Al-Hadid: 26

Ayah

Word by Word

وَلَقَدۡ

And certainly

أَرۡسَلۡنَا

We sent

نُوحٗا

Nuh

وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ

and Ibrahim

وَجَعَلۡنَا

and We placed

فِي

ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا

their offspring

ٱلنُّبُوَّةَ

Prophethood

وَٱلۡكِتَٰبَۖ

and the Scripture

فَمِنۡهُم

and among them

مُّهۡتَدٖۖ

(is) a guided one

وَكَثِيرٞ

but most

مِّنۡهُمۡ

of them

فَٰسِقُونَ

(are) defiantly disobediently

Translation

And We sent Noah and Abraham, and established in their line Prophethood and Revelation: and some of them were on right guidance. But many of them became rebellious transgressors.

Tafsir

The Prophets were given Miracles and Sent with truth and Justice

Allah the Exalted said next,

لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالۡبَيِّنَاتِ

Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs.

in reference to the miracles, the unequivocal evidences and the plain proofs,

وَأَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ الۡكِتَابَ

and revealed with them the Scripture,

which contains the true text,

وَالۡمِيزَانَ

and the Mizan,

that is, justice, according to Mujahid, Qatadah and others.

This Ayah refers to the truth that is attested to by the sound, straight minds that oppose misguided opinions and ideas, just as Allah said in other Ayat,

أَفَمَن كَانَ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِ وَيَتۡلُوهُ شَاهِدٌ مِّنۡهُ

Can they (Muslims) who rely on a clear proof from their Lord, and whom a witness from Him follows it (be equal with the disbelievers), (11:17)

فِطۡرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيۡهَا

Allah's Fitra (religion) with which He has created mankind. (30:30)

and,

وَالسَّمَأءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الۡمِيزَانَ

And the heaven:He has raised it high, and He has set up the Mizan. (55:7)

This is why Allah said here,

لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالۡقِسۡطِ

that mankind may keep up justice,

truth and fairness that is found in the obedience of the Messengers, in all that they conveyed from their Lord, and following all they commanded. Surely, what the Prophets brought forth is the truth, beyond which there is no truth, just as Allah said,

وَتَمَّتۡ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدۡقاً وَعَدۡلاً

And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. (6:115),

His Word is true in what it conveys, and just in all its orders and prohibitions. This is why the believers say, when they take up their rooms in Paradise and assume their high grades and lined thrones,

الۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى هَدَانَا لِهَـذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهۡتَدِىَ لَوۡلا أَنۡ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ لَقَدۡ جَأءَتۡ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالۡحَقِّ

All praise is due to Allah, Who has guided us to this, and never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allah had guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth. (7:43)

The Benefits of Iron

Allah said,

وَأَنزَلۡنَا الۡحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأۡسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ

And We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power, as well as many benefits for mankind,

meaning, `We made iron a deterrent for those who refuse the truth and oppose it after the proof has been established against them.'

Allah's Messenger remained in Makkah for thirteen years. During that time, the revelation continued being sent to him, containing arguments against the idolators and explaining Tawhid with detail and proofs. When the evidence was established against those who defied the Messenger, Allah decreed the Hijrah. Then He ordered the believers to fight the disbelievers using swords, using them to strike the necks and foreheads of those who opposed, rejected and denied the Qur'an.

Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud recorded that Abdullah bin Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,

بُعِثۡتُ بِالسَّيۡفِ بَيۡنَ يَدَيِ السَّاعَةِ حَتۡى يُعۡبَدَ اللهُ وَحۡدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَجُعِلَ رِزۡقِي تَحۡتَ ظِلِّ رُمۡحِي وَجُعِلَ الذِّلَّةُ والصَّغَارُ عَلَى مَنۡ خَالَفَ أَمۡرِي وَمَنۡ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوۡمٍ فَهُوَ مِنۡهُم

I was sent with the sword just before the Hour so that Allah be worshipped alone without partners. My provision was placed under the shadow of my spear, and those who defy my order were disgraced and humiliated, and he who imitates a people is one of them.

