162 Page Notes

07 Surah Al-Araf (continued)

Page 162 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

7:88

7:89

7:90

7:91

7:92

7:93

7:94

7:95

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 162 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 162 of the Quran covers Surah Al-A'raf (The Heights), verses 88 through 95.

This page depicts the intense psychological standoff between Prophet Shu'ayb and the arrogant leaders of Madyan. The elite issue an ultimatum: either Shu'ayb and his followers return to their corrupt ways, or face violent exile. Shu'ayb responds with a masterpiece of trust in Allah (Tawakkul). The text then shifts to a universal law of history: how Allah tests civilizations with economic hardship or prosperity to shake them out of their spiritual negligence (Ghaflah).

The Sunnah and authentic Hadiths shed deep light on these verses, particularly on the concept of forced assimilation, absolute reliance on God, and the spiritual danger of material wealth.

1. Standing Firm Against Pressure to Assimilate

“The eminent among his people who were arrogant said, 'We will surely evict you, O Shu'ayb, and those who have believed with you from our city, or you must return to our religion.' He said, 'Even if we were unwilling?'” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:88)

The powerful elite demanded that Prophet Shu'ayb's community abandon their distinct moral identity and blend back into mainstream pagan practices.

A. Holding Onto Faith in Difficult Times

The Sunnah mirrors this dynamic, noting that standing firm on personal values when society exerts intense pressure to compromise is an elite spiritual achievement.

• Hadith: Anas bin Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah warned his companions about future social cycles:
  "There will come upon the people a time of patience, in which the one who holds firmly to his religion will be like one who is holding a hot burning coal." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2260; graded Sahih)

2. The Prayer of Reliance (Tawakkul)

“...Our Lord has encompassed all things in knowledge. Upon Allah we have relied. Our Lord, judge between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who give judgment.” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:89)

When threatened with exile, Shu'ayb did not rely on physical defenses or counter-threats. Instead, he uttered the formula: “Alallahi tawakkalna” (Upon Allah we have relied).

A. The Prophet’s Daily Sunnah of Reliance

The Prophet Muhammad adopted Shu'ayb’s exact framework, making it a daily Sunnah to voice total reliance on Allah whenever stepping out into the world.

• Hadith: Anas bin Malik reported that the Prophet said:
  "Whoever says when he leaves his house: 'Bismillah, tawakkaltu 'alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah' (In the name of Allah, I rely upon Allah, and there is no power or might except with Allah), it will be said to him: 'You have been guided, defended, and protected,' and Shaitan will slide away from him." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 5095 / Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3426; graded Sahih)

3. The Test of Adversity vs. The Test of Prosperity

“And We sent no prophet to a city except that We seized its people with poverty and hardship that perhaps they might humble themselves. Then We exchanged the place of evil with good [prosperity] until they grew affluent and said, 'Our fathers were touched by hardship and ease.' So We seized them suddenly while they did not perceive.” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:94–95)

These verses map a dangerous historical trap: when a society suffers, they naturally pray to God. But when Allah replaces their poverty with explosive wealth and comfort, they mistakenly dismiss their past struggles as mere "natural cycles" rather than divine lessons, falling into absolute spiritual blindness.

A. The Prophet’s Ultimate Fear for His Nation

The Prophet Muhammad explicitly identified that the test of prosperity (Verse 95: "until they grew affluent") is historically far more lethal to a community's faith than the test of poverty.

• Hadith: Amr bin Awf narrated that the Messenger of Allah stood before his companions and stated:
  "By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you! Rather, I fear that the wealth of this world will be spread out before you, just as it was spread out for those who came before you. Then, you will compete for it just as they competed for it, and it will destroy you just as it destroyed them." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3158 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2961)

B. The Illusion of Material Blessings (Istidraj)

When a society acts corruptly but continues to receive endless wealth, luxury, and success, it is not a sign of God's approval. The Sunnah labels this a divine setup (Istidraj) directly linked to Verse 95.

• Hadith: Uqbah bin Amir narrated that the Prophet said:
  "When you see Allah granting a servant everything they desire from the material world while they are continuously drowning in sins, know that it is nothing but a gradual trap (Istidraj) toward their destruction." Then, the Prophet recited from the Quran to confirm this concept. (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 17311; graded Hasan)