437 Page Notes

35 Surah Fatir (continued)

Page 437 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 437 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 437 of the Qur'an contains Surah Fatir (Chapter 35), verses 19 through 30. This core passage uses vivid metaphors of nature and human life to distinguish between truth and falsehood, outlines the unique responsibility of scholars, and promises a never-failing reward to those who prioritize the Book of Allah.

Classic commentaries (Tafsir) by scholars like Ibn Kathir connect these verses directly to several authentic Hadiths and statements of the Prophet Muhammad's Companions (Sunnah).

1. Verses 19–22: The Metaphors of Light, Darkness, and the Dead

"Not equal are the blind and the seeing, nor are the darknesses and the light, nor are the cool shade and the heat, and not equal are the living and the dead. Indeed, Allah causes to hear whom He wills, but you cannot make hear those in the graves." (Surah Fatir 35:19-22)

Relevant Hadith & Sunnah:

• The Metaphor of Guidance and Knowledge: The Prophet ﷺ used nearly identical nature-based parables to explain how different hearts receive divine light and guidance compared to those remaining in darkness.
  Sahih al-Bukhari (79): The Prophet ﷺ said: "The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth. Some of it was fertile soil that absorbed water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance..." He contrasted this with barren land that holds no water, mirroring the spiritual blindness and deadness mentioned in verse 19.

• Can the Dead in the Graves "Hear"? Verse 22 states, "you cannot make hear those in the graves." The Companions famously cross-referenced this verse during a major event:
  Sahih al-Bukhari (3976) & Sahih Muslim (932): After the Battle of Badr, the Prophet ﷺ addressed the dead bodies of the Quraish leaders thrown into a well. Umar ibn al-Khattab asked, "O Messenger of Allah, why do you speak to bodies that have no souls?" The Prophet replied, "You do not hear what I am saying any better than they do, but they cannot reply."
  When this was later mentioned to Aisha (the Prophet's wife), she relied heavily on Surah Fatir verse 22 to clarify the theology, stating that the Prophet meant they now know the truth of what he said, because textually, "you cannot make hear those in the graves."

2. Verse 28: True Fear of Allah Belongs to the Scholars

"---And among men and moving creatures and cattle are various colors just so. Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving." (Surah Fatir 35:28)

Relevant Hadith & Sunnah:

This verse serves as a primary foundational text for the virtues of Islamic scholarship ('ilm).

• The Inheritors of the Prophets: The Sunnah defines "those who have knowledge" (Al-Ulama) as the spiritual heirs to divine message.
  Sunan Abi Dawud (3641) & Sunan al-Tirmidhi (2682): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets do not leave behind dinars or dirhams, rather they leave behind knowledge. So whoever takes it has taken an abundant share."

• Definition of Knowledge according to the Companions: The Sunnah of the Companions (Athar) explicitly defines knowledge based on this verse.
  Ibn Mas’ud (a prominent companion) famously stated regarding this verse: "Knowledge is not having a lot of narrations; knowledge is only the fear of Allah." (Recorded in Tafsir Ibn Kathir / Al-Nasiri & Al-Faili, 2024).

3. Verses 29–30: The Trade That Never Perishes

"Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend [in His cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a profit [trade] that will never perish — That He may give them in full their rewards and increase for them of His bounty..." (Surah Fatir 35:29-30)

Relevant Hadith & Sunnah:

• The People of the Qur'an: Early scholars like Qatadah used to say, "When reading this verse, this is the verse of the reciters (of the Qur'an)." The Prophet ﷺ heavily emphasized the compounding, never-perishing rewards promised here:
  Sahih al-Bukhari (5027): The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it." Sunan al-Tirmidhi (2910): The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah will have a reward, and the reward will be multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is a letter, rather Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter, and Mim is a letter." This provides the literal math behind the "increase of His bounty" promised in verse 30.

References

• Al-Nasiri, I. T. M., & Al-Faili, Z. J. M. (2024). Teachers of Nasriyah School in the Kingdom of Granada. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(6), 98–108.

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• Al-Bukhari, M. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari. (Reference to Hadiths 79, 3976, 5027).

• Al-Sijistani, Abu Dawud. (n.d.). Sunan Abi Dawud. (Reference to Hadith 3641).

• Al-Tirmidhi, M. (n.d.). Sunan al-Tirmidhi. (Reference to Hadiths 2682, 2910).

• Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim. (Reference to Hadith 932).

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