329 Page Notes

21 Surah Al-Anbya (continued)

Page 329 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 329 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 329 of the standard Uthmani codex is one of the most beloved pages in the entire Quran for daily supplications. Covering Surah Al-Anbya, verses 82 through 90, it details a rapid succession of relief granted to four great prophets undergoing extreme vulnerability: Ayyub (Job), Yunus (Jonah), Zakariyya (Zachariah), and Yahya (John).

The Sunnah explicitly anchors these specific verses to foundational formulas of relief used by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions.

1. Hadith Context for Verses 83–84: The Patience of Ayyub

“And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, 'Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the most merciful of the merciful.'” (Quran 21:83)

Ayyub suffered the loss of his wealth, his children, and his physical health for nearly two decades, yet his prayer uniquely focuses on praising God's mercy rather than complaining. The Sunnah expounds upon the exact moment his relief arrived.

• The Golden Locusts:
  Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet ﷺ described the physical manifestation of Ayyub's sudden restoration:
  "While Ayyub was taking a bath naked, a shower of golden locusts began falling on him. He started collecting them in his garment. His Lord called him: 'O Job! Did I not make you rich enough to do without what you see?' Ayyub replied: 'Yes, My Lord! But I cannot do without Your blessings.'"
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Ghusl, Hadith 279).

2. Hadith Context for Verses 87–88: The Supplication of Yunus (Dhul-Nun)

“And [mention] the man of the fish [Jonah], when he went off in anger... And he called out within the layers of darkness, 'There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.'” (Quran 21:87)

This specific invocation—known as Du'a Yunus or Ayat al-Karim—is treated in the Sunnah as an absolute spiritual master key. The Prophet ﷺ gave an explicit guarantee to anyone who uses this verse to request relief from anxiety or distress.

• The Guarantee of an Answered Prayer:
  Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
  "The supplication of Dhul-Nun (Jonah) when he called upon Allah from the belly of the whale was: 'La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin' (There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers). No Muslim ever supplicates with this regarding anything, except that Allah answers his prayer."
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sunan At-Tirmidhi (Book of Supplications, Hadith 3505) and Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 1462; authenticated by Al-Albani).

3. Hadith Context for Verses 89–90: Zakariyya's Prayer for Kinship

“And [mention] Zechariah, when he called to his Lord, 'My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while you are the best of inheritors.'” (Quran 21:89)

“...and We cured his wife for him. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear...” (Quran 21:90)

Zakariyya was of advanced age and his wife was barren, yet he pleaded for a righteous child to inherit the prophetic duties. God answered by granting them Yahya. Verse 90 provides the structural reason why this family received such rapid, miraculous intervention: they raced to do good and balanced their hearts between hope (Raghab) and fear (Rahab).

• The Reality of Yahya’s Purity:
  The Sunnah notes that Yahya (John the Baptist) was uniquely preserved from the moral shortcomings typical of human youth. Abdullah ibn Amr reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
  "Every single son of Adam will come on the Day of Resurrection with a sin [attached to him], except for Yahya, the son of Zakariyya."
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 22944; verified by Ahmad Shakir).

References

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

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

• Ahmad ibn Hanbal. (d. 855). Musnad Ahmad.

• Al-Albani, N. (d. 1999). Sahih al-Jami' al-Saghir.