371 Page Notes

26 Surah Ash-Shuara (continued)

Page 371 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 371 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 371 of the Quran covers Surah As-Shu'ara (26:84–111). This section transitions from the concluding supplications of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) regarding the Day of Judgment to the historical narrative of Prophet Nuh (Noah) and the stubborn resistance he faced from the elite of his nation.

The following are the Hadiths and Sunnah texts directly corresponding to the themes, events, and explicit phrasing found in these verses.

1. Hadiths Related to Verses 84–89: Ibrahim’s Supplications and the Heart

"And grant me a reputation of honor among later generations. And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of Pleasure. And forgive my father. Indeed, he was of those astray. And do not disgrace me on the Day they are [all] resurrected—The Day when there will not benefit wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart." (Quran, 26:84–89)

Ibrahim’s Supplication for His Father on the Day of Judgment

• The Hadith: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, Ibrahim will meet his father Azar whose face will be dark and covered with dust. Ibrahim will say to him, 'Did I not tell you not to disobey me?' His father will reply, 'Today I will not disobey you.' Ibrahim will then say, 'O Lord! You promised me that You would not disgrace me on the Day of Resurrection; and what will be more disgraceful to me than degrading my father?' Allah will say, 'I have forbidden Paradise for the disbelievers.' Then Ibrahim will be told, 'Look! What is underneath your feet?' He will look and there he will see a Dhabh (an animal) splattered with blood, and it will be caught by its legs and thrown into the Fire."

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 60, Hadith 70.

The Definition of a "Sound Heart" (Qalb Salim)

• The Hadith: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Beware, in the body there is a piece of flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt, and behold, it is the heart."

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 2, Hadith 45; Sahih Muslim, Book 22, Hadith 107.

2. Hadiths Related to Verses 90–102: The Regret of the Misled in Hell

"And Paradise will be brought near that Day to the righteous... and they will say while they dispute therein: 'By Allah, we were indeed in evident error when we equated you with the Lord of the worlds. And no one misguided us except the criminals. So now we have no intercessors, and not a devoted friend. Then if we only had another turn [on earth] so we could be among the believers.'" (Quran, 26:90–102)

The Futility of Ransom and the Desire to Return

• The Hadith: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Allah will say to that person of the Fire who will have the least punishment, 'If you had possessed the whole world and everything in it, would you have ransomed yourself with it?' He will say, 'Yes.' Allah will say, 'While you were in the backbone of Adam, I asked you for much less than this: not to associate partners with Me in worship, but you insisted on worshipping others besides Me.'"

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 60, Hadith 24; Sahih Muslim, Book 50, Hadith 53.

3. Hadiths Related to Verses 105–111: The Elite's Rejection of Prophet Nuh

"The people of Nuh denied the messengers. When their brother Nuh said to them, 'Will you not fear Allah?... So fear Allah and obey me.' They said, 'Shall we believe you, when the lowest [of the people] follow you?'" (Quran, 26:105–111)

The Social Status of the Followers of Prophets

The elite's objection to Nuh ("when the lowest follow you") is a recurring characteristic of the opponents of all prophets. This exact criterion was used by Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor, to verify the authenticity of Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) message during his interrogation of Abu Sufyan.

• The Hadith: Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan: "Do the nobles or the poor follow him?" Abu Sufyan replied: "It is the poor who follow him." Heraclius later concluded: "I asked you whether the nobles or the poor followed him, and you replied that it was the poor who followed him. And such are always the followers of the Apostles."

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 1, Hadith 7; Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Hadith 74.

The Status of Nuh on the Day of Judgment

• The Hadith: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Nuh and his nation will come (before Allah) on the Day of Resurrection, and Allah will ask (Nuh), 'Did you convey My Message?' He will say, 'Yes, my Lord.' Then Allah will ask his nation, 'Did Nuh convey My Message to you?' They will say, 'No warner came to us.' Allah will then ask Nuh, 'Who will bear witness for you?' Nuh will say, 'Muhammad and his followers.'"

