I asked Him not to destroy my Ummah by drowning [or total annihilation like past nations], and He granted it to me. And I asked Him that they should not fight among themselves, but He withheld that from me."
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sahih Muslim (Book of Tribulations and Portents of the Hour, Hadith 2890).

2. Sunnah and Hadith Context for Verses 16–20

“We did not create the heavens and the earth and everything between them playfully.” (Quran 21:16)

“They [the angels] glorify Him night and day, never flagging.” (Quran 21:20)

These verses detail the creation of the universe with ultimate purpose and describe the unrelenting devotion of the angels. The Sunnah vividly reinforces the cosmic scale of this angelic worship.

• The Groaning of the Heavens:
  Abu Dharr reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
  "Indeed, I see what you do not see and I hear what you do not hear. The heaven groans, and it has every right to groan! There is no space equal to the width of four fingers in it except that an angel is placing his forehead in prostration to Allah. By Allah, if you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much..."
  Source: Hasan (Sound), Sunan At-Tirmidhi (Book of Zuhd, Hadith 2312) and Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 4190).

3. Sunnah and Hadith Context for Verses 21–24

“Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah, they both would have been ruined.” (Quran 21:22)

“He cannot be questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.” (Quran 21:23)

Verse 22 presents the famous logical argument of Tamanu' (mutual exclusion): if multiple absolute gods existed, their conflicting wills would tear the laws of physics and the cosmos apart. Verse 23 establishes Allah’s absolute sovereignty.

The Ultimate Questioning of Creation

The Prophet ﷺ frequently tied the reality of Verse 23—that humanity will be thoroughly questioned while Allah holds supreme authority—to daily accountability in the Sunnah.

• The Interrogation on Judgment Day:
  Ibn Mas'ud reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
  "The feet of the son of Adam will not move on the Day of Judgment from his Lord until he is questioned about five things: about his life and how he spent it, about his youth and how he used it, about his wealth, from where he earned it and on what he spent it, and what he did with what he knew."
  Source: Hasan (Sound), Sunan At-Tirmidhi (Hadith 2416).

Fulfilling the Absolute Oneness (Tawhid)

“Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, [O Muhammad], 'Produce your proof...'” (Quran 21:24)

The requirement to cast away false deities and affirm pure monotheism is the focal point of page 323. The Sunnah honors this specific theological defense through the Dhikr (remembrance) formulas the Prophet recited daily.

• The Prophetic Declaration of Power Over the Cosmos:
  The Prophet ﷺ taught his companions to recite a declaration that mirrors the exact sentiment of verse 22 and 24:
  "There is no god but Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs kingdom, and to Him belongs praise, and He has power over all things."
  The Prophet stated that whoever says this 100 times a day receives the reward of freeing ten slaves, has 100 good deeds recorded, 100 sins erased, and is protected from Satan (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 3293; Sahih Muslim, 2691).

References

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

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

• Al-Tirmidhi, M. I. (d. 892). Sunan al-Tirmidhi.

• ibn Kathir, A. I. (1373). Stories of the Prophets. Kalamullah Archives.

• Muslim, I. H. (d. 875). Sahih Muslim.