365 Page Notes

25 Surah Al-Furqan (continued)

Page 365 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 365 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Surah Al-Furqan, verses 56 through 67, marks a significant transition in the Surah. Verses 56–62 focus on the role of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a warner and the absolute power of Allah, while verses 63–67 begin the famous description of the ‘Ibad al-Rahman (the Servants of the Most Merciful).

Overview of Verses 56–67

• Verses 56–60: Allah clarifies the Prophet’s mission: he is only a bearer of good tidings and a warner. He does not seek reward for his message. These verses contrast the Prophet’s sincerity with the polytheists' stubborn refusal to bow (sajdah) to the "Most Merciful" (Al-Rahman).

• Verses 61–62: These verses describe the beauty of the celestial signs—the constellations, the sun, and the moon—as manifestations of Allah’s creative mastery.

• Verses 63–67: This passage outlines the first five characteristics of the ‘Ibad al-Rahman:

  1. Humility: Walking with dignity and avoiding arrogance (v. 63).

  2. Forbearance: Responding to ignorance and insult with peace (v. 63).

  3. Night Worship: Devotion in Qiyam and Sujood (v. 64).

  4. Fear of Hell: Constantly seeking refuge from the "unrelenting" punishment of the Fire (v. 65–66).

  5. Financial Moderation: Spending neither wastefully nor stingily, but maintaining a just balance (v. 67).

Scholarly Commentary and Insights

Classical commentators, such as Ibn Kathir, provide the following insights:

• "Walking with Humility" (Verse 63): Scholars explain that this does not mean walking like a sick or weak person. Rather, it refers to a gait of dignity, calmness, and lack of pretension. It is the opposite of the haughty, swinging walk of the proud.

• "Saying Peace" (Salama) (Verse 63): Commentary highlights that this signifies a high level of self-control. When the ignorant try to provoke them, the ‘Ibad al-Rahman do not retaliate in kind. They choose to preserve their spiritual peace and the sanctity of their speech.

• Moderation in Spending (Verse 67): Ibn Kathir and other scholars emphasize that Israf (wastefulness) is not just spending too much money, but includes spending on sinful activities, even in small amounts. Conversely, Iqtar (miserliness) is failing to fulfill one's obligatory duties toward family and others. The "middle path" (Qawam) is the hallmark of the believer’s financial ethics.

Themes in Sunnah

• Moderation as Wisdom: In alignment with verse 67, the Prophet ﷺ emphasized moderation as a sign of intellectual and spiritual maturity. A reported saying states: "It is the sagacity (wisdom) of a man to adopt the middle path in his livelihood" (Reported in Musnad Ahmad; cited in Tafsir Ibn Kathir).

• The Virtue of the Middle Path: The Prophet ﷺ also taught: "The person who sticks to the middle path and moderation in spending will never become a destitute" (Reported by Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud, Musnad Ahmad). This serves as a practical application of the Quranic instruction to avoid both extravagance and extreme stinginess.

• Conduct Toward the Ignorant: The behavior described in verse 63 is the embodiment of the Prophet’s own Sunnah. He was known to be the most patient when faced with the ignorance of others, always responding with kindness and forbearance, which mirrored his duty to convey the message without "tinge of selfishness" (as noted in verse 56).