This is why Allah the Exalted said,

فِيهِ بَأۡسٌ شَدِيدٌ

(wherein is mighty power), in reference to weapons, such as swords, spears, daggers, arrows, shields, and so forth,

وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ

(as well as many benefits for mankind), meaning, in their livelihood, such as using it to make coins, hammers, axes, saws chisels, shovels and various tools that people use for tilting the land, sowing, cooking, making dough and manufacturing other objects necessary for their livelihood.

Allah's statement,

وَلِيَعۡلَمَ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ وَرُسُلَهُ بِالۡغَيۡبِ

that Allah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion) and His Messengers in the unseen.

meaning, whose intention by carrying weapons is the defense of Allah (His religion) and His Messenger,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ

Verily, Allah is Powerful, Almighty.

meaning, surely, Allah is Powerful, Almighty, and He gives victory to those who give victory and aid to Him. However, Allah does not need mankind's help, but He ordered Jihad to test people with each other.

Many of the Nations of the Prophets were Rebellious

Allah says,

وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوحًا وَإِبۡرَاهِيمَ وَجَعَلۡنَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا النُّبُوَّةَ وَالۡكِتَابَ

فَمِنۡهُم مُّهۡتَدٍ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَاسِقُونَ

And indeed, We sent Nuh and Ibrahim, and placed in their offspring Prophethood and Scripture. And among them there are some who are guided; but many of them are rebellious.

Allah the Exalted states that since He sent Nuh, peace be upon him, all the Prophets and Messengers He sent after that were from his offspring. All the revealed Divine Books and all the Messengers that received revelation after Ibrahim, Allah's Khalil, peace be upon him, were from Ibrahim's offspring.

Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah:

وَجَعَلۡنَا فِى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ النُّبُوَّةَ وَالۡكِتَـبَ

and placed in their offspring Prophethood and Scripture. (29:27)

The last among the Prophets of the Children of Israel was `Isa, son of Mary, who prophesied the good news of the coming of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon them both.

Allah the Exalted said

ثُمَّ قَفَّيۡنَا عَلَى اثَارِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيۡنَا بِعِيسَى ابۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ وَاتَيۡنَاهُ الاِۡنجِيلَ

Then, We sent after them Our Messengers, and We sent 'Isa the son of Maryam, and gave him the Injil.

referring to the Injil that Allah revealed to him,

وَجَعَلۡنَا فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ

And We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him, i.e., the disciples,

رَأۡفَةً

compassion (and tenderness),

وَرَحۡمَةً

and mercy. (toward the creatures).

Allah's statement,

وَرَهۡبَانِيَّةً ابۡتَدَعُوهَا

But the monasticism which they invented for themselves,

refers to the monasticism that the Christian nation invented,

مَا كَتَبۡنَاهَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ

We did not prescribe for them,

`We -- Allah -- did not ordain it for them, but they chose it on their own.'

There are two opinions about the meaning of,

إِلاَّ ابۡتِغَاء رِضۡوَانِ اللَّهِ

only to please Allah therewith,

- The first is that they wanted to please Allah by inventing monasticism.

Sa`id bin Jubayr and Qatadah said this.

- The second meaning is:We did not ordain them to practice that but, rather, We ordained them only to seek what pleases Allah.

Allah's statement,

فَمَا رَعَوۡهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا

but that they did not observe it with the right observance.

meaning, they did not abide by what they ordered themselves to do.

This Ayah criticizes them in two ways:

- first, they invented in things in their religion, things which Allah did not legislate for them.

- The second is that they did not fulfill the requirements of what they themselves invented and which they claimed was a means of drawing near to Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored.

An-Nasa'i -- and this is his wording - recorded that Ibn Abbas said,

There were kings after `Isa who changed the Tawrah and the Injil when there were still believers who recited Tawrah and the Injil. Their kings were told,

`We were never confronted by more severe criticism and abuse than of these people.' --

they recite the Ayah,

وَمَن لَّمۡ يَحۡكُم بِمَأ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُوۡلَـيِكَ هُمُ الۡكَـفِرُونَ

And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the disbelievers. (5:44),

as well as, they accuse us of short comings in our actions, while still they recite. Therefore, summon them and let them recite these Ayat our way and believe in them our way.'

