493 Page Notes

43 Surah Az-Zukhruf (continued)

Page 493 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 493 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Surah Az-Zukhruf, verses 48 through 60, details the historical pattern of rebellion against the messengers of God, specifically focusing on the story of Moses and Pharaoh, and concludes with a refutation of the polytheists' arguments regarding Jesus (son of Mary).

While there is no specific "occasion of revelation" (asbab al-nuzul) for this entire block of verses, these passages are rooted in the established history of the prophets and are supported by several thematic Hadith.

Key Themes and Relevant Traditions

1. The Pattern of Rejection (Verses 48–56)

These verses recount how Pharaoh and his people were shown miraculous signs one after another, yet every time they promised to believe if the torment was removed, they broke their covenant.

• Theological Connection: This is a recurring Quranic theme (also found in 7:133–135) illustrating the hardening of hearts among those who prioritize power over truth. The Prophet Muhammad frequently taught about the importance of keeping covenants and the grave danger of hypocrisy (nifaq), which is defined in the Sunnah by three traits, one of which is: "When he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous" (Sahih al-Bukhari 33; Sahih Muslim 59).

2. The Argument Regarding Jesus (Verses 57–59)

When the Quranic narrative shifts to the example of Jesus as a servant of Allah, the Meccan polytheists mocked the message, asking, "Are our gods better, or is he?" (v. 58). They used Jesus as a debating point to suggest that if they worshipped angels or idols, it was no different from Christians worshipping Jesus. The Quran clarifies that Jesus was merely a servant favored by God.

• Refutation of Exaggeration: The Prophet Muhammad cautioned his followers against the very error the Christians fell into regarding Jesus. He stated:
  "Do not exaggerate about me as the Christians exaggerated about the son of Mary. I am only a slave, so say: 'The slave of Allah and His Messenger'." (Sahih al-Bukhari 3445).

• The Middle Path: The Sunnah teaches the moderate view of Jesus (as a Prophet and messenger) to counter both those who reject him and those who deify him.

3. Power of God to Replace Nations (Verse 60)

The verse "Had We willed, We could have made of you angels succeeding one another on the earth" serves as a reminder of human insignificance and the ease with which Allah can replace one nation with another if they prove unworthy of their trust.

• Sunnah Context: The Prophet frequently reminded his companions that their status was not guaranteed by lineage or power, but by faith and action. In the Hadith of the Prophet's sermon at Arafat, he emphasized that "an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab... except by piety and good action" (Musnad Ahmad 23489).

Summary for Study

• Verses 48–56: Focus on the character of Pharaoh, whose arrogance led to his downfall. This serves as a warning against Takthib (denying the truth after seeing clear signs).

• Verses 57–59: Address the Jidal (argumentative nature) of the disbelievers. The Sunnah provides the balanced view: honoring Jesus as a servant and messenger, while rejecting the extremes of both denial and deification.

Recommended Classical Commentary:

For a comprehensive breakdown of the linguistic and historical context of these verses, Tafsir Ibn Kathir is the standard source. It cross-references the story of Moses (as mentioned in verses 48–56) with other parts of the Quran to show that these events were constant warnings to the Quraysh leaders who were mocking the Prophet Muhammad.

Page 493 of the Holy Quran contains Surah Az-Zukhruf (Chapter 43), Verses 48 through 60. This section concludes the narrative of Prophet Musa (Moses) and Pharaoh, details the stubbornness of the Quraysh polytheists, and transitions into a critical discussion regarding Prophet Isa (Jesus) and his status in Islam.

Classical Tafsir (such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi) connects several authentic Hadiths and principles of the Sunnah to these specific verses:

1. Pharaoh’s Broken Promises and Divine Punishment (Verses 48–50)

“And We showed them not a sign but it was greater than its sister, and We seized them with affliction that perhaps they might return [to faith]. And they said [to Moses], 'O magician, invoke for us your Lord by what He has promised you. Indeed, we will be guided.' But when We removed from them the affliction, at once they broke their word.”

The Sunnah of Turning to Allah During Calamities

When Pharaoh's people faced plagues (the signs), they begged Musa to supplicate to Allah to lift the torment, promising to believe, only to break their oaths immediately after relief came.

In contrast to this hypocritical behavior, the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) establishes that a believer must sincerely and permanently turn to Allah during cosmic or environmental afflictions (like eclipses, droughts, or severe storms), rather than treating relief as a pass to return to heedlessness.

• For example, during a solar eclipse, the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed the prolonged Kusoof prayer and said: "These signs which Allah sends do not occur because of the life or death of anyone, but Allah frightens His servants with them. So when you see anything of that, hasten to remember Him, supplicate to Him and ask for His forgiveness." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1059)

2. The Mockery of the Prophet's Status (Verses 51–53)

“And Pharaoh called out among his people; he said, 'O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see? Or am I [not] better than this one [Moses] who is insignificant and is hardly able to express himself clearly? Then why have there not been placed upon him bracelets of gold or come with him the angels in conjunction?'”

The Prophetic Warning Against Pride (Kibr)

Pharaoh judged Musa based entirely on material wealth, physical perfection, and social status. This verse serves as a direct warning against arrogance and classism.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly defined this Pharaonic mindset in the Sunnah:

"He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance will not enter Paradise." A man said: "Virtually every man likes to have beautiful clothes and shoes." The Prophet replied: "Indeed, Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance is defying the truth and despising people (looking down on them)." (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 164)

3. The Quraysh’s Argument Regarding Idols and Prophet Isa (Verses 57–58)

“And when the son of Mary was presented as an example, immediately your people turned away from it in laughter. And they said, 'Are our gods better, or is he?' They did not present the comparison except for [mere] argument. Nay, they are a people prone to dispute.”

The Context of Revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul)

A well-documented historical incident in the Sunnah and early biographies (Seerah) provides the direct context for these verses.

When Verse 98 of Surah Al-Anbiya was revealed ("Indeed, you [disbelievers] and what you worship other than Allah are the firewood of Hell..."), a clever polytheist named Ibn al-Ziba'ra argued with the Prophet (ﷺ). He said: "If everything worshipped besides Allah is in the Fire, then Christians worship Jesus, and the Jews worship Uzair, and others worship the angels. Are they in the fire too?"

The Quraysh laughed and cheered at this supposed logical trap. Allah then revealed Verses 57–58 of Surah Az-Zukhruf to correct them, pointing out that they only raised the example of Jesus to argue in bad faith, knowing full well that Jesus never commanded anyone to worship him. (Recorded in Tafsir Ibn Kathir; Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 2546)

4. The True Status of Prophet Isa (Verses 59–60)

“Jesus was not but a servant upon whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.”

The Sunnah on the Moderation of Jesus’ Status

Verse 59 explicitly establishes that Isa (Jesus) is a honored servant ('Abd) of Allah, countering both the Christian deification of him and the Jewish rejection of him. The Sunnah strictly reinforces this exact theology.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising the son of Mary, for I am only a servant. So, call me the servant of Allah and His Messenger." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3445)

Furthermore, the Sunnah defines belief in this specific verse as a requirement for salvation:

"Whoever testifies that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone... and that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger, and that Jesus is Allah's slave and His Messenger and His Word which He bestowed on Mary and a spirit created by Him... Allah will admit him into Paradise with the deeds he has done." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3435)