589 Page Notes

Surah Al-Mutafiffin (continued)

Page 589 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Surah Al-Inshiqaq

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 589 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Surah Al-Mutaffifin

Page 589 of the Quran opens by concluding the final three verses of Surah Al-Mutaffifin (Chapter 83), verses 34 through 36.

These verses mark a complete cosmic shift in justice, describing how the psychological dynamics of the worldly life are flipped on the Day of Judgment. While the wealthy elite of Makkah spent their days mocking and winking at the impoverished, marginalized early Muslims (as detailed on the previous page), Allah declares that eternity delivers a perfect reversal:

“So Today those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers, on adorned couches, observing. Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded for what they used to do?”

— Quran 83:34-36

The prophetic Sunnah and authoritative records from the Companions unpack the deep psychological satisfaction, visual reality, and theological meaning of this ultimate reversal.

1. The Opening of the False Gates of Escape

The Sunnah provides a vivid, dramatic narrative behind the laughter of the believers mentioned in verse 34. The Companion Ibn Abbas explicitly detailed the cosmic "prank" or irony that unfolds in Hellfire, which causes the believers on their heavenly couches to laugh:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas regarding these verses:

"A wall will be placed between the people of Paradise and the people of Hellfire, containing gates. A gate leading out of Hellfire will be flung open, and it will look like an exit to safety. The trapped inhabitants of Hellfire will scramble frantically toward it, swimming through the flames, desperately trying to escape.

Just as they reach the threshold to step out, the gate will be violently slammed shut in their faces. Then another gate will be opened elsewhere, and they will race toward it, only for it to slam shut again. The believers will be reclining comfortably on their adorned couches (Al-Ara'ik), watching this entire spectacle unfold, and they will laugh at the disbelievers just as the disbelievers mockingly laughed at them in the worldly life."

(Recorded in the Tafsir of Ibn Abi Hatim, Al-Qurtubi, and noted across classical Sunnah exegesis)

2. Verse 35: The True Nature of Al-Ara'ik (The Adorned Couches)

Allah describes the believers as sitting on Al-Ara'ik while they look on. The Sunnah explicitly details what these grand celestial vantage points actually look like.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

"The people of Paradise will look at the inhabitants of the highest elevated chambers above them just as you look at a brilliant, sweeping star remaining on the distant horizon in the East or the West, because of the sheer disparity in superiority between them."

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3256 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2831)

The Sunnah establishes that these couches are not just furniture; they are beautifully elevated, crystal-clear, high-altitude viewing platforms from which the righteous can comfortably observe the ultimate execution of divine justice across the cosmos.

3. Verse 36: Cosmic Irony and Retribution (Thawwab)

"Have the disbelievers been rewarded (Thawwiba) for what they used to do?" (Quran 83:36)

The final verse uses intense linguistic irony. The Arabic word Thawwab historically means to give a reward, a payout, or a bonus for a job well done. By using this specific word, Allah asks a rhetorical question: Did the disbelievers get their "bonus" for mocking the Muslims? Yes—their payout is a perfect geometric match for their earthly arrogance.

The Sunnah locks this down through the primary rule of divine recompense: Al-Jaza'u min Jins al-Amal (The punishment perfectly mirrors the exact nature of the crime).

• They caused emotional stress via mockery $\rightarrow$ they receive cosmic distress via false escape gates.

• They looked down on the Muslims $\rightarrow$ the Muslims literally look down on them from elevated thrones.

The Prophet ﷺ heavily reinforced this concept across his teachings, noting that those who act with arrogance in this world will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment the size of tiny ants, trampled under the feet of humanity, stripped of all dignity because they abused it on Earth (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2492).

Summary of Reference Sources

• The Mocking Gates of Hell (Verse 34): Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim (Hadith narratives on Surah Al-Mutaffifin) and Tafsir al-Qurtubi.

• The Elevated Chambers & Couches (Verse 35): Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of the Beginning of Creation, Hadith 3256) and Sahih Muslim (Book of Paradise, Hadith 2831).

• The Humiliation of Arrogant Mockers (Verse 36): Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Book of the Description of Judgment Day, Hadith 2492 — Graded Hasan-Sahih).

Surah Al-Inshiqaq

Page 589 of the Quran introduces Surah Al-Inshiqaq (The Splitting Asunder, Chapter 84), running from verse 1 through verse 24.

This chapter opens with the sky splitting apart and the earth throwing out its hidden contents (the dead) at the sound of its Lord’s command. It transitions into a profound legal formula detailing the two types of celestial audits: the "Easy Reckoning" for the righteous versus the devastating exposure of the wicked. It closes by tracking the human journey through sequential cosmic phases.

The prophetic Sunnah provides incredibly practical, high-yield records for this specific page.

