Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim.
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn . The Only Owner of the Day of Recompense. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help. Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace , not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray .
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15: (Al-Hijr)- The Rocky Tract
Introduction
This chapter was revealed in Mecca and contains 99 verses. Its title comes from the Rocky Tract that is mentioned in verses 80 to 84. The majority of scholars believe this refers to the people of Thamud and the rocky tract is an allusion to their stone cities. Its topics and style are very similar to Chapter 14, Abraham, and it is believed that they were revealed at around the same time. In this chapter we learn about God’s boundless grace and the inherent danger in Satan’s plans for humankind.
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Theme of the Surah
Thus the surah shares with other surahs revealed during the same period the same subject matter and general features. Likewise, it addresses the needs and requirements of that period when the Islamic message faced the ignorance, or jahiliyyah, that prevailed in Arabia. The same applies to any similar period in history. Indeed it even applies now.
Topics of the Surah
1- The surah then relates the story of Adam and Satan, following it to its conclusion when human life on earth comes to an end and people return to their Lord where the warnings given to them will be fulfilled.
2- The surah refers to some scenes from the universe: the heavens and the constellations, the expanded earth and the mountains set firm on it, the plants that demonstrate a balanced method of creation, the winds full of moisture, water and drinking, and the life, death and resurrection of all mankind.
3- The surah explains the law that God has set in operation concerning His message and people’s attitudes to it, either accepting and believing in it or rejecting it.
4- The surah relates the fates suffered by the peoples of Lot, Shu'aib and Salih.
Though the main topics of the surah are:
warning to those who rejected his Message, opposed it tooth and nail, and ridiculed him, and
comfort and encouragement to the Holy Prophet,
It does not mean that this Surah does not contain admonition and instructions. As a matter of fact, the Quran never confines itself to mere warning; rebuke and censure, but resorts to precept in every suitable place. Accordingly, this Surah contains brief arguments for Tauhid on the one hand, and admonition in the story of Adam and Satan on the other.
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Lesson's-
•Verse 1
The chapter begins with the same combination of letters that began chapter 14 - Alif, Lam, Ra. Over the centuries there has been much speculation as to the meaning of these combinations of letter that begin 29 chapters of Quran. Their meaning however, is known only to God. The Quran makes the truth manifest.
Verses 2 – 15 Lessons from the earlier nations
The disbelievers will one day come to wish that they had submitted themselves to God. For the moment they are distracted and enjoying themselves but one day they will understand. God has never destroyed a people except at the time that was previously decreed. They call Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, insane and ask him for angels but the angels will only appear to strike them down. God has revealed this reminder, the Quran and it is He who will preserve it. Messengers were sent to earlier nations and they were all mocked and ridiculed by their own people. This was how the truth slipped through the disbeliever’s fingers.
Some people will not believe even though they know the stories of the people who came before them. Even if God had opened a gate in heaven they would believe themselves to be dazzled and bewitched as they watched themselves ascend.
Verses 16 – 25 The Sustainer
God created the heaven and made it beautiful by filling it with constellations. He protects it from the devils and those who try to eavesdrop on the inhabitants of the heaven are followed by a fiery comet. God spread out the earth and set mountains into it. He caused vegetation of many kinds to grow in a balanced order. There is a means of sustenance for every living thing. There is nothing that God cannot send down in the appropriate measure. He sends the winds to fertilise the earth, the rain to provide water. Humankind has no control over this. It is God who controls life and death and He knows who has existed in the past and will exist in the future. In the end God will gather them all together.
Verses 26 – 44 Who is Satan?
Humankind was created from clay (altered black mud) and the jinn were created before humankind from smokeless fire. When God created Adam he told the angels to bow down before him (Adam) and they did. One called Iblees (also called Satan) refused. Iblees was cast out and cursed until the Day of Judgment. He asked for a reprieve until that Day and God granted it to him. Iblees vowed to mislead humankind and make disobedience attractive to all of them except the ones sincerely devoted to God. God said that the misguided ones would go to Hell, an allotted number through each of the seven gates of Hell.