The king summoned them and gathered them and threatened them with death if they did not revert from reciting the original Tawrah and Injil to using the corrupted version only.

They said,

`Why do you want us to do that, let us be.'

Some of them said,

`Build a narrow elevated tower for us and let us ascend it, and then give us the means to elevate food and drink to us. This way, you will save yourselves from hearing us.'

Another group among them said,

`Let us go about in the land and eat and drink like beasts do, and if you find us in your own land, then kill us.'

Another group among them said,

`Build homes (monasteries) for us in the deserts and secluded areas, where we can dig wells and plant vegetables. Then, we will not refute you and will not even pass by you.'

These groups said this, even though they all had supporters among their tribes. It is about this that Allah the Exalted and Most Honored sent down this Ayah,

وَرَهۡبَانِيَّةً ابۡتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبۡنَاهَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ إِلاَّ ابۡتِغَاء رِضۡوَانِ اللَّهِ

فَمَا رَعَوۡهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا

(But the monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them, but (they sought it) only to please Allah therewith, but that they did not observe it with the right observance.) '

Then Allah says,

فَأتَيۡنَا الَّذِينَ امَنُوا مِنۡهُمۡ أَجۡرَهُمۡ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَاسِقُونَ

So, We gave those among them who believed, their (due) reward; but many of them are rebellious.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik said that the Prophet said,

لِكُلِّ نَبِيَ رَهۡبَانِيَّةٌ وَرَهۡبَانِيَّةُ هذِهِ الاُۡمَّةِ الۡجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَل

Every Prophet has Rahbaniyyah (monasticism); Jihad in the cause of Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored, is the Rahbaniyyah of this Ummah.

Al-Hafiz Abu Ya`la collected this Hadith and in this narration, the Prophet said,

لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَهۡبَانِيَّةٌ وَرَهۡبَانِيَّةُ هذِهِ الاُۡمَّةِ الۡجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ الله

Every Ummah has Rahbaniyyah; Jihad in the cause of Allah is the Rahbaniyyah of this Ummah.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that a man came to him and asked him for advice, and Abu Sa`id said that he asked the same of Allah's Messenger. Abu Sa`id said,

So, I advise you to

- adhere by the Taqwa of Allah, because it is the chief of all matters.

- Fulfill the obligation of Jihad, because it is the Rahbaniyyah of Islam.

- Take care of remembering Allah and reciting the Qur'an, because it is your closeness (or status) in the heavens and your good fame on earth.

Only Imam Ahmad collected this Hadith

The Believers of the People of the Scriptures will earn Double their Rewards

Allah says,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَامِنُوا بِرَسُولِهِ

Earlier we mentioned a Hadith that An-Nasa'i collected from Ibn Abbas that this Ayah is about the People of the Scriptures who believe in Islam, and that they will earn double their reward if they do so. There is an Ayah in Surat Al-Qasas to support this meaning. Also, there is a Hadith from Ash-Sha`bi from Abu Burdah from his father from Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari that the Messenger of Allah said,

ثَلَثَةٌ يُوۡتَوۡنَ أَجۡرَهُمۡ مَرَّتَيۡنِ

رَجُلٌ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ الۡكِتَابِ امَنَ بِنَبِيِّهِ وَامَنَ بِي فَلَهُ أَجۡرَانِ

وَعَبۡدٌ مَمۡلُوكٌ أَدَّى حَقَّ اللهِ وَحَقَّ مَوَالِيهِ فَلَهُ أَجۡرَانِ

وَرَجُلٌ أَدَّبَ أَمَتَهُ فَأَحۡسَنَ تَأۡدِيبَهَا ثُمَّ أَعۡتَقَهَا وَتَزَوَّجَهَا فَلَهُ أَجۡرَان

Three will get their reward twice.

