128 Page Notes

06 Surah Al-Anam

Page 128 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

6:1

6:2

6:3

6:4

6:5

6:6

6:7

6:8

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 128 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 128 of the Quran contains the opening verses of Surah Al-An'am (The Cattle), specifically verses 1 through 8. This is a Makkan Surah that lays down the fundamental tenets of Islamic creed (Aqidah): Islamic monotheism (Tawhid), the reality of the Resurrection, and the validity of Prophethood.

Several Hadiths and Sunnah narrations—compiled by classical exegetes like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi—provide crucial context regarding the grand nature of its revelation and directly explain the theological arguments in verses 1–8.

1. Hadiths Concerning the Revelation of Surah Al-An'am

Classical traditions highlight that Surah Al-An'am is unique because it was revealed all at once rather than in scattered segments, accompanied by a massive procession of angels.

• The Grand Procession of Angels: Abdullah ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
  "Surah Al-An'am was revealed in Makkah at night, accompanied by seventy thousand angels raising their voices in glorification (Tasbih) around it." (Recorded by Al-Tabarani and cited widely in classical Tafsir).

• The Trembling of the Earth: Another narration from Asma bint Yazid states:
  "Surah Al-An'am was revealed to the Prophet all at once while I was holding the halter of his she-camel. The camel’s bones nearly broke due to the immense weight of the revelation." (Recorded in Musnad Ahmad).

2. Hadith & Contextual Clarifications for Verses 1–8

Verses 1–3: The Divine Attributes and Human Hypocrisy

"All praise is [due] to Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and made the darkness and the light..." (6:1)

• Sunnah of Pervasive Praise (Hamd): The Prophet ﷺ emphasized starting matters of significance with praise to Allah, reflecting the opening of this Surah. In a well-known Hadith in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ stated: "The statement 'Alhamdulillah' (All praise is due to Allah) fills the scale of good deeds."

• Knowledge of the Unseen (Verse 3): Verse 3 states, "And He is Allah, [the only deity] in the heavens and the earth. He knows your secret and what you make public..." In Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet ﷺ detailed the "Keys of the Unseen" (Mafatih al-Ghayb), reinforcing that Allah’s absolute knowledge encompasses what the womb holds, what happens tomorrow, and what is hidden in human hearts—directly matching the theme of this verse.

Verses 4–7: Rejection of the Truth and Demands for Physical Proof

"And there comes not to them any sign from the signs of their Lord but they are from it turning away." (6:4) "And even if We had sent down to you a book written on paper and they touched it with their hands, the disbelievers would say, 'This is not but obvious magic.'" (6:7)

• The Context of Obstinacy (Asbab al-Nuzul): According to historical traditions (Sirah) and Ibn Abbas, leaders of the Quraysh (including Al-Nadr ibn al-Harith and Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah) mockingly challenged the Prophet ﷺ. They demanded that he bring down a physical, written book from heaven guarded by angels, or that he climb a ladder into the sky while they watched. Verse 7 was revealed to address this psychological state: even if they physically touched a celestial manuscript with their own hands, their spiritual blindness would drive them to dismiss it as a optical illusion or "clear magic."

Verse 8: The Demand for an Angelic Messenger

"And they say, 'Why was there not sent down to him an angel?' But if We had sent down an angel, the matter would have been decided; then they would not be reprieved." (6:8)

• The Sunnah of Divine Reprieve: The polytheists of Makkah argued that a human prophet was insufficient; they wanted a visible, terrifying angel to act as a co-warner.
  A foundational principle in the Sunnah explains why Allah denied this request: The Law of Destruction. In multiple Hadiths (such as the Prophet's du'a for his Ummah in Sahih Muslim), it is established that when previous nations explicitly demanded a physical miracle or a visible angelic entity and still refused to believe afterward, Allah’s immediate, unyielding punishment (Adhab) destroyed them completely.
  Verse 8 establishes that keeping the angels hidden is actually a mercy and a form of reprieve (Inzar). If an angel were openly sent and the Quraysh still rejected him, the earthly trial would end immediately, and they would be wiped out without any further chance to repent.

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. I. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari. Kitab al-Tafsir (Book of Prophetic Commentary).

• Al-Qurtubi, A. M. (2003). Al-Jami' li-Ahkam al-Quran (Vol. 7). Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah.

• Ibn Kathir, I. O. (2000). Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim (Vol. 3). Dar Taybah.

• Muslim, I. H. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim. Kitab al-Dhikr wa al-Du'a (Book of Remembrance and Supplication).