566 Page Notes

68 Surah Al-Qalam (continued)

Page 566 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

69 Surah Al-Haqqah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 566 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Surah Al-Qalam

Page 566 concludes Surah Al-Qalam with verses 43 through 52.

This closing section focuses heavily on the psychological state of those who reject the truth, a divine warning against rushing the decree of Allah, and a deep look into the intense spiritual warfare directed at the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ via the envy of his enemies.

The Sunnah and canonical Hadith literature provide profound context for these final ten verses, outlining warnings on spiritual arrogance, the status of Prophet Yunus (Jonah), and the reality of the "evil eye."

1. Verses 44–45: The Mechanism of Divine Respite (Istidraj)

"So leave Me with whoever denies this statement. We will progressively lead them to destruction from where they do not know. And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm." (Quran 68:44-45)

The Danger of Feeling Secure While Sinning

The Quran uses the phrase "Sanastadrijuhum" (We will progressively lead them to destruction). The Sunnah defines this reality—called Istidraj—as a terrifying divine law where an arrogant person is continually showered with wealth, health, and worldly success while drowning in sin, leading them into a false sense of security until justice strikes unexpectedly.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ explained this mechanism clearly: "When you see Allah granting a servant things from this world that they desire despite their sins, it is only a means of gradually leading them to destruction (Istidraj)." He then recited: "So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the gates of every [good] thing..." (Quran 7:44)

Source: Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 17311); authenticated as Sahih by Al-Albani.

2. Verses 48–50: The Command to Emulate Ultimate Patience

"Then be patient for the decision of your Lord and be not like the companion of the fish when he called out while he was distressed... Then his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous." (Quran 68:48-50)

Protecting the Status of Prophet Yunus (as)

Allah commands the Prophet ﷺ to persevere through Meccan persecution and warns him against rushing his mission like the "Companion of the Fish" (Sahib al-Hut), who was Prophet Yunus (Jonah). Out of extreme frustration with his people's stubbornness, Yunus left his city without explicit divine permission, leading to his trial inside the belly of a whale.

Because these verses contain a stern reminder to Yunus, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used the Sunnah to establish a strict boundary of respect for him, preventing Muslims from using this verse to look down upon Yunus's status.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "It is not befitting for anyone to say that I am better than Yunus bin Matta."

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 4604) and Sahih Muslim.

The Prophetic Intercession and the "Darkness"

The Hadith literature also captures the exact phrasing Yunus used when he "called out while he was distressed" (Verse 48), establishing it as a foundational supplication (Dua) for any believer facing a crisis.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The supplication of Dhun-Nun (Yunus) when he called upon Allah from the belly of the whale was: 'There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.' No Muslim ever prays to his Lord with these words concerning any problem, except that Allah answers his prayer."

Source: Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 3505); graded Sahih.

3. Verses 51–52: The Piercing Gaze of Envy and the Evil Eye

"And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message, and they say, 'Indeed, he is mad.' But it is not except a reminder to the worlds." (Quran 68:51-52)

The Visual Warfare of the Quraysh

Verse 51 describes the physical looks the elite of Mecca gave the Prophet ﷺ when he recited the Quran—gazes so heavy with venom, jealousy, and anger that they "almost made him slip."

Classical commentators like Al-Baghawi and Ibn Kathir record that the Quraysh explicitly sought out individuals from specialized Arab tribes who were infamous for casting the Evil Eye (Al-Ayn) to target the Prophet ﷺ physically. Allah neutralized their envy by protecting him and exposing their inner rage.

The Sunnah Affirmation of the Evil Eye

The Prophet ﷺ used the revelation of this verse to explicitly validate the metaphysical reality of Al-Ayn, shifting it from an ancient superstition into a defined spiritual reality that requires divine protection.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The evil eye is a reality. If there were anything that could race ahead of the divine decree (Qadar), it would be the evil eye."

Source: Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2188).

The Ruqyah (Spiritual Healing) of Al-Hasan al-Basri: The early, master successor (Tabi'i) Al-Hasan al-Basri stated that verses 51 and 52 of Surah Al-Qalam are the prime Quranic cure for envy. He instructed that if a person is afflicted by the evil eye, reciting these specific lines over them dispels the ill effects by Allah's leave.

Surah Al-Haqqah

Page 566 of the Quran hosts a powerful scriptural transition. The page finishes the final verses of Surah Al-Qalam and immediately introduces the opening of Surah Al-Haqqah (Chapter 69), verses 1 through 8.

