170 Page Notes

07 Surah Al-Araf (continued)

Page 170 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

7:156

7:157

7:158

7:159

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 170 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 170 of the Quran covers Surah Al-A'raf (The Heights), verses 156 through 159.

This page contains one of the most doctrinally significant and beautiful passages in the entire Surah. In response to Prophet Musa's desperate plea for his people, Allah declares the vastness of His mercy. He then reveals that this ultimate mercy is explicitly reserved for those who will follow a future, revolutionary figure: the Unlettered Prophet (Prophet Muhammad). The text states that this coming Prophet is already written and detailed inside their own scriptures (the Torah and the Gospel), and outlines his core mission—liberating humanity from heavy cultural burdens and superstition.

The Sunnah and authentic Hadiths provide rich, historical commentary on these verses, documenting how early Jewish and Christian scholars recognized the Prophet from this exact page.

1. The Super-Encompassing Nature of Divine Mercy

“...[Allah] said, 'My punishment - I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things.' So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give Zakat and those who believe in Our signs.” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:156)

While Allah's justice is precise, His default relationship with creation is bound by all-encompassing love and mercy (Rahmah). The Sunnah provides a direct glimpse into the cosmic mechanics behind this verse.

The Written Covenant of Mercy

The Prophet Muhammad revealed that Allah codified this specific theology into a supreme cosmic contract at the very beginning of time.

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

2. The Identity of the "Unlettered Prophet" (Al-Ummi)

“Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written [i.e., described] described in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel...” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:157)

The Quran uses the word Al-Ummi (Unlettered/Illiterate) as a badge of honor for Muhammad. Because he could neither read nor write human literature, his production of the Quran was definitive proof of its divine origin. Furthermore, Verse 157 boldly claims that his exact behavioral characteristics were already cataloged in previous scriptures.

A. The Toratic Description of Muhammad

The companions of the Prophet actively cross-referenced this verse with the Jewish scholars of their time to see if the description matched.

• Hadith: Ata bin Yasar narrated: I met Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas (a companion who studied previous scriptures) and said, "Tell me about the description of Allah's Messenger in the Torah." He replied: "Yes, by Allah! He is described in the Torah with some of the very same qualities found in the Quran:
  'O Prophet! We have sent you as a witness, a bringer of glad tidings, and a warner... You are My servant and My Messenger. I have named you Al-Mutawakkil (the one who relies on God). He is neither harsh, nor rough, nor loud in the marketplaces. He does not return evil with evil, but rather he pardons and forgives...' (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2125)

3. The Prophet's Mission: Lifting the Heavy Shackles

“...He enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil things and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them...” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:157)

Previous nations were bound by intense legislative restrictions (e.g., severe rules regarding accidental impurity, restricted diets, or specific modes of repentance) due to their historic rebelliousness. Prophet Muhammad's primary Sunnah was to bring a fluid, natural, and forgiving legal framework (Al-Hanafiyyah As-Samhah).

A. "Make Things Easy, Do Not Make Them Hard"

The Prophet Muhammad systematically built his daily interactions and teachings around this exact phrase in Verse 157—relieving burdens and breaking down rigid, unnecessary social taboos.

• Hadith: Anas bin Malik narrated that the Prophet gave a universal directive to all teachers and leaders within the faith:
  "Make things easy for the people, and do not make things difficult. Give them glad tidings, and do not cause them to run away." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 69 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1734)

• Hadith: Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, highlighted how this manifested in his personal lifestyle choices:
  "Whenever the Messenger of Allah was given a choice between two permissible matters, he always chose the easier of the two, as long as it was not a sin." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3560 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2327)