Verses 45 – 51 Gardens for the righteous
The righteous however will enter into gardens and springs. They will be told to enter in peace and security. All resentments and bitterness will be removed from their hearts. They will treat each other like close family members. It is a place from which they will never be turned out and they will never be tired. God is merciful but His punishment is severe.
Verses 52 – 84 The angels visit Prophets Abraham and Lot
Prophet Abraham was afraid when the angels visited him even though they greeted him with peace. They allayed his fears and told him that he would have a son. It was good news but he could hardly believe it because he was very old. Never despair of God’s mercy.
Prophet Abraham asked the angels about the purpose of their journey and they replied that they had been sent to punish a guilty nation. Prophet Lot and his family were to be the only people saved from the wrath of God. Lot’s wife however would not be saved. When the angels arrived they explained to Lot that he must leave with his family in the last hours of the night and told him to walk behind them, to protect them. They were instructed no to look back and that by morning all the sinners would have been eliminated.
In the meantime the people of the town rejoiced that Lot had guests. They wanted to commit homosexuality with these handsome looking men (who were actually angels who had come in the form of humans). They came to Lot’s door and he begged them not to disgrace or shame him, even offering his daughters in marriage. But they continued blindly in their wild intoxication and before sunrise a mighty shrieking blast overcame them. The town was turned upside down and stones of baked clay rained down upon them. There is a sign in this for those who will listen and understand.
The Forest Dwellers, believed to be the people of Prophet Shuaib, were also wrongdoers and God took retribution on them. Both places are still on the open road, plain for all to see. The people of the Rocky Tract, Al-Hijr, also denied their messenger and ignored God’s signs. A mighty blast seized the them and even their homes built into the rocks could not save them.
Verses 85 – 99 Forgiveness and kindness
God created the heaven and the earth and everything in between with a purpose. The Hour will come (where the truth will become apparent), so Prophet Muhammad is advised to overlook and forgive their misbehaviour. God reminds Prophet Muhammad that He gave him great blessings like the seven oft-repeated verses (the opening chapter of Quran) and the Quran, in which there is light and guidance – so do not look at this world and its attractions, or the transient delights that we have given to its people. Do not envy what they have in this world, and do not upset yourself with regret for their rejection of you and their opposition to your message. Prophet Muhammad is further told to be kind to the believers and to tell the people that he is nothing except a warner. All will be questioned about their behaviour including those who invented lies about the Quran just as others invented lies about their own scriptures. Deliver the message and turn away from those who associate others with God.
God is enough to stand against all those who ridicule the message. Those who worship something other than God will soon come to understand their stupidity. God tells Muhammad He knows how distressed he is by what the disbelievers are saying but that he should cure his distress by praising God, bowing before Him and worshipping Him until the certainty of death arrives.
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•Benefits-
There are 99 verses in this 'makki' Surah. It is narrated from the Holy Prophet (S) that whoever recites Surah Hijr will get the reward equal to the number of Muhajireen and Ansaar (companions of the Holy Prophet [S.]) and this Surah should be written with saffron and then worn as a talisman by a new mother who cannot produce enough milk for her child.
If written and tied on one's arm, it makes any business conducted by the wearer to be profitable and makes people like doing business with him. His sustenance thus increases. In a narration by Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) one can also put this Surah (written) inside the pocket or safe (for storing valuables).
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•A Summary of The Verses Being Recited On The 14th Night Of Taraawee
A summary of the verses being recited.
14th of Ramadhaan (Juzz 14 [15:1 to 16:128])
To be recited Monday Night (Aug 23)
Surah 15 – al-Hijr – “The Rocky Tract”
Summary: A Meccan Surah which takes its name after the people of al-Hijr mentioned in verse 80 and revealed after Surah Yusuf, as such the time in which it was revealed was the period between the Year of Sorrow and the Prophet’s migrating to Madinah. Persecution of the Prophet and his followers was at its peak and Islam was making little headway in the face of opposition and resistance. The Pagan Arabs are warned through portrayal of the fates of earlier nations and the true reasons behind their opposition is revealed. Satan’s insistence on corrupting people is highlighted and the Prophet is consoled and enjoined to hold fast to the truth and to be patient and steadfast. The Truth is protected by Allah.
