501 Page Notes

45 Surah Al-Jathiyah (continued)

Page 501 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 501 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Surah Al-Jathiyah (Chapter 45), verses 23–32, addresses the consequences of prioritizing selfish desires over divine guidance and provides a stern rebuttal to those who deny the Resurrection.

1. Worshipping Personal Desires (Verse 23)

The verse, "Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire?" (45:23), is central to the chapter's critique of the disbelievers.

• Sunnah Perspective: This verse is frequently interpreted as a warning against allowing one’s ego and whims to dictate moral choices. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the danger of "Hawa" (vain desire).

  • Hadith: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A wise person is he who keeps his desires under control and works for life after death; and sinful is he who runs after his desires and yet expects the best in the Hereafter" (Tirmidhi).

  • Practical Lesson: Classical scholars like Ibn Jarir al-Tabari explain that "worship" here means "obedience." When a person ignores what God has made lawful or unlawful in favor of what they personally prefer, they have essentially made their own desire their deity.

2. Denial of Resurrection and the "Crouching" (Verses 24–28)

These verses refute the claim that life is merely a biological cycle governed by "Time" (Dahr) and assert the reality of the Day of Judgment.

• Refuting Fatalism: Verse 24 critiques those who say, "Nothing destroys us except time." In the Sunnah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade the abuse of Time, explicitly stating: "Do not abuse Time, for Allah is the One who controls Time" (Sahih Muslim). This corrects the pagan belief that blind fate or time is the ultimate arbiter of human life and death.

• The Meaning of "Al-Jathiyah": The chapter takes its name, "The Crouching" or "The Kneeling," from verse 28: "And you will see every nation kneeling [in humility]." This describes the awe-inspiring scene on the Day of Judgment when all humanity will fall to their knees before the majesty of Allah to receive their records.

3. Accountability and the Record of Deeds (Verses 29–32)

These verses describe the "record of deeds" that will be presented to every soul, ensuring that no one is treated unjustly.

• The Sunnah of Accountability: The Prophet (peace be upon him) consistently taught that every person will stand alone before their Creator. He famously addressed his own relatives, saying: "O people of Quraish, buy yourselves from Allah (by doing good deeds); I cannot avail you anything against Allah" (Sahih al-Bukhari). This aligns with the Quranic theme here, which highlights that one’s salvation is earned through personal righteousness, not through group affiliation or status.

Summary of Reflections

• The Danger of Arrogance: Verse 31 highlights that those who behaved arrogantly—thinking their worldly success proved they were right—will be told that they chose to reject the truth because they were "given signs" and "denied them."

• Spiritual Blindness: The "sealing of the heart" mentioned in verse 23 is described as a consequence of choosing desire over guidance, a state the Sunnah warns against by encouraging frequent Istighfar (seeking forgiveness) and Tadabbur (reflection) on the Quran to keep the heart soft and receptive to the truth.

Page 501 of the Holy Quran contains Surah Al-Jathiyah (Chapter 45), Verses 23 through 32. This page addresses the psychology of those who take their own desires as a god, details the pagan philosophy of cosmic nihilism (materialism), and transitions into the terrifying reality of the Day of Judgment, where every nation will be seen kneeling (Jathiyah) in front of their record of deeds.

Classical Tafsir (such as Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi, and Al-Tabari) connects several foundational Hadiths and Sunnah narratives to these verses:

1. Taking Desires as a God (Verse 23)

“Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire, and Allah has knowing left him astray and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after Allah? Will you not then be reminded?”

The Sunnah on the Danger of Whims (Hawa)

This verse highlights the spiritual blindness that occurs when a person completely prioritizes their personal whims and lusts over divine commands, effectively making their desire an object of worship.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) frequently warned his companions about the destructive nature of unchecked desires, categorizing it as a hidden internal ruin. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Three things are savior habits and three are destructive habits. As for the destructive habits, they are: avarice (extreme greed) which is obeyed, desire (Hawa) which is followed, and a person being infatuated with his own opinion." (Recorded in Sunan al-Bazzar and Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat by Al-Tabarani; Authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami', Hadith 3045)

2. Rejection of the Resurrection and Insulting Time (Verse 24)

“And they say, 'There is not but our worldly life; we die and we live, and nothing destroys us except time [Ad-Dahr].' And they have of that no knowledge; they are only assuming.”

The Qudsi Hadith: "Do Not Abuse Time"

The polytheists claimed that life is purely biological and that "Time" (Ad-Dahr) is the ultimate force that ages and kills them, completely denying the role of Allah as the Giver of life and death.

To directly refute this specific pagan philosophy, the Prophet (ﷺ) delivered a famous Hadith Qudsi (divine revelation narrated in the Prophet's words) that explicitly references the language used in this verse. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Allah the Almighty said: 'The son of Adam wrongs Me when he abuses Time (Ad-Dahr), for I am Time. In My Hand is the power; I cause the alternation of night and day.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4826; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2246)

Note: Commentators clarify that "I am Time" means Allah is the Creator and controller of time, so when people curse time for their misfortunes or deaths, they are effectively insulting the Divine Decree.

3. Every Nation Kneeling on Judgment Day (Verse 28)

“And you will see every nation kneeling [Jathiyah] [from fear]. Every nation will be called to its record, [and it will be said], 'Today you will be requited for what you used to do.'”

The Terror of the Gathering (Al-Hashr)

This verse gives the Surah its name, Al-Jathiyah (The Kneeling). It depicts the absolute awe and terror of the Resurrection, where even the most arrogant nations will fall to their knees in desperation before Allah.

The Sunnah provides a stark visual account of this state of humility. In a long, foundational Hadith about the Intercession (Shafa'ah), Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) described the psychological weight of that day:

"Allah will gather the first and the last on one plateau, so that an observer can see all of them and a caller can make them hear. The sun will come close to them, and the people will suffer such distress and trouble as they will not be able to bear or endure..." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4712)

A narration by Salman al-Farsi further contextualizes the kneeling posture, stating that on that Day, the sun will be brought so close that people will melt, and everyone—including the Prophets—will fall to their knees crying out, "O Lord, grant me safety, grant me safety!" (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

4. The Infallible Divine Record (Verse 29)

“This, Our record, speaks against you in truth. Indeed, We were having transcribed whatever you used to do.”

The Ledger of Deeds

Verse 29 states that the angels have perfectly transcribed (Nastansikh) every single action, word, and thought a person committed in the worldly life. The Sunnah describes the physical presentation of these records on the Day of Judgment.

Aisha reported that she asked the Prophet (ﷺ), "Will you remember your families on the Day of Resurrection?" He replied that there are three terrifying places where no one will remember anyone else, and one of them is the moment of this verse:

"...And when the records of deeds are flown around (and distributed), until a person sees whether his book will land in his right hand or in his left hand." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 4755; Authenticated by Al-Albani)