134 Page Notes

06 Surah Al-Anam (continued)

Page 134 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

6:53

6:54

6:55

6:56

6:57

6:58

6:59

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 134 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 134 of the Quran encompasses Surah Al-An'am (The Cattle), verses 53 through 59. This powerful segment balances social commentary with cosmic theology, transitioning from the testing of human social classes to a jaw-dropping description of Allah's absolute omniscience.

The Sunnah and authentic Hadiths provide critical context for these verses, explicitly defining technical terms like the "Keys of the Unseen."

1. Testing People via Social Status (Verse 53)

"And thus We have tried some of them through others that they [i.e., the aristocrats] might say, 'Is it these whom Allah has favored among us?' Is not Allah most knowing of those who are grateful?" (6:53)

• The Elitist Mindset of the Quraysh: This verse continues the narrative of the wealthy chiefs who mocked the poor, early companions (like Bilal and Ammar), falsely believing that if Islam were actually a blessing, Allah would have granted it to the wealthy elite first.

• The Dialogue with the Emperor of Rome:
  The historical reality that prophets are initially followed by the vulnerable was heavily documented in early Islamic history.

  • Hadith Source: When Heraclius (the Eastern Roman Emperor) questioned Abu Sufyan about the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ before Abu Sufyan became a Muslim, one of his main questions was: "Do the noblemen or the weak among people follow him?" Abu Sufyan replied: "Rather, the weak among them." Heraclius remarked: "Such is the case with the followers of the Messengers." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 1, Hadith 7).

• What Allah Truly Values:

  • Hadith Source: Addressing the elitism condemned in Verse 53, Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet ﷺ explicitly stated:
    "Verily, Allah does not look at your appearances or your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your actions." (Sahih Muslim, Book 45, Hadith 2564).

2. Consolation and the Greeting of Peace (Verse 54)

"And when those who believe in Our verses come to you, say, 'Peace be upon you (Salamun Alaykum).' Your Lord has prescribed upon Himself mercy..." (6:54)

• The Sunnah of Initiating Peace: Allah directly orders the Prophet ﷺ to initiate the greeting of Salam to the believers, elevating their status over the arrogant elite.

• The Precedence of Divine Mercy: The verse states, "Your Lord has prescribed upon Himself mercy," guaranteeing forgiveness to anyone who falls into sin out of human weakness but follows it with sincere repentance and reform.

  • Hadith Source: Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
    "When Allah decreed the creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him on His Throne: 'My mercy prevails over My wrath.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 97, Hadith 53). Classical mufassireen (like Ibn Kathir) directly quote this Hadith as the structural proof of Verse 54.

3. The Rejection of Pure Desire in Creed (Verses 56–57)

"Say, 'Indeed, I have been forbidden to worship those you invoke besides Allah.' Say, 'I will not follow your desires, for I would then have gone astray...'" (6:56)

• The Dangers of Following Ahwaa (Desires): The Prophet ﷺ is commanded to tell the idolaters that accepting their terms of compromise would mean prioritizing human whims over divine revelation.

• The Prophetic Warning on Desire:

  • Hadith Source: The Prophet ﷺ routinely warned his Ummah about letting internal whims distort religion, famously stating: "None of you truly believes until his desires are completely subservient to what I have brought." (Recorded in Kitab al-Hujjah and heavily cited in books of Sunnah creed).

4. The Keys of the Unseen (Verse 59)

"And with Him are the keys of the Unseen; none knows them except He. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record." (6:59)

This verse stands as one of the most magnificent descriptions of Allah's vast and meticulous knowledge in the entire Quran. The Sunnah provides an explicit, precise definition of the "keys" mentioned.

• The Five Keys Defined:

  • Hadith Source: Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
    "The Keys of the Unseen are five, and no one knows them except Allah: [1] No one knows what will happen tomorrow except Allah, [2] no one knows what is hidden in the wombs except Allah, [3] no one knows when it will rain except Allah, [4] no soul knows in what land it will die except Allah, and [5] no one knows when the Hour (Day of Judgment) will be established except Allah." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 97, Hadith 6944 / 7379).

References

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

• Ibn Kathir, I. O. (2000). Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim (Vol. 3, Commentary on Surah Al-An'am). Dar Taybah.

• Muslim, I. H. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim. Kitab al-Birr wa al-Silah (Book of Virtue, Good Manners).