475 Page Notes

40 Surah Ghafir (continued)

Page 475 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 475 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 475 of the Quran contains Surah Ghafir (Chapter 40), Verses 67 through 77. This specific block of verses transitions from a powerful reminder of God's absolute power in creating human life to a stern warning about the fate of those who argue against His signs, closing with a reminder to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to remain patient.

Classic works of exegesis (Tafsir)—such as Tafsir Ibn Kathir—rely heavily on the Sunnah and Hadith literature to illuminate the practical meanings and contexts of these verses.

1. The Stages of Human Creation (Verse 67)

“He is the One Who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, then He brings you forth as an infant, then He lets you reach your prime, then become old—though some of you die earlier—so that you may reach an appointed term and perhaps you will understand.”

This verse maps out the complete developmental biology and lifecycle of a human being (Houmine & Loudghiri, 2024). In explaining this verse, scholars naturally connect it to the foundational Hadith of Ibn Mas‘ud, found in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, which provides the exact timeline for these embryonic stages:

• The Prophetic Explanation: The Prophet ﷺ said: "The creation of each one of you is collected in the womb of his mother for forty days, then he becomes a clinging clot (alaqah) for a similar period, then he becomes a lump of flesh (mudghah) for a similar period..." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3208; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2643).

2. Divine Decree over Life and Death (Verse 68)

“He is the One Who gives life and causes death. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is.”

This verse grounds the biological transitions in the absolute authority of the Creator. It relates conceptually to the conclusion of the same Hadith of Ibn Mas'ud regarding the "appointed term" (ajalan musamma):

• The Sunnah Connection: Following the creation stages, the Prophet ﷺ explained that an angel is sent down to breathe the soul into the fetus and is commanded to write down four decrees: the person's provision, their lifespan (term), their deeds, and whether they will be wretched or blessed.

3. The Punishment of Shackles and Chains (Verses 70–72)

“Those who deny the Book and that with which We sent Our messengers—they are going to know, when the shackles are around their necks and the chains; they will be dragged in boiling water; then in the Fire they will be filled [with fuel].”

These graphic verses depict the terrifying punishment of the deniers in the afterlife, highlighting that their necks will be bound by collars (aghlal) and they will be dragged (yushabun) (Hakim, 2024).

• The Prophetic Descriptions: Classical commentators link this imagery to multiple Hadiths outlining the severe physical nature of Hell. For instance, the Prophet ﷺ described the intensity of this destination: "The fire which sons of Adam kindle is only one-seventieth part of the heat of Hell-Fire" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3265; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2843).

• The Mechanism of Dragging: Scholars point out that the chains are held by the angels of punishment (Zabaniyah), who drag the deniers upon their faces alternatively through agonizingly hot fluids and blistering flames (Hakim, 2024).

4. Patience in Delivering the Message (Verse 77)

“So be patient, [O Muhammad]; indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And whether We show you some of what We have promised them or cause you to die, to Us they will be returned.”

Page 475 concludes with a direct command of comfort and instruction to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to exhibit Sabr (beautiful patience) against the mockery and denial of the Quraysh tribe.

• The Prophetic Practice (Sunnah): This instruction directly shaped the Prophet's entire methodology of engagement. When he was severely persecuted, abused, and rejected at At-Ta'if, the Angel of the Mountains came to him asking for permission to crush the valley's inhabitants between two hills. True to the command of patient perseverance in Surah Ghafir, the Prophet ﷺ refused, saying: "No, rather I hope that Allah will bring from their descendants people who will worship Allah alone without associating partners with Him" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3231).

References

• Hakim, L. N. (2024). Understanding the concept of Hell in the Qur'an: Tafsir Al-Azhar perspective. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation, 5(6), 1142–1149.

• Houmine, M., & Loudghiri, K. (2024). Exploring child rights and the concept of childhood in Islam: A contemporary descriptive analysis. Khazanah Hukum, 5(2), 130–147.

(Note: Canonical Hadith texts like Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are universally cited via their standard chapter and compiled book numbers referenced above.)