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 60, Hadith 14.

Summary of Source Citations

• Ibrahim's Plea for His Father (Reflecting 26:86-87): Sahih al-Bukhari (60:70)

• The State of the Heart (Reflecting 26:89): Sahih al-Bukhari (2:45) / Sahih Muslim (22:107)

• The Regret of the Condemned (Reflecting 26:91-102): Sahih al-Bukhari (60:24) / Sahih Muslim (50:53)

• The Lower Social Status of Prophetic Followers (Reflecting 26:111): Sahih al-Bukhari (1:7) / Sahih Muslim (32:74)

• Nuh's Testimony to His Nation (Reflecting 26:105): Sahih al-Bukhari (60:14)

Surah Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets), verses 84–111, primarily focus on the supplications of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and the historical account of Prophet Nuh (Noah) and his people. While there are no specific Hadith that exclusively "explain" or were revealed for these specific verses in the manner of a Sabab al-Nuzul (occasion of revelation), these passages are deeply interconnected with the broader prophetic tradition found in the Sunnah.

Overview of the Verses

• Verses 84–89: These contain the du'a (supplication) of Prophet Ibrahim, asking for wisdom, to be joined with the righteous, a good reputation among posterity, and to be among the inheritors of the Garden of Pleasure.

• Verses 105–111: These verses recount the story of Prophet Nuh, specifically focusing on the rejection of his message by his people, who argued that they should not believe in him because only the "lowest" (the poor or marginalized) followed him.

Thematic Connections to Sunnah and Hadith

1. Prophet Ibrahim’s Supplication (Verses 84–89)

Prophet Ibrahim’s prayer in these verses is regarded as a model for believers. While specific Hadith do not detail the revelation of these exact verses, the themes they contain are echoed in the Prophet Muhammad's own practices:

• Seeking Knowledge and Righteousness: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) frequently supplicated for guidance and to be joined with the righteous. A well-known Hadith records him praying: "O Allah, grant me the company of the Highest Assembly (Al-Rafiq Al-A'la)" (Sahih al-Bukhari). This mirrors Ibrahim’s plea in verse 84 to "join me with the righteous."

• Legacy and Remembrance: Ibrahim asks for "a reputation of honor among later generations" (verse 84). The Prophet Muhammad often emphasized the importance of leaving behind a good legacy, famously stating: "When a person dies, all their deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a pious child who prays for them" (Tirmidhi, no. 1376). This aligns with the Quranic concept of ensuring one's impact continues through righteous successors and good deeds.

2. The Account of Prophet Nuh (Verses 105–111)

These verses highlight a classic struggle in prophetic history: the elites rejecting the message because of the socio-economic status of the believers.

• The Rejection by the Elite: The response of Nuh’s people—claiming they would not follow him because his followers were the "lowest of the people"—is a recurring theme in the life of the Prophet Muhammad as well. In the Sirah (biographies of the Prophet), the Quraish often mocked the Prophet for having followers like Bilal ibn Rabah, Suhayb al-Rumi, and other poor or enslaved individuals.

• Sunnah Perspective on Equality: The Quranic narrative in Ash-Shu'ara serves as a historical lesson that the truth is not determined by social status. The Prophet Muhammad reinforced this through his Sunnah, famously declaring in his Farewell Sermon: "An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black, nor a black has any superiority over a white, except by piety and good action" (Musnad Ahmad).

Summary of References

For further study, you can consult classical Tafsir works which provide the context and scholarly discussions regarding these verses:

• Tafsir Ibn Kathir: Provides extensive narrations (Athar) regarding the stories of the prophets mentioned in Ash-Shu'ara.

• Sahih al-Bukhari & Tirmidhi: For the foundational Hadith regarding the supplications of the Prophet and the importance of righteousness and social equality, which ground the moral lessons of these verses.

References

• Al-Tirmidhi. (n.d.). Jami' at-Tirmidhi (Hadith no. 1376).

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

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