324 Page Notes

21 Surah Al-Anbya (continued)

Page 324 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 324 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 324 of the standard Uthmani codex continues Surah Al-Anbya (The Prophets), encompassing verses 25 through 35.

Thematically, this page transitions from the absolute unity of God (Tawhid) to the nature of the angels, the intricate creation of the universe (water, mountains, and orbits), and finally, a sobering reminder of the inevitability of human mortality and worldly trials.

1. Sunnah and Hadith Context for Verses 25–29

“And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, 'There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.'” (Quran 21:25)

“And they say, 'The Most Merciful has taken a son.' Exalted is He! Rather, they are [but] honored servants.” (Quran 21:26)

These verses reaffirm the unifying message of all prophets and explicitly correct the polytheists of Arabia who claimed that the angels were the "daughters of Allah." The Sunnah heavily reinforces the true status of angels as fiercely loyal, non-divine servants of God.

• The Humility of Angels:
  The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the immense size and simultaneous utter humility of the angels before Allah's majesty. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
  "When Allah decrees a matter in heaven, the angels beat their wings in fear and submission to His statement, [with a sound] like a chain dragged over a smooth rock..."
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Prophetic Commentary on the Quran, Hadith 4701).

2. Sunnah and Hadith Context for Verses 30–33

“...and We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?” (Quran 21:30)

“And He is the One who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all in an orbit are swimming.” (Quran 21:33)

These verses contain profound cosmic and biological signs—the separating of the heavens and earth, the foundational role of water in life, and the celestial orbits. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly tied the biological reality of verse 30 to our physical creation.

• Everything Formed from Water:
  Abu Hurairah narrated that he went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and asked: "O Messenger of Allah, when I see you, my soul feels at peace and my eyes are delighted. Tell me about everything." The Prophet ﷺ replied:
  "Allah created everything from water."
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 7923) and Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 4317; authenticated by Al-Albani).

3. Sunnah and Hadith Context for Verses 34–35

“And We granted not to any human being immortality before you [O Muhammad]; then if you die, would they live forever?” (Quran 21:34)

“Every soul shall taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as a trial; and to Us you will be returned.” (Quran 21:35)

When the pagan Quraysh mocked the Prophet ﷺ, they hoped that his death would put an end to his message. Verse 34 logically asks them: if the Prophet dies, do they expect to live forever? Verse 35 delivers one of the most famous axioms of Islamic theology.

The Inevitability of Death

The Sunnah actively commands Muslims to keep the weight of verse 35 at the forefront of their minds to prevent arrogance and complacency.

• Remembering the Destroyer of Pleasures:
  Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
  "Remember frequently the destroyer of pleasures: death."
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sunan at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 2307) and Sunan an-Nasa'i (Hadith 1824).

The Test of Good and Evil

Verse 35 notes that humanity is tested not just with hardships (evil), but also with blessings (good). The companions of the Prophet frequently commented that surviving the test of "good" (wealth, health, safety) was actually much harder than surviving hardship.

• The Companion's Epiphany on Verse 35:
  The great companion Umar ibn al-Khattab famously stated:
  "We were tested with adversity (hardship) and we were patient. But then we were tested with prosperity (good things) and we could not remain patient [i.e., we found it harder to fulfill the absolute gratitude due to Allah]."
  Source: Recorded by Imam Al-Alusi in his classical commentary Ruh al-Ma'ani regarding the exegesis of Surah Al-Anbya, Verse 35.

• The Dual State of the Believer:
  Suhaib reported that the Prophet ﷺ perfectly summarized how a Muslim passes the two tests mentioned in verse 35:
  "Amazing is the affair of the believer, for there is good for him in every matter... If prosperity comes to him, he expresses gratitude and it is good for him. If adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and it is good for him."
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sahih Muslim (Book of Zuhd, Hadith 2999).

References

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

• Al-Nasa'i, A. S. (d. 915). Sunan an-Nasa'i.

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

• Al-Alusi, M. S. (d. 1854). Ruh al-Ma'ani fi Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim.

• Ibn Majah, M. Y. (d. 887). Sunan Ibn Majah.

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