175 Page Notes

07 Surah Al-Araf (continued)

Page 175 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

7:188

7:189

7:190

7:191

7:192

7:193

7:194

7:195

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 175 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 175 of the Quran contains Surah Al-A'raf (Chapter 7), verses 188 through 195. This page addresses the absolute boundaries of monotheism (Tawhid). It dismantles the idea that any human—even the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)—possesses independent divine powers like knowledge of the unseen (Ghayb). It also reflects on the psychology of associating partners with Allah (Shirk) through the human story of parenting and the logical absurdity of idol worship.

1. Hadiths Related to Verse 188 (Knowledge of the Unseen)

"Say, 'I hold not for myself any benefit or harm except what Allah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much good, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe.'"

This verse defines the human nature of the Prophet (ﷺ). Despite being the greatest of messengers, he possessed zero independent knowledge of future events or hidden realities except what Allah explicitly revealed to him.

The Keys of the Unseen

The Sunnah strongly reinforces that the ultimate knowledge of the unseen belongs exclusively to the Creator.

Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 65, Hadith 4627:

Narrated Abdullah bin Umar: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The keys of the Unseen are five and none knows them except Allah: None knows what is in the womb except Allah; none knows what will happen tomorrow except Allah; none knows when it will rain except Allah; none knows in which land he will die except Allah; and none knows when the Hour will be established except Allah."

Humility and Vulnerability in Battle

The phrase "if I knew the unseen... no harm would have touched me" mirrors actual events in the Prophet's life. During the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet (ﷺ) was wounded, his tooth was broken, and his helmet was smashed into his head. Had he inherently known the unseen, he would have easily avoided these hardships.

Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 64, Hadith 4075:

Abu Hazim heard Sahl bin Sa'd being asked about the wounds of the Prophet (ﷺ) on the day of Uhud. Sahl replied: "The face of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was wounded, one of his canine teeth was broken, and his helmet was smashed on his head... Fatima washed the blood off while Ali poured water... when she saw the bleeding increase, she took a piece of a mat, burnt it, and applied its ashes to the wound, and the bleeding stopped."

2. Hadiths Related to Verses 189–190 (The Trap of Gratitude and Shirk)

"It is He who created you from one soul and created from it its mate that he might dwell in security with her... But when He gives them a good [child], they ascribe partners to Him concerning that which He has given them. Exalted is Allah above what they associate with Him."

These verses describe how a husband and wife pray desperately to Allah for a healthy, righteous child. Yet, once the child is born safe and healthy, some parents turn around and attribute that blessing to idols, modern-day superstitions, or false deities—forgetting the Creator who answered them.

The Prophetic Warning Against Ascribing Blessings to Others

The Prophet (ﷺ) explicitly warned that redirecting gratitude away from Allah after receiving a miracle or blessing is a form of minor or major Shirk (polytheism).

Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 133:

Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led the morning prayer at Al-Hudaybiyah following a rainfall during the night. When he finished, he faced the people and said, "Do you know what your Lord has said?" They replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "Allah said: 'Some of My servants have entered the morning as believers in Me and some as disbelievers. He who said: We have had rain by the grace of Allah and His mercy, is a believer in Me and a disbeliever in the stars. But he who said: We have had rain by such and such a star, is a disbeliever in Me and a believer in the stars.'"

3. Hadiths Related to Verses 191–195 (The Helplessness of Idols)

"Do they associate with Him those who create nothing and they are [themselves] created? And the invaders [i.e., idols] cannot give them help, nor can they help themselves... Have they feet with which they walk? Or have they hands with which they strike? Or have they eyes with which they see?..."

These verses use devastatingly simple, logical rhetoric to mock polytheism. If an object cannot walk, see, hear, or even swat a fly off itself, how can it hear a human prayer or grant good fortune?

Calling Out the Idols by Name

When the Prophet (ﷺ) conquered Mecca, he put this exact theological truth into physical action. He did not fear the physical power of the idols because he knew they were utterly helpless, exactly as described in verse 192.

Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 46, Hadith 2478:

Narrated Abdullah bin Mas'ud: When the Prophet (ﷺ) entered Mecca on the day of the Conquest, there were three-hundred and sixty idols around the Kaaba. He started striking them with a stick he had in his hand and reciting: "Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to vanish" (Surah Al-Isra 17:81) and "Truth has come, and falsehood can neither begin anything nor repeat it" (Surah Saba 34:49).

Final Reflection

Page 175 acts as a powerful reality check for the human ego. It strips away false claims of divine knowledge from the creation and exposes the absolute helplessness of any intermediary object or saint placed between a human being and Allah.