393 Page Notes

28 Surah Al-Qasas (continued)

Page 393 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 393 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 393 of the Qur'an covers verses 60 through 70 of Surah Al-Qasas. This section centers on the temporary, fleeting nature of worldly enjoyment versus the eternal permanence of the Hereafter, the regret of those who worshipped false deities, and Allah's absolute sovereignty in creation and choice.

Prophetic traditions (Hadith), theological principles (Sunnah), and classical commentaries (Tafsir) provide direct context and parallels for these verses.

1. The Fleeting Nature of the Dunya vs. The Akhirah

Verses 60 and 61 set up a stark contrast between worldly materials and eternal rewards:

"And whatever thing you have been given is an enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allah is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason?" (Qur'an 28:60)

Direct Hadith Parallels

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spent a massive portion of his teaching ministry instilling the exact psychological mindset demanded by verse 60—viewing the material world (Dunya) as a brief transit point.

• The Analogy of the Sea: The Prophet ﷺ said: "By Allah, this world in comparison with the Hereafter is nothing more than as if one of you dips his finger into the sea; let him see what it brings back." (Sahih Muslim, Book 53, Hadith 35).

• The Traveler Metaphor: Ibn Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ took hold of his shoulder and said: "Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler on a path." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 81, Hadith 5).

• The Ultimate Comparison: The Prophet ﷺ explicitly mirrored the phrasing of verse 61 (comparing a believer to a person given short-term luxury) when he said: "A paradise-goer who had the most miserable life in the world will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and dipped once into Paradise. He will be asked: 'O son of Adam, did you ever face any misery?' He will say: 'No, by Allah, my Lord!'" (Sahih Muslim, Book 52, Hadith 55).

2. The Disowning of False Leaders and Idols

Verses 62 through 64 describe the scene on the Day of Judgement where Allah calls out the polytheists, and the false leaders they followed (those upon whom the word will have come true) immediately disown their followers:

"They will say, 'Our Lord, these are the ones we led astray. We led them astray just as we went astray. We declare our innocence before You...'" (Qur'an 28:63)

Sunnah Warnings Against Misleading Leaders

In the Sunnah, the Prophet ﷺ heavily warned his companions about the spiritual danger of blindly following charismatic, misleading figures (A'immah Mudillin) who innovate falsehoods, as they will completely abandon their subordinates in the next life.

• The Hadith: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "What I fear most for my Ummah are misleading leaders." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2202; authenticated by Al-Albani).

• The Burden of Sin: The Sunnah establishes that those who initiate misguidance carry the sins of everyone who follows them, cementing the animosity described in verse 63: "Whoever calls to misguidance will have a burden of sin equal to the sins of those who followed him, without that detracting from their sins in the slightest." (Sahih Muslim, Book 47, Hadith 67).

3. Allah's Absolute Sovereignty in Choice (Ikhtiyar)

Verse 68 strikes at the core of Islamic theology regarding divine decree (Qadr) and choice:

"And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses; they have no choice. Exalted is Allah and high above whatever they associate with Him." (Qur'an 28:68)

Context of Revelation

According to Tafsir Ibn Kathir, this verse was a direct response to the elitist Makkan leaders (like Al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah) who arrogantly questioned why divine revelation was given to a poor orphan like Muhammad ﷺ rather than a wealthy chief of Makkah or Ta'if.

Sunnah Connection: Divine Selection

The Sunnah reinforces that Allah uniquely selects lineages, people, times, and places according to His perfect wisdom, completely independent of human standards of wealth or prestige.

• The Hadith on Choice: The Prophet ﷺ said: "Indeed, Allah chose Kinanah from the descendants of Ismail, and He chose Quraysh from Kinanah, and He chose the tribe of Bani Hashim from Quraysh, and He chose me from Bani Hashim." (Sahih Muslim, Book 43, Hadith 1).

• The Hadith on Prayer/Seeking Counsel (Istikharah): Because humans lack the absolute choice and knowledge outlined in verses 68 and 69 ("And your Lord knows what their breasts conceal"), the Prophet ﷺ taught his followers to submit all their personal decisions to Allah's choice via the Istikharah prayer. The standard supplication taught by the Prophet ﷺ explicitly states: "O Allah, I seek Your counsel through Your knowledge... For You decree and I do not decree, and You know and I do not know." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 19, Hadith 49).

References

• Al-Tirmidhi, M. (n.d.). Sunan al-Tirmidhi. Dar al-Ghard al-Islami.

• Ibn Kathir, A. I. (2000). Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim. Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi.

• Muslim, I. H. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim. Dar Ihya al-Kutub al-Arabiyyah.

(Note: Canonical citations from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim follow worldwide standard numbering systems).