- A believer from the People of the Scriptures who has been a true believer in his Prophet and then believes in me, will get a double reward.

- A slave who fulfills Allah's rights and obligations as well as the duties of his master, will get a double reward.

- A person who has a slave-girl and he educates her properly and teaches her good manners properly (without violence) and then manumits and marries her, will get a double reward.

This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs.

Ad-Dahhak, Utbah bin Abi Hakim and others agreed with Ibn Abbas in this, and Ibn Jarir preferred it.

Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah,

يِـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواۡ إَن تَتَّقُواۡ اللَّهَ يَجۡعَل لَّكُمۡ فُرۡقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرۡ عَنكُمۡ سَيِّيَاتِكُمۡ وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الۡفَضۡلِ الۡعَظِيمِ

O you who believe! If you have Taqwa of Allah, He will grant you a criterion, and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you; and Allah is Owner of the great bounty. (8:29)

Sa`id bin Abdul-`Aziz said,

Umar bin Al-Khattab asked a Jewish rabbi, `What is the maximum a reward would be increased for you'

He replied, `A Kifl (portion) which is about three hundred and fifty good merits.'

So `Umar said, `Praise be to Allah who gave us two Kifls.'

Then Sa`id mentioned Allah's saying:

يُوۡتِكُمۡ كِفۡلَيۡنِ مِن رَّحۡمَتِهِ

He will give you a double portion of His mercy,

Sa`id said, And the two Kifls on Friday are similar to that.

This was recorded by Ibn Jarir.

This view has support from the Hadith that Imam Ahmad recorded from Abdullah bin Umar that the Messenger of Allah said,

مَثَلُكُمۡ وَمَثَلُ الۡيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسۡتَعۡمَلَ عُمَّالاً فَقَالَ مَنۡ يَعۡمَلُ لِي مِنۡ صَلَةِ الصُّبۡحِ إِلَى نِصۡفِ النَّهَارِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ قِيرَاطٍ

أَلَا فَعَمِلَتِ الۡيَهُودُ ثُمَّ قَالَ

مَنۡ يَعۡمَلُ لِي مِنۡ صَلَةِ الظُّهۡرِ إِلَى صَلَةِ الۡعَصۡرِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ قِيرَاطٍ

أَلَا فَعَمِلَتِ النَّصَارَى

ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنۡ يَعۡمَلُ لِي مِنۡ صَلَةِ الۡعَصۡرِ إِلَى غُرُوبِ الشَّمۡسِ عَلَى قِيرَاطَيۡنِ قِيرَاطَيۡنِ

أَلَا فَأَنۡتُمُ الَّذِينَ عَمِلۡتُمۡ

فَغَضِبَ النَّصَارَى وَالۡيَهُودُ

وَقَالُوا نَحۡنُ أَكۡثَرُ عَمَلً وَأَقَلُّ عَطَاءً

قَالَ هَلۡ ظَلَمۡتُكُمۡ مِنۡ أَجۡرِكُمۡ شَيۡيًا

قَالُوا لَاا

قَالَ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ فَضۡلِي أُوتِيهِ مَنۡ أَشَاء

The parable of you and the Jews and Christians is that of a person who employed some laborers and asked them, Who will work for me from the Dawn prayer until midday for one Qirat (a special weight of gold) each.

So, the Jews worked.

The person asked, Who will do the work for me from the Zuhr prayer to the time of the `Asr prayer for one Qirat each'.'

So, the Christians worked.

Then the person asked, Who will do the work for me from `Asr prayer until sunset for two Qirat each.

You are those who did this work.

The Jews and the Christians got angry and said, We did more work, but got less wages.

Allah said, Have I been unjust to you with your reward

They said, No.

So, Allah said, Then it is My grace which I bestow on whomever I will.

Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Musa said that the Prophet said,

مَثَلُ الۡمُسۡلِمِينَ وَالۡيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسۡتَعۡمَلَ قَوۡمًا يَعۡمَلُونَ لَهُ عَمَلً يَوۡمًا إِلَى اللَّيۡلِ عَلَى أَجۡرٍ مَعۡلُومٍ

فَعَمِلُوا إِلَى نِصۡفِ النَّهَارِ فَقَالُوا لَا حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِي أَجۡرِكَ الَّذِي شَرَطۡتَ لَنَا وَمَا عَمِلۡنَا بَاطِلٌ

فَقَالَ لَهُمۡ لَا تَفۡعَلُوا أَكۡمِلُوا بَقِيَّةَ عَمَلِكُمۡ وَخُذُوا أَجۡرَكُمۡ كَامِلً

فَأَبَوا وَتَرَكُوا وَاسۡتَأۡجَرَ اخَرِينَ بَعۡدَهُمۡ فَقَالَ أَكۡمِلُوا بَقِيَّةَ يَوۡمِكُمۡ وَلَكُمُ الَّذِي شَرَطۡتُ لَهُمۡ مِنَ الاۡأَجۡرِ

فَعَمِلُوا حَتۡى إِذَا كَانَ حِينَ صَلَّوُا الۡعَصۡرَ قَالُوا مَا عَمِلۡنَا بَاطِلٌ وَلَكَ الاَۡجۡرُ الَّذِي جَعَلۡتَ لَنَا فِيهِ

فَقَالَ أَكۡمِلُوا بَقِيَّةَ عَمَلِكُمۡ فَإِنَّمَا بَقِيَ مِنَ النَّهَارِ شَيۡءٌ يَسِيرٌ

فَأَبَوا فَاسۡتَأۡجَرَ قَوۡمًا أَنۡ يَعۡمَلُوا لَهُ بَقِيَّةَ يَوۡمِهِمۡ فَعَمِلُوا لَهُ بَقِيَّةَ يَوۡمِهِمۡ حَتۡى غَابَتِ الشَّمۡسُ فَاسۡتَكۡمَلُوا أُجۡرَةَ الۡفَرِيقَيۡنِ كِلَيۡهِمَا

فَذلِكَ مَثَلُهُمۡ وَمَثَلُ مَا قَبِلُوا مِنۡ هذَا النُّور

The parable of the Muslims, Jews and Christians is that of a man who employed laborers to work for him from morning until night for a known wage.

So, they worked until midday and said, `We are not in need of the wages that you promised and our work was in vain.'

So, the man said, `Do not quit now, complete the rest of the work and yours will be the full wage I have fixed for it.'

However, they refused and quit, and he had to hire another batch of workers. He said (to the second batch), `Complete the work for the rest of the day and I will give you the same wage I promised the first batch.'

So, they worked until the time of the `Asr prayer and said, `Whatever we have done is in vain and we forfeit the wages you promised us.'

He said to them, `Complete your day's work, for only a small part of the day remains.'

However, they refused, and he employed another batch to work for the rest of the day, and they worked until sunset and received the wages of the two former batches.

This is an example of them (i.e., the Jews and Christians) and of those who accepted this light (i.e., Islam).

Al-Bukhari was alone in recording it.

Allah the Exalted said;

وَيَجۡعَل لَّكُمۡ نُورًا تَمۡشُونَ بِهِ وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ

وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

and He will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight). And He will forgive you. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Allah the Exalted said

لِيَلَّ يَعۡلَمَ أَهۡلُ الۡكِتَابِ أَلاَّ يَقۡدِرُونَ عَلَى شَيۡءٍ مِّن فَضۡلِ اللَّهِ

So that the People of the Scriptures may know that they have no power whatsoever over the grace of Allah,

meaning, so that they become sure that they cannot prevent what Allah gives, or give what Allah prevents,

وَأَنَّ الۡفَضۡلَ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ يُوۡتِيهِ مَن يَشَاء

وَاللَّهُ ذُو الۡفَضۡلِ الۡعَظِيم

and that (His) grace is (entirely) in His Hand to bestow it on whomsoever He wills. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty.

This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Al-Hadid, all praise is due to Allah, and all favors come from Him.