VersesDescription
15:1-15Revelation, disbelievers response to, taunts against the Prophet (SAW); Warning the disbelievers; Allah preserves the Qur’an; Messengers before were mocked and taunted
15:16-25Creation of the heaven and earth; Guarding of heaven from devils; Allah as Provider; Allah as giver of life and death; Resurrection
15:26-30Origin of Man: Creation of man and jinn; Creation of Adam
15:31-49Man and his Sworn Enemy: Satan refusing to bow down; His being cast out of Paradise; His misguiding man; Allah will protect His sincere servants; Hell is for those who follow Satan; Reward of Paradise; Allah is forgiving and One who punishes
15:50-77Lessons from History: Story of the guests of Abraham; Story of Lot and the destruction of his people
15:78-84Lessons from History: Story of the forest-dwellers; Story of the people of Hijr
15:85-99The Path of Truth: Creation has a purpose; Revelation, those who abuse the Qur’an; Duty of the Prophet, his grief at what the disbelievers say; Allah is enough for the believers; Worship Allah till the grave
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Hadith's-
He is Abu Bakr Abdullah Abu'Bakr'as Siddik, the vicegerent of the apostle of God whose name s A'bdu'llah-b-Abi Kuhafah Othman, b-A'amir, b-A'mr, b-Kaa'b, b-Saa'd, b-Taym, b-Murrah, b-Kaa'b, b-Luwayy, b-Ghalib, al Kurayshi, at Taymi, unites with the genealogy of the Apostle of God in Murrah." An Nawawi in his Tahdib says " What I have stated regarding the name of Abu Bakr being A'bdu'llah, is correct, and well known. It is said also, that his name was Atik {the Liberated), but the truth upon which all the learned are agreed is, that al A'tik was his surname, not a name, and he was surnamed al A'tik on account of his exemption from hell fire. ((The Completed history 2/268) (( Tareekh Khalifa bin Khayat 100 ). ((AlSira AlNabaweiah w Akhbar Kholafaa 419 )
Suyuti said: and it is also said, that he was surnamed as (ATIQ) on account of the " itakat" of his countenance, that is to say, its comeliness and its beauty. It is said likewise that there is nothing in his genealogy which can be found fault with.
Musa'b-b-uz Zubayr and others say, that the people concurred in naming him as Siddik (Witness to the Truth), because he hastened to testify to the Apostle of God, and steadfastly
adhered to truth, and there never escaped from him on any one of the many events of his life any remissness or hesitation, and he held exalted positions in Islam. Among those events, were his conduct regarding the Nocturnal journey, and his steadfastness and reply to the unbelievers regarding it, and his flight with the Apostle of God, and his forsaking his family and children, and his being with the Apostle in the cave, and throughout the
whole journey : then his exhortations on the day of Badr, and the day of HudaybiyahJ when the delay in entering Mecca, was the occasion of grave doubts to others : then his weeping when Apostle of God said " Verily, God hath given his servant a choice between this world and the next :" then his firmness on the day of the death of the Apostle of God, and his
reading the Khutbah to the people and consoling them : then, in the contention regarding the oath of allegiance, his undertaking the charge for the good of the true believers : next, his diligence in despatching the army of Usamah-b-Zayd to Syria, and his determination regarding it : then his rising up to oppose the apostates, and his dispute with the Companions, until he overwhelmed them with arguments-and God opened their hearts
as He had opened his heart to the understanding of the truth, viz., to do, battle with the apostates : then his fitting out the army for Syria for his conquests and sending it succour : lastly the conclusion of this career by an important action which was among the best of his good deeds, and the most glorious of his titles to honor, and that was, his appointing Omar
as his successor over the true believers : and what virtues, and dignities, and excellencies without number belong not to the Witness to the Truth ?"
(An Nawawi) stated : I add that I am desirous of enlarging upon the biography of as Siddik to some extent, mentioning therein much of what I know of him regarding his life, and I shall arrange this in sections (Tareekh al khulafa - History of the Caliphs- 35-36 ) , a virtues to be added to him which is the collection of the Quran.
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