157 Page Notes

07 Surah Al-Araf (continued)

Page 157 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

7:52

7:53

7:54

7:55

7:56

7:57

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 157 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 157 of the Quran covers Surah Al-A'raf (The Heights), verses 52 through 57.

This section emphasizes the clarity of divine revelation, warns against waiting until the Day of Judgment to accept the truth, establishes Allah’s absolute sovereignty over the cosmos (the creation of the heavens, the earth, and the concept of Istiwa'), and transitions into the beautiful natural mechanisms of rain as a physical proof for the ultimate resurrection of the dead.

The Sunnah and authentic Hadiths heavily expand on these cosmological definitions, the manners of calling upon Allah, and the ecological signs of the Afterlife.

1. Cosmic Sovereignty and the Ascent Over the Throne (Al-Istiwa')

“Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne (Istiwa'). He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command...” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:54)

This verse acts as a primary foundation for Islamic theology regarding God's power, creation, and His establishment over the Supreme Throne (Al-Arsh).

A. The Supremacy of the Divine Throne

The Sunnah emphasizes the sheer physical magnitude of the Throne mentioned in Verse 54, contrasting it with the rest of creation to demonstrate Allah’s absolute majesty.

• Hadith: Abu Dharr al-Ghifari narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:
  "The seven heavens in comparison to the Footstool (Al-Kursi) are nothing but like a ring thrown out into an open desert. And the size of the Throne (Al-Arsh) over the Footstool is like the virtue of that desert over that small ring." (Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith 361; Bayhaqi in As-Sifat)

B. The Written Decree Above the Throne

The Sunnah reveals that a cosmic document rests explicitly above this Throne, guaranteeing mercy over punishment for the universe.

• Hadith: Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
  "When Allah completed the creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him above the Throne: 'Verily, My mercy prevails over My wrath.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3194 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2751)

2. Etiquette of Supplication: Sincerity vs. Transgression

“Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors.” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:55)

Verse 55 outlines the precise spiritual and physical boundaries for making Du'a (supplication). It demands internal humility (tadarru') and a quiet, private presentation (khufyah).

A. Screaming in Supplication is Forbidden

The Sunnah provides a direct historical context for this verse, where the Prophet corrected companions who began shouting their prayers.

• Hadith: Abu Musa al-Ash'ari narrated: We were in the company of the Prophet on a journey, and whenever we climbed a hill, we would pronounce the Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) out loud. The Prophet turned to us and said:
  "O people! Take it easy upon yourselves. You are not calling upon one who is deaf or absent; rather, you are calling upon the One Who is All-Hearing and Intimately Close. He is with you." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4205 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2704)

B. Defining Transgression (I'tida') in Du'a

To prevent people from becoming the "transgressors" that Allah dislikes, the Sunnah warns against over-complicating or making arrogant demands during prayer.

• Hadith: The son of Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas narrated that his father heard him saying, "O Allah, I ask You for Paradise, its blessings, its silk, and its treasures, and I seek refuge in You from Hellfire, its chains, and its collars." Sa'd turned to him and said: "My son, I heard the Messenger of Allah say:
  'There will be a people who will transgress in their supplication.' Beware of being one of them. If you are granted Paradise, you will receive it and all the good within it; if you are protected from the Fire, you will be protected from its evils." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 1480; graded Sahih)

3. Rain as a Visual Prophecy of the Resurrection

“And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy [i.e., rain] until, when they have carried heavy rainclouds, We drive them to a dead land and We send down rain therein and bring forth thereby [fruits] of all kinds. Thus will We bring forth the dead; perhaps you may be reminded.” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:57)

Allah uses a brilliant environmental analogy on page 157: just as water instantly revives a barren, dead landscape into a blooming orchard, dead human bodies will be structurally re-grown from the earth when the resurrection occurs.

The Microscopic Root of Human Resurrection

The Sunnah completely unpacks the mechanics of Verse 57, detailing how the human body decays entirely, save for one tiny physical component that waits for a celestial rain to trigger its regrowth.

• Hadith: Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
  "Everything of the human being will decay except for a single bone: the coccyx (the base of the tailbone). From it, humanity was created, and from it, they will be reconstructed."
  In another narration, the Prophet added: "Then Allah will send down a rain from the sky that resembles the semen of men, and human bodies will grow out from the earth just as green vegetables grow from the rain." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4814 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2955)