449 Page Notes

37 Surah As-Saffat (continued)

Page 449 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 449 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 449 of the Qur'an contains Surah As-Saffat (Chapter 37), verses 77 through 102. This page is deeply historical and emotional, transitioning from the legacy of Prophet Nuh (Noah) to the foundational trials of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). It culminates in the famous, heart-wrenching narrative where Ibrahim receives a vision to sacrifice his beloved, long-awaited son, who patiently accepts the divine command.

Classical works of Tafsir (including Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi, and Al-Tabari) connect these verses to several highly significant Hadiths and foundational practices of the Sunnah:

1. Verses 77–82: The Lineage of Nuh and the Peace Upon Ibrahim

"And We made his [Nuh's] offspring the survivors. And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations: 'Peace upon Nuh among the worlds.' ... Then We drowned the others. And indeed, among his kind was Ibrahim." (Surah As-Saffat 37:77-83)

Relevant Hadith & Sunnah:

• Nuh as the Second Father of Humanity: Verse 77 states that Nuh's offspring were the sole survivors of the great flood. The Sunnah directly identifies his sons as the foundational blocks of post-flood global demographics.
  Musnad Ahmad (20149) & Sunan al-Tirmidhi (3230): The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explained this verse by stating: "Sam (Shem) is the father of the Arabs [and Byzantines/Hamites]; Ham is the father of the Ethiopians [and Africans]; and Yafith (Japheth) is the father of the Turks [and Eurasians]."

• The Spiritual Bond Between Prophets: Verse 83 links Ibrahim to the structural methodology (Shi'ah) of Nuh. The Prophet ﷺ heavily reinforced this absolute unity of purpose among the messengers:
  Sahih al-Bukhari (3443) & Sahih Muslim (2365): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The Prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one."

2. Verses 88–90: Ibrahim’s Star Excision and His Defensive Speech

"And he cast a look at the stars and said, 'Indeed, I am [about to be] ill.' So they turned away from him, departing." (Surah As-Saffat 37:88-90)

To escape participating in a pagan festival and remain behind to destroy their idols, Ibrahim looked at the stars and made a defensive, ambiguous statement (Tawriyah), pretending an illness was oncoming.

Relevant Hadith & Sunnah:

• The Three Ambiguous Statements: The Sunnah explicitly addresses the phrasing used by Ibrahim in this specific passage, clarifying that these were strategic maneuvers for the sake of monotheism, rather than malicious lies.
  Sahih al-Bukhari (3356) & Sahih Muslim (2371): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Prophet Ibrahim never told a lie except on three occasions, two of which were for the sake of Allah. One was his saying, 'Indeed, I am ill' [verse 89]; another was his saying [when the idols were smashed], 'Nay, this biggest one of them did it'; and the third was regarding [his wife] Sarah..."

3. Verses 99–102: The Birth and Sacrificial Trial of the Son

"And [Ibrahim] said, 'Indeed, I am going to my Lord; He will guide me. My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous.' So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy. And when he reached with him the age of exertion, he said, 'O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.' He said, 'O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.'" (Surah As-Saffat 37:99-102)

This core passage forms the theological bedrock for one of Islam’s most prominent annual acts of worship (Ibadah).

Relevant Hadith & Sunnah:

• The Prophetic Dreams are Revelation: Ibrahim acted swiftly on a dream. The Sunnah confirms that the dreams of the chosen Messengers carry the absolute weight of divine law.
  Sahih al-Bukhari (138): The Prophet's companion Abdullah ibn Abbas explicitly stated while explaining this passage: "The dreams of the Prophets are divine revelation (Wahy)."

• The Identity of the Sacrificed Son: While early historical debates occurred, the Sunnah of the Companions heavily establishes that the son who submitted to the knife in verse 102 was Isma'il (Ishmael), the firstborn, rather than Ishaq (Isaac).
  Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Athar of Ibn Abbas & Ibn Umar): When the Companions asked the Prophet ﷺ about his lineage, he occasionally referred to himself as "The son of the two sacrificed ones" (Ibn al-Dhabihayn), referencing his biological father Abdullah (who was almost sacrificed in a vow) and his paternal ancestor Isma'il, whose submissive response is immortalized in verse 102.

• The Legacy of Eid al-Adha (Udhiyah): The absolute obedience shown by Ibrahim and Isma'il on this page became a permanent, compulsory practice for Muslims during the annual Hajj pilgrimage and Eid festivities.
  Sunan Abi Dawud (2788) & Sunan al-Tirmidhi (1493): The Companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what are these sacrifices (Adahi)?" The Prophet ﷺ replied: "It is the established Sunnah of your forefather Ibrahim." They asked, "What is our reward in it?" He said, "For every hair of the sacrificed animal, you receive a good deed."

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari. (Reference to Hadiths 138, 3356, 3443).

• Al-Sijistani, Abu Dawud. (n.d.). Sunan Abi Dawud. (Reference to Hadith 2788).

• Al-Tirmidhi, M. (n.d.). Sunan al-Tirmidhi. (Reference to Hadiths 1493, 3230).

• Ibn Kathir, I. (n.d.). Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim (Commentary on Surah As-Saffat 37:77-102).

• Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim. (Reference to Hadiths 2365, 2371).

• Ahmad ibn Hanbal. (n.d.). Musnad Ahmad. (Reference to Hadith 20149).

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