Messenger Muhammad suffered from the abuse of disbelievers of Mecca. However, he did not meet their harassment and abuse in the same manner. Rather, he was extremely patient with them and treated them with the utmost forgiveness, hoping that they might reconsider their position and follow the right path that pleases Allah, Islam. The following part gives some guidelines to Messenger Muhammad. They constitute lasting instructions and lessons for his followers until the Day of Judgment.
We have not created the heavens, the earth, and all that is between them but in conformity with the truth. Indeed, the Hour is coming. So pardon, with a gracious pardoning. [Q15:85]
Indeed, your Lord is the all-Creator, the all-Knowing. [Q 15:86]
Indeed, We have given you the seven oft-repeated ayat and the Glorious Quran. [Q 15: 87]
Do not look desirously at what We have given groups of them to enjoy, nor grieve for them. And be tenderly humble with the believers. [Q15:88]
Say, ‘Indeed, I am the clear warner.’ [Q 15:89]
Relationship with the Previous Part
The previous part mentions that Allah destroyed the disbelieving nations, who rejected to follow their messengers. Someone may say, ‘How could tormenting and destroying befit Allah, the Most Merciful? The reply to this inquiry is that Allah, Exalted be He, has created people to worship Him alone and obey His commands. If they refuse to worship Him and obey His commands, wisdom necessitates that they should be tormented and destroyed to purify the earth from the evildoers.
Tafsir
Allah, Exalted be He, directs people to reflect on aspects of His ability in the creation of the heavens, the earth, and all that is between them. He also directs them to ponder on the fact that the creation of this universe is in conformity with the truth, justice, and wisdom.
We have not created the heavens, the earth, and all that is between them but in conformity with the truth. Indeed, the Hour is coming. So pardon, with a gracious pardoning. [Q15:85]
Allah has not created the heavens, the earth, and all that is between them but in conformity with the truth, which is completely free any falsehood. Moreover, justice and wisdom are essential components on which the creation of this universe is based.
[Indeed, the Hour is coming.]
The Hour refers to the Day of Judgment. Thus, the meaning is as follows: Indeed, the Day of Judgment is coming soon. On that day every person will take his rights, every wrongdoer will be punished for his sins, and every good doer will be rewarded for his righteousness.
This is a threat to the oppressors and tyrants that no matter how long they may enjoy in the worldly life, oppress people, and disobey Allah, they will be recompensed for their deeds on the Day of Judgment.
[So pardon, with a gracious pardoning.]
O Messenger Muhammad! The foundations of this universe are truthfulness, justice, and wisdom. The Day of Judgment is certainly coming. Thus, forgive graciously those who disbelieve in Islam without being grieved nor sad until Allah judges between you and them.
This is a consolation to Messenger Muhammad. Allah commanded him to forgive his enemies with a gracious pardoning. A person who forgives people’s abuse is usually strong and enjoys sublime ethics. It is as if Allah is saying to Messenger Muhammad, ‘Forgive the disbelievers. You will certainly be victorious.’
Forgiving people in a gracious manner is to meet their offense with forgiveness to attain a reward from Allah. Gracious forgiving is also free from grudge, malice, and verbal and non-verbal abuse.
Indeed, your Lord is the all-Creator, the all-Knowing. [Q 15:86]
Indeed, Allah, Exalted be He, has created all creatures. He fully knows everything about them. Allah’s knowledge is comprehensive and nothing of the affairs of His creation is hidden from Him.
Allah knew that forgiving the disbelievers was the right course of conduct that Messenger Muhammad should adopt and that great results would stem from practicing it. Messenger Muhammad and his companions attained victory in later years, and some disbelieves embraced Islam and became supporting power for Islamic call after they were its sworn enemies.
Then, Allah, Exalted be He, consoled Messenger Muhammad and reminded him of his bounty on him so that he would be assured.
Indeed, We have given you the seven oft-repeated ayat and the Glorious Quran. [Q 15: 87]
The seven oft-repeated Ayat refer to surah al-Fatihah. It was called so because it has seven ayat, and it is recited in every rak’a ‘a unit in the prayer.’
O Messenger! We have given you surah al-Fatihah, which contains seven ayat, and the Glorious Quran, which guides people to the right path.
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Messenger said, ‘The mother of the Quran, i.e. surah al-Fatihah, is the seven oft-repeated ayat that I have been given. [Tafsir at-Tabari]’
The scholars mention different interpretations for ‘the seven oft-repeated ayat’. Some scholars say that it refers to surah al-Fatihah, and others say that it refers to the seven longest surahs in the Quran. Other scholars say that it refers to the fact that seven types of meanings are in the Quran, i.e. commands, prohibition, giving good news, warning, presenting examples, mentioning bounties of Allah, and stories of the nations. Other scholars say that the entire Quran is oft-repeated ayat.
After elaborately mentioning the statements of the scholars about the meaning of the seven oft-repeated ayat, Imam Muhammad bin Jarir at-Tabari said, ‘The most correct opinion is that the oft-repeated ayat refer to surah al-Fatihah because there is an authentic prophetic narration supporting it. Moreover, it is possible that ‘the seven oft-repeated ayat’ refers to the entire ayat of the Quran because stories and news are repeated therein. [Tafsir at-Tabari]’
Then, Allah, Exalted be He, prohibits the Muslims, represented in the personality of Messenger Muhammad from seeking desirously the pleasures of the worldly life.
Do not look desirously at what We have given groups of them to enjoy, nor grieve for them. And be tenderly humble with the believers. [Q15:88]
O Messenger! Do not seek desirously the pleