398 Page Notes

29 Surah Al-Ankabut (continued)

Page 398 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 398 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 398 of the Qur'an covers verses 15 through 23 of Surah Al-'Ankabut. This section transitions from the conclusion of Prophet Nuh’s (Noah) story into an extended discourse on the mission of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). It highlights his confrontation with his idolatrous people, his logical arguments regarding the cyclical nature of divine creation, and the stark reality of human accountability in the Hereafter.

Prophetic traditions (Hadith), foundational theology (Sunnah), and classical commentaries (Tafsir) offer direct context and parallels for these verses.

1. The Rescue of Nuh and the Ark as a Sign

Verse 15 briefly concludes the narrative of Nuh:

"So We saved him and the companions of the ship, and We made it a sign for the worlds." (Qur'an 29:15)

Sunnah Connection: Commemorating the Day of Liberation

The physical preservation of Nuh's Ark and the destruction of the tyrants is highly venerated in the Sunnah. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ anchored the historical memory of this rescue directly into the annual spiritual calendar of Muslims.

• The Hadith on Ashura: When the Prophet ﷺ migrated to Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on the 10th day of Muharram (Ashura). They explained that it was the day God saved Moses from Pharaoh. In broader narrations compiled by classical experts, this day was historically recognized as the same day Nuh's Ark came to safely rest on Mount Judi. The Prophet ﷺ said: "We have more right to Moses than you," and he ordered the Muslims to fast on that day. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 30, Hadith 107; Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 2501).

2. Ibrahim’s Condemnation of Idols as "Fabrications"

In verses 16 and 17, Ibrahim delivers a scathing critique of his society’s socio-religious construct:

"You only worship besides Allah idols, and you produce a falsehood (ifkan)... So seek from Allah provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him..." (Qur'an 29:17)

Sunnah Dynamic: Eradicating "Ifk" (Fabrication)

The word ifk means a forged lie or an inverted truth. Ibrahim’s prophetic methodology (Sunnah) relied on strict, uncompromising intellectual honesty. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mirrored this exact Sunnah by continually warning his followers against inventing theological falsehoods or attributing lies to God, which is the psychological root of idolatry.

• The Hadith: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Verily, the worst of lies (ifk) is for a person to claim to have seen something with his eyes [in a dream or spiritual claim] which he did not see." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 91, Hadith 45).

3. The Re-Origination of Creation as a Proof

Verses 19 and 20 provide a scientific and logical challenge to those who doubt the Resurrection:

"Have they not seen how Allah originates creation and then repeats it? Indeed, that for Allah is easy." (Qur'an 29:19) "Say, 'Travel through the land and observe how He began creation...'" (Qur'an 29:20)

Direct Hadith Parallel: The Analogy of the Rain

The Prophet ﷺ frequently utilized the exact logical deductions demanded by verse 19 to explain how bodies will be physically reconstructed for Judgement, using the tangible, observable cycles of nature.

• The Hadith on Reconstruction: The Prophet ﷺ said: "The earth consumes all of the son of Adam except the coccyx (the tailbone); from it he was created and from it he will be reconstructed." (Sahih Muslim, Book 54, Hadith 35).

• The Rain Analogy: In another detailed tradition, the Prophet ﷺ explained how Allah repeats creation: "Then Allah will send down rain from the sky which will be like dew, and the bodies of the people will grow out of it like vegetation. Then the Trumpet will be blown a second time, and at once they will be standing, looking on." (Sahih Muslim, Book 54, Hadith 34).

4. Despairing of Allah's Mercy

Verse 23 strikes a terrifying note regarding those who flatly deny the signs of Allah and the reality of the final meeting:

"And the ones who disbelieve in the signs of Allah and the meeting with Him—those have despaired of My mercy, and they will have a painful punishment." (Qur'an 29:23)

Sunnah Warning: The Danger of Despair (Quanut)

In Islamic theology, defining a group as "having despaired of Allah's mercy" (ya'isū min rahmatī) is a definitive marker of disbelief. Conversely, the Sunnah strictly commands the believers to maintain absolute, unwavering optimism in Allah's capacity to forgive, right up until their final breath.

• The Hadith on Death: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said three days before his death: "None of you should die except while he expects nothing but good from Allah, the Exalted and Majestic." (Sahih Muslim, Book 51, Hadith 11).

• The Limitless Mercy: To prevent believers from falling into the psychological trap of despair mentioned in verse 23, the Prophet ﷺ stated in a foundational Hadith Qudsi: "When Allah decreed the Creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him on His Throne: 'Verily, My mercy prevails over My wrath.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 59, Hadith 10; Sahih Muslim, Book 50, Hadith 15).

References

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

• Ibn Hanbal, A. (2001). Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Mu'assasat al-Risalah.

• 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: Hadith indexing follows international canonical standards across all major source collections). 

(Note: "n.d." denotes classical texts where modern standardized publication years vary across publishers, cited instead by their universally recognized book and Hadith numbers).