331 Page Notes

21 Surah Al-Anbya (continued)

Page 331 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 331 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 331 marks the powerful, emotional grand finale of Surah Al-Anbya, covering verses 102 through 112.

Thematically, this final page contrasts the absolute psychological serenity of the believers on Judgement Day with the utter terror of the disbelievers. It then concludes the entire chapter by declaring the universal purpose of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a beacon of global mercy, framing his final legal standing against the polytheists.

1. Hadith Context for Verses 102–103: The Greatest Terror

“They will not hear its slightest sound, while they are in that which their souls desire abiding eternally.” (Quran 21:102)

“The Greatest Terror (Al-Faza' al-Akbar) will not grieve them, and the angels will meet them, [saying], 'This is your Day which you have been promised.'” (Quran 21:103)

The "Greatest Terror" refers to the catastrophic blowing of the horn that resurrects humanity, causing widespread panic. The Sunnah identifies specific, everyday righteous deeds that Allah uses to shield a believer from this panic, allowing them to be met by welcoming angels as described in verse 103.

• Relieving the Burdens of Others:
  Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
  "Whoever relieves a believer of a burden from the burdens of this world, Allah will relieve him of a burden from the burdens of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever makes things easy for a person in financial difficulty, Allah will make things easy for him in this world and the Next..."
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sahih Muslim (Book of Dhikr and Dua, Hadith 2699).

• The Status of the Mu'adhin (The Caller to Prayer):
  The companions explicitly tied the public calling to prayer to safety from this terrifying day. The companion Ibn Abbas noted that those who call the Adhan out of pure devotion will be among those who stand entirely secure when the "Greatest Terror" strikes humanity.

2. Hadith Context for Verses 104–106: Folding the Heavens and a Message for Worshipers

“The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a scroll for the records...” (Quran 21:104)

This verse provides an intense cosmic visualization of the end of physical space. The Sunnah expands this imagery, detailing how Allah will hold the physical universe in His hand to demonstrate His ultimate sovereignty.

• The Visual of the Folded Earth and Heavens:
  Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
  "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will fold the heavens with His Right Hand and say: 'I am the King! Where are the tyrants? Where are the arrogant ones?' Then He will fold the earths with His Left Hand and say: 'I am the King! Where are the tyrants? Where are the arrogant ones?'"
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Tawhid, Hadith 7412) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2788).

3. Hadith Context for Verse 107: A Mercy to the Worlds

“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds (Rahmatan lil-'Alamin).” (Quran 21:107)

This is arguably the most famous verse in Surah Al-Anbya. It defines the foundational thesis of Prophet Muhammad's entire mission. The Sunnah contains dozens of moments where the Prophet ﷺ explicitly references this verse to define his personality—especially when his companions expected him to unleash destruction on his enemies.

• Sent to Save, Not to Curse:
  Abu Hurairah reported that the companions went to the Prophet ﷺ during a period of intense persecution and begged him: "O Messenger of Allah, invoke a curse against the polytheists!" The Prophet ﷺ firmly refused, directly channeling the ethos of verse 107:
  "Indeed, I was not sent as one to invoke curses; I was only sent as a mercy."
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sahih Muslim (Book of Righteousness and Virtue, Hadith 2599).

• Mercy Extending to Non-Humans:
  The Sunnah demonstrates that this mercy extended far beyond human beings, enveloping animals and the environment. In a famous narration, the Prophet ﷺ entered a garden belonging to a companion and saw a severely malnourished camel. When the camel saw the Prophet ﷺ, it began to cry, tears streaming from its eyes. The Prophet ﷺ stroked its head until it calmed down, then fiercely scolded its owner:
  "Do you not fear Allah regarding this beast which He has given into your possession? It has complained to me that you starve it and overwork it!"
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sunan Abi Dawud (Book of Jihad, Hadith 2549; authenticated by Al-Albani).

References

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

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

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

While the previous breakdown looked at the broader final themes of page 331 (specifically the grand declaration of universal mercy in verse 107), the last five verses of Surah Al-Anbya (108 through 112) focus heavily on a legal and psychological standoff.

Here, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is commanded to deliver a final, public ultimatum to the pagan elite of Mecca, leaving his ultimate legal judgment entirely in the hands of Allah.

1. Hadith Context for Verses 108–109: The Proclamation of Monotheism

“Say, ‘It is only revealed to me that your God is but one God; so will you be Muslims [submitted to Him]?’ But if they turn away, then say, ‘I have announced to you [the message] equally...’” (Quran 21:108-109)

The command to "announce equally" (adhantukum 'ala sawa') meant that the Prophet ﷺ left no secret knowledge; the warning was out in the open, exposing everyone to the same standard of accountability. The Sunnah underscores this absolute clarity of his public mission.

• Leaving the Nation on a Clear Path:
  The Prophet ﷺ mirrored the exact tone of open, unclouded warning in his final months. Irbad ibn Sariyah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
  "I have left you upon a clear white path, its night is like its day. No one strays from it after me except that he is destroyed."
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sunan Ibn Majah (The Book of the Sunnah, Hadith 43; authenticated by Al-Albani).

2. Hadith Context for Verse 110: God Knows the Hidden Thoughts

“Indeed, He knows what is declared of speech, and He knows what you conceal.” (Quran 21:110)

The pagan Quraysh used to whisper maliciously among themselves, plotting against the Prophet ﷺ while assuming their private councils were safe. The Sunnah contains multiple instances where the Prophet ﷺ was miraculously informed by Allah of these exact hidden whispers, completely shocking his opponents.

• The Plot of Safwan and Umayr:
  In a prominent historical account recorded in prophetic biographies (Seerah), two pagan leaders, Safwan ibn Umayyah and Umayr ibn Wahb, sat secretly by the Kaaba whispering a plot to assassinate the Prophet ﷺ in Medina. When Umayr later traveled to Medina under a false pretext, the Prophet ﷺ looked at him and instantly exposed their exact, word-for-word hidden conversation. Umayr was so stunned by this realization of verse 110 that he immediately declared his conversion to Islam.
  Source: Recorded by Imam Ibn Kathir in Al-Sira al-Nabawiyya and Imam Al-Tabarani in Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir; graded as reliable in historical context.

3. Hadith Context for Verses 111–112: The Closing Judgment

“And I know not; perhaps it is a trial for you and enjoyment for a time.” (Quran 21:111)

“He [the Prophet] said, ‘My Lord, judge [between us] in truth. And our Lord is the Most Merciful, the one whose help is sought against that which you describe.’” (Quran 21:112)

The chapter closes with the Prophet ﷺ surrendering the timeline of justice to Allah. The words "Our Lord is the Most Merciful, the one whose help is sought" (Wa Rabbuna-Rahmanu al-Musta'anu) became a profound spiritual formula used across the Sunnah whenever a believer faced severe slander or public opposition.

• Aysha’s Reliance on this Prophetic Formula:
  When the Prophet's wife, Aysha, was falsely slandered by political hypocrites in Medina during the infamous Incident of the Slander (Al-Ifk), she wept for days. When asked to defend herself, she turned to the exact theological language that closes Surah Al-Anbya. She narrated:
  "I found myself unable to say anything except the words of the father of Joseph [Jacob]: 'So beautiful patience is fit for me, and it is Allah whose help is sought against that which you describe' (Wallahu al-musta'anu 'ala ma tasifun)."
  Source: Authentic (Sahih), Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Prophetic Commentary, Hadith 4750) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2770).

References

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

• Al-Tabarani, S. A. (d. 971). Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir.

• Ibn Kathir, I. O. (d. 1373). Al-Sira al-Nabawiyya (The Life of the Prophet).

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

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