355 Page Notes

24 Surah An-Nur (continued)

Page 355 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 355 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 355 of the standard Uthmani codex is a stunning scriptural expanse that masterfully contrasts spiritual light with total psychological darkness. It encompasses Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24), verses 37 through 43.

The page opens by continuing the description of the houses of Allah mentioned on the previous page, detailing the remarkable character of the believers who maintain them (Verses 37–38). It then drops into two of the most visually breathtaking, chilling parables in the entire Quran to describe the works of the disbelievers: the parable of the desert mirage (Verse 39) and the parable of the deep ocean darkness (Verse 40). Finally, the text pivots back to cosmic harmony, showing the birds in flight making praise, and detailing how Allah commands the physics of clouds, rain, and lightning (Verses 41–43).

The Sunnah anchors these metaphors and descriptions to specific prophetic descriptions of human nature and character.

1. Hadiths Related to Verses 37–38: The True Masters of the Marketplace

Allah describes the elite elite among the believers who populate His mosques:

"[Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day in which hearts and eyes will flip [from horror]" (Quran 24:37).

Keeping the Heart Anchored Outside the Market

The Sunnah actively warns that the marketplace is inherently filled with greed, deception, and distraction. Verse 37 praises the specific companions who could navigate this space without losing their spiritual compass.

• The Worst of Places: Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The parts of the land most beloved to Allah are its mosques, and the parts most hated by Allah are its marketplaces."

• The Character of the Companions: Classical commentators like At-Tabari and Ibn Kathir record that the early generations explicitly lived this verse. Ibn Umar used to be in the market when the Adhan (call to prayer) was announced. He witnessed the shopkeepers instantly drop their scales, lock their doors, and walk to the mosque. He remarked: "It was regarding them that the verse was revealed: 'Men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts...'"

Source Citations:

• Sahih Muslim: Book 5, Hadith 360 (Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer).

• Tafsir At-Tabari / Tafsir Ibn Kathir: Authentic local transmissions tracking the observations of Ibn Umar and Ibn Mas'ud regarding the merchants of Madinah.

2. Hadiths Related to Verse 39: The Parable of the Desert Mirage

For those who lack faith, their good deeds are laid out in a tragic optical illusion:

"But those who disbelieved - their deeds are like a mirage (Sarab) in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allah before him, Who will pay him in full his due..." (Quran 24:39).

Verse 39 describes the devastation of a disbeliever on Judgement Day, realizing their worldly actions were as completely empty as a desert mirage.. Source: georgeclerk / Getty Images

The Visual Realization of the Illusion on Judgment Day

The Prophet ﷺ gave an incredibly vivid, lengthy description of the Day of Judgment that acts as a direct narrative companion to the imagery of Verse 39.

• The Thirsty Gathering: Abu Sa'id al-Khudri narrated a long Hadith about the sorting of nations in the afterlife. The Prophet ﷺ explained that those who worshipped false entities or completely rejected faith will be gathered, and it will be said to them, "What is it that you want?" They will reply, "O our Lord! We are thirsty, so give us water!"

• The Descent into the Reality: The Prophet ﷺ continued: "Then it will be pointed out to them: 'Will you not go there?' and they will be driven toward the Hellfire, which will appear to them shimmering like a mirage (Sarab) as its various layers consume one another. They will race toward it thinking it is water, only to fall headfirst into it." It is the exact manifestation of expecting refreshment and finding complete destruction.

Source Citations:

• Sahih al-Bukhari: Book 97, Hadith 7439 (Book of Monotheism / Tawhid).

• Sahih Muslim: Book 1, Hadith 352 (Book of Faith).

3. Hadiths Related to Verse 40: The Layered Ocean Darkness

The text transitions from the blinding heat of the desert to the crushing cold of the deep sea to describe compound ignorance:

"Or [they are] like darknesses within a deep sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds - darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he for whom Allah has not granted light - for him there is no light." (Quran 24:40).

Verse 40 illustrates the psychological state of a hardened heart—trapped in layers of compounding spiritual darkness beneath waves and storm clouds.. Source: SandyHappy / Getty Images

The Corrupt Heart That Belongs to Darkness

The Sunnah explains the mechanical spiritual process that creates the "layering" of darkness (Zulumat) detailed in this magnificent verse.

• The Black Stain: Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ described how a heart becomes completely blocked from light: "When a servant commits a sin, a black spot is cast into his heart. If he repents and seeks forgiveness, his heart is polished clean. But if he returns to sin, the black spots increase until they completely cover his heart."

• Scholars note that this spiritual rust (Ar-Ran) represents the inner mechanism of Verse 40, creating layers of dense blind spots where a person completely loses the ability to recognize truth, even if it is right in front of their face.

Source Citations:

• Jami` at-Tirmidhi: Hadith 3334 (Book of Prophetic Commentary). Graded Hasan-Sahih (Authentic).

• Sunan Ibn Majah: Hadith 4244.

4. Hadiths Related to Verses 41–43: Glorification of the Birds and the Physics of Rain

The page ends by shifting from human dysfunction back to the serene submission of the natural world, explicitly citing the birds and the formation of hail:

"Do you not see that Allah is exalted by whomever is within the heavens and the earth and the birds with wings outspread [in flight]? Each has known its [way of] prayer and exalting..." (Quran 24:41).

The Trust of the Flying Birds

The Prophet ﷺ loved to use the outspread wings of birds mentioned in Verse 41 as a visual lesson in how a human being should dynamically trust and rely on the provisions of Allah.

• The Model of Tawakkul: Umar ibn al-Khattab narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: "If you were to rely upon Allah with the reliance that is truly due to Him, He would certainly provide for you just as He provides for the birds: They leave their nests hungry in the morning and return with full bellies at dusk." They fly in a state of absolute, constant submission, fully aligned with the cosmic praise described on page 355.

Source Citations:

• Jami` at-Tirmidhi: Hadith 2344 (Book of Asceticism / Zuhd). Graded Sahih.

• Sunan Ibn Majah: Hadith 4164.