1. Sunnah of Practice: The Physical Prostration (Sajdah al-Tilawah)

Page 589 contains a unique, active command in verse 21: “And when the Qur'an is recited to them, they do not prostrate.”

Because of this specific line, Surah Al-Inshiqaq contains an official Verse of Prostration. The Sunnah preserves exactly how firmly the Companions defended this physical practice during public prayers:

Narrated Abu Rafi':

"I prayed the Isha (night) prayer behind Abu Hurayrah. He recited: 'Idha as-sama'un-shaqqat' [Surah Al-Inshiqaq] and performed a prostration (Sajdah) right in the middle of the prayer.

I questioned him about it afterward, and Abu Hurayrah replied: 'I prostrated behind Abul-Qasim (the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) during its recitation, and I will never cease prostrating whenever I read it until the day I meet him.'"

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 766 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 578a)

2. Hadith Explanations of Specific Verses (Verses 1–24)

Verses 1–5: The Absolute Obedience of the Universe

"When the sky has split asunder and listened to its Lord and was obligated [to do so]... And has cast out what was within it and become empty..." (Quran 84:1-5)

The Prophet ﷺ noted that the phrase "listened and was obligated" (Adhinat li Rabbiha wa Huqqat) means the cosmos has zero capability to rebel against its Creator.

Regarding verse 4 ("cast out what was within it"), the Sunnah clarifies that the earth acts as a vault. On that Day, it will forcefully vomit out centuries of human remains and hidden treasures, leaving its surface completely level and vacant for the grand trial (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1013).

Verse 6: The Unavoidable Journey

"O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord with your deeds and actions, a sure returning, and you will meet [it]." (Quran 84:6)

The Sunnah preserves a profound piece of advice delivered by the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) to the Prophet ﷺ that perfectly frames this verse:

The Prophet ﷺ said that Jibril came to him and said:

"O Muhammad! Live as you wish, for verily you will die; love whomever you wish, for verily you will part from them; and do whatever deeds you wish, for verily you will meet them."

(Musnad Abi Dawud At-Tayalisi, Hadith 242 / Silsilah al-Sahihah — Graded Sahih)

Verses 7–8: The Definition of the "Easy Reckoning"

"Then as for him who will be given his Record in his right hand, he surely will receive an easy reckoning (Hisaban Yasira)." (Quran 84:7-8)

This is arguably the most famous theological discussion tied to this Surah. The Mother of the Believers, Aisha, noticed an apparent contradiction between this verse and other statements of the Prophet ﷺ, leading to a crucial clarification:

Narrated Aisha:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever is brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will surely be punished."

I said to him, "O Messenger of Allah! Does Allah not say: 'He surely will receive an easy reckoning'?"

The Prophet ﷺ replied: "That is not the actual auditing; that is merely the presentation of the ledger (Al-Ardh). For truly, anyone whose account is heavily interrogated and scrutinized down to the minute details during the Reckoning will certainly be destroyed."

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4939 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2876)

The Sunnah establishes that the "Easy Reckoning" means Allah will view a believer's faults, cover them from the public, and say, "I concealed them for you in the worldly life, and I forgive them for you today," bypassing a strict cross-examination.

Verses 10–13: The Ledger Behind the Back

"But whosoever is given his Record behind his back, he will invoke destruction..." (Quran 84:10-11)

The Sunnah notes that while the believers receive their book openly in their right hand, the corrupt try to hide their wicked history. Their left hand will be physically twisted and pinned behind their backs, forcing them to receive their ledger in total public disgrace.

Verse 13 notes: "Verily, he was among his people in joy!" The Prophet's companions remarked that this represents short-sighted earthly indulgence—they spent their worldly life laughing without any fear of accountability, which guarantees an eternity of grief.

Verse 19: Traveling Stage by Stage

"You shall certainly travel from stage to stage (Tabaqan 'an Tabaq)." (Quran 84:19)

The Companion Abdullah bin Abbas anchored the definition of Tabaqan 'an Tabaq:

Ibn Abbas stated regarding this verse:

"It means: from one state or phase to another state."

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4857)

The Sunnah explains that this tracks the entire volatile trajectory of human existence: shifting from a drop of fluid, to life in the womb, to worldly survival, to death, to the grave, to resurrection, and finally to the standing before Allah.

Summary of Reference Sources

• The Prostration Sunnah (Verse 21): Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 766) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 578a).

• Meeting Your Actions (Verse 6): Musnad At-Tayalisi (Hadith 242).

• The Scrutinized Audit vs. Easy Presentation (Verses 7-8): Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 4939) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2876).

• The Meaning of Stages (Verse 19): Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Prophetic Commentary, Hadith 4857).