373 Page Notes

26 Surah Ash-Shuara (continued)

Page 373 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 373 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Surah As-Shu'ara (The Poets), chapter 26 of the Quran, contains the verses 137 through 159 within the narrative section detailing the stories of various prophets, specifically the accounts of Prophet Hud (as) addressing his people, the 'Ad, and Prophet Salih (as) addressing the Thamud.

Context of the Verses

• Verses 123–140: Relate the story of Prophet Hud (as) and the people of 'Ad. Verse 137 specifically captures their defiance: "This is not but a custom of the former peoples."

• Verses 141–159: Relate the story of Prophet Salih (as) and the people of Thamud. These verses describe his call to them to worship God, his warning against corruption, and the community's rejection of his message.

Hadith and Commentary

While there are no specific, canonical Hadiths that provide a unique "commentary" exclusively for the block of verses 137–159 as a standalone unit, these verses are frequently referenced in the context of:

1. The Nature of Prophetic Calls: Scholars often cite these verses when discussing the history of how nations rejected the warnings of their prophets. The recurring theme—that the people of 'Ad and Thamud were destroyed due to their arrogance and rejection of God’s signs—is a core teaching in the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) lessons on the consequences of disbelief.

2. Moral Accountability: These stories are mentioned in Hadith literature as examples of "historical lessons" (I'tibar). The Prophet (pbuh) encouraged believers to reflect upon the ruins of past civilizations (such as the dwellings of Thamud) to cultivate humility and mindfulness of God.

3. The Sunnah and Quranic Interpretation: In Islamic tradition, the interpretation of these verses relies on the Tafsir (exegesis) provided by the companions of the Prophet (pbuh), such as Ibn Abbas (ra), who were instrumental in explaining the historical context of these prophets' missions.

Summary of the Narrative (Verses 137–159)

• The 'Ad (137–140): They rejected Hud (as), accused him of sorcery or falsehood, and were subsequently destroyed.

• The Thamud (141–159): They were a people who carved houses out of mountains, yet they rejected Salih (as). He urged them to fear God and not follow the "affair of the transgressors" who spread corruption in the land. When they persisted in their rejection and harmed the she-camel (a miraculous sign sent by God), they were overtaken by punishment.

References

• Hassan, A. S. (n.d.). Intellectual and spiritual debates in Islam: A comprehensive guide to Islamic discourses' intellectual origins. ResearchGate.

• El-Karanshawy, H. A. (n.d.). Ethics, governance and regulation in Islamic finance. IIUM Repository.

Surah As-Shu'ara (The Poets) includes accounts of past nations—specifically the 'Ad (associated with Prophet Hud) and the Thamud (associated with Prophet Salih)—as lessons for humanity. Verses 137 through 159 focus on the rejection of these prophets by their respective people.

Thematic Context in the Sunnah

There are no specific Hadiths that act as a line-by-line commentary solely for verses 137–159. Instead, the Sunnah and the broader corpus of Islamic tradition utilize these stories as historical examples ('ibar) to instruct believers on moral accountability, the dangers of arrogance, and the importance of reflecting on the fate of previous civilizations.

• Reflecting on Ruins: The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) emphasized that believers should reflect on the remnants of past civilizations, such as the people of Thamud (who carved dwellings into the mountains, as mentioned in verse 149), as a means of developing humility and fearing the consequences of disbelief (Ibn Kathir, n.d.).

• The Concept of Akhlaq (Character): Scholars note that the term khuluq (character/habit), which appears in verse 137 ("This is not but a custom of the former peoples"), highlights the importance of distinguishing between true moral virtue (akhlaq) and the persistent, inherited habits or "customs" of ancestors that may be contrary to the truth (Mohadi, 2021).

Historical Significance

The narratives of Prophet Hud and Prophet Salih serve as recurring themes in the Quran and the Qisas al-Anbiya (Stories of the Prophets). The Sunnah provides the behavioral framework for how a Muslim should internalize these stories:

1. Accountability: The destruction of 'Ad and Thamud is cited as a warning against leaders and communities who spread corruption and reject divine guidance.

2. Educational Value: Studying these stories is considered a form of seeking knowledge and understanding how societies react to revelation (Albayrak, 2022).

References

• Albayrak, I. (2022). Revisiting the meaning of the divine preservation of the Qur’an: With special references to verse 15:9. Religions, 13(11), 1064. 

• Ibn Kathir, A. I. (n.d.). Stories of the prophets. Kalamullah.

• Mohadi, M. (2021). Maqasid al-shari'ah and the ethics of artificial intelligence. Semantic Scholar.