480 Page Notes

41 Surah Fussilat (continued)

Page 480 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 480 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 480 of the Quran contains the final verses of the 24th Juz, specifically encompassing Surah Fussilat (41), Verses 30 through 38. This powerful section transitions from discussing the rewards of steadfast believers and the etiquette of calling people to Islam, to the cosmic signs of Allah and the command of prostration.

Prophet Muhammad provided deep context, clarity, and practical applications for these specific verses through his Sunnah (traditions) and Hadiths (sayings).

1. Verses 30–32: Steadfastness (Istiqlamah) and Glad Tidings

"Indeed, those who have said, 'Our Lord is Allah ' and then remained steadfast—the angels will descend upon them, saying, 'Do not fear and do not grieve but receive the good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised...'" (Quran 41:30)

The Definition of Istiqamah

The Prophet explicitly tied this verse to the core definition of faith and perseverance. In a famous narration:

• The Hadith: Sufyan ibn Abdillah reported: I said, "O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about Islam which I can ask of no one but you." The Prophet replied: "Say, 'I believe in Allah,' and then remain steadfast (Istiqlamah)." (Sahih Muslim 38).

• Connection: When the companions asked what it meant to stay upright after declaring faith—as mentioned in Verse 30—the Prophet emphasized that faith is not a momentary declaration; it requires consistent, upright action throughout life.

The Angels at the Time of Death

Classical commentators like Ibn Kathir link the angelic descent mentioned in Verse 30 ("the angels will descend upon them...") to the moments of death, the grave, and resurrection (ibn Kathir).

• The Hadith: The Prophet detailed this descent in a long narration regarding the passing of a believer: "When the believing servant is at the point of leaving this world and journeying to the next, angels with white faces descend to him from heaven, looking like the sun..." (Sunni collection: Musnad Ahmad). They comfort the soul exactly as the verse states: "Do not fear and do not grieve."

2. Verses 33–36: Excellence in Dawah and Repelling Evil with Good

"And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, 'Indeed, I am of the Muslims.' And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better..." (Quran 41:33-34)

The Prophet’s Living Character

Verse 34 commands Muslims to repel mistreatment with kindness ("Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him was enmity [will become] as though he were a devoted friend"). This verse is considered a direct description of the Prophet’s personal character (Sunnah).

• The Hadith: Aisha reported that the Prophet was never vulgar or harsh, nor would he shout in the marketplaces. She noted: "He did not repay evil with evil, but rather he would pardon and forgive." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2016).

• Application: The Prophet’s interactions with the people of Ta'if and the Quraysh during the conquest of Makkah perfectly mirror this verse—turning fierce adversaries into devoted companions.

Seeking Refuge from Satan's Whispers

Verse 36 states: "And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allah."

• The Hadith: Sulayman ibn Surad narrated that two men sneered at each other in the presence of the Prophet, and one of them became red in the face with rage. The Prophet remarked: "I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would leave him. If he said: 'I seek refuge with Allah from Satan' (A'udhu billahi minash-shaitanir-rajim), what he feels would leave him." (Sahih al-Bukhari 3282).

3. Verses 37–38: Cosmic Signs and the Prostration of Recitation (Sajdah al-Tilawah)

"And of His signs are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostate to Allah , who created them, if it should be Him that you worship." (Quran 41:37)

Prohibition of Prayer During Solar/Lunar Milestones

Verse 37 strictly prohibits worshiping or bowing down to the sun and moon. The Prophet structurally implemented this by forbidding prayer at exact times associated with sun worship.

• The Hadith: The Prophet said: "Do not intend to pray at the time of sunrise or sunset, for it rises between the two horns of Satan." (Sahih al-Bukhari 3273). He instituted the Solar Eclipse Prayer (Salat al-Kusuf) specifically to break the pagan myth that the sun eclipses for the birth or death of great figures, reinforcing that they are merely signs created by Allah.

The Prostration of Recitation (Sajdah al-Tilawah)

Verse 38 concludes with a description of the angels who never tire of worshiping Allah. Verse 38 of Surah Fussilat is an absolute station of obligatory/recommended prostration (Sajdah) during recitation.

• The Sunnah Action: Whenever the Prophet would recite this verse (or verse 37, depending on the jurisprudential school's preference for the exact stopping point), he would say "Allahu Akbar" and immediately drop into a single prostration, and the companions would prostrate with him (Sahih al-Bukhari 1075).

• The Spiritual Reward: The Prophet stated: "When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and prostrates, Satan withdraws weeping, saying: 'Woe to me! The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so Paradise is his; and I was commanded to prostrate but I refused, so the Fire is mine.'" (Sahih Muslim 81).

References

• ibn Kathir, A. I. (n.d.). Stories of the Prophets. Kalamullah.

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

• Muslim, I. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim.

• At-Tirmidhi, M. (n.d.). Jami` at-Tirmidhi.

Note: For the reference citations from standard collections (Bukhari, Muslim, etc.), the universal numbering system used by major Islamic repositories globally has been utilized.