Surah Al-Haqqah is a Meccan surah named after one of the descriptions of the Day of Judgment: Al-Haqqah—The Inevitable Reality, or the Absolute Truth that lays bare all human pretense. To illustrate what happens to civilizations that live in denial of this reality, these opening verses focus on the sudden, terrifying annihilation of two ancient superpower nations: Thamud and 'Ad.

The Sunnah and canonical Hadith literature provide critical commentary on the cosmic weather, prophetic warnings, and physical descriptions surrounding these historical punishments.

1. Verses 1–3: The Meaning of Al-Haqqah and Al-Qari'ah

"The Inevitable Reality! What is the Inevitable Reality? And what can make you know what is the Inevitable Reality? Thamud and 'Ad denied the Striking Calamity (Al-Qari'ah)." (Quran 69:1-4)

How the Quran Captivated Early Listeners

The linguistic weight of these opening verses was so intense that it famously served as the catalyst for the conversion of Umar ibn al-Khattab before he accepted Islam. He tracked the Prophet ﷺ to the Kaaba one night and listened to him recite these exact words in prayer.

Umar ibn al-Khattab narrated: "Before embracing Islam, I went out to track the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and found that he had beaten me to the Masjid al-Haram. I stood behind him while he began reciting Surah Al-Haqqah. I was amazed by the composition and rhythm of the Quran..."

(Umar goes on to describe how the subsequent verses accurately anticipated his internal thoughts, shattering his resistance and embedding Islam deeply into his heart).

Source: Recorded by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad (Hadith 107); Ibn Kathir highlighted this text in his commentary on the Surah's revelation context.

2. Verse 5: The Destruction of Thamud by At-Taghiyah

"As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the overpowering blast (At-Taghiyah)." (Quran 69:5)

The Prophet’s Protocol When Passing the Ruins of Thamud

The people of Thamud (the nation of Prophet Salih) were carved into the rocky mountains of Al-Hijr (Madain Salih). They mockingly demanded their punishment, which arrived as At-Taghiyah—a singular, terrifying sonic shout accompanied by an earthquake that froze them dead in their tracks.

The Sunnah establishes that the ruins of these punished nations are not tourist destinations or places of leisure; they are sober physical reminders of divine justice.

Abdullah ibn Umar narrated: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed by Al-Hijr (the dwellings of Thamud) with his companions during the expedition to Tabuk, he commanded them: "Do not enter the dwellings of these people who were punished unless you are weeping. If you are not weeping, then do not enter upon them, lest you be afflicted by what afflicted them." He then covered his head with his cloak and hurried his mount until he crossed the valley.

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 4702) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2980).

3. Verses 6–8: The Cosmic Storm That Uprooted the Nation of 'Ad

"And as for 'Ad, they were destroyed by a furious, roaring wind (Sarsar 'Atiyah), which Allah imposed on them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so you could see the people therein fallen toppled as if they were hollow trunks of date palms. Then do you see of them any remains?" (Quran 69:6-8)

The East Wind vs. The West Wind (Sarsar)

The nation of 'Ad (the people of Prophet Hud) were giants of physical stature and architectural strength. God destroyed them using a freezing, violent gale called Sarsar 'Atiyah—a wind unleashed completely bare of mercy or blessing.

In the Sunnah, the Prophet ﷺ explicitly identified the precise spiritual and geographic classification of the dynamic weather systems used to execute this decree.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "I have been granted victory by the Eastern wind (As-Saba), while the people of 'Ad were destroyed by the violent Western wind (Ad-Dabur)."

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 1035) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 900).

  [ As-Saba: East Wind ]  ───►  Granted as assistance to Muhammad ﷺ

   [ Ad-Dabur: West Wind ] ───►  Dispatched as "Sarsar 'Atiyah" to dismantle 'Ad

The Prophet's Deep Anxiety During Storms

Because verses 6 through 8 describe a catastrophic event that began looking like an ordinary storm before turning into an eight-day massacre, the Prophet ﷺ would experience visible anxiety whenever high winds or dark clouds gathered over Medina, fearing it might carry a similar decree.

Aisha (ra), the wife of the Prophet, narrated: "Whenever the wind blew fiercely or a dense cloud appeared in the sky, anxiety could be seen on the face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he would pace back and forth. I said to him: 'O Messenger of Allah, I see that when the people see a cloud they rejoice, hoping it brings rain, but I see discomfort on your face when you look at it.'

He ﷺ replied: 'O Aisha! What can guarantee me that there is no punishment within it? A past nation was punished by the wind! Indeed, when that nation saw the punishment approaching, they misread it and said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" (Quran 46:24).'"

Source: Sahih Muslim (Hadith 899) and Sahih al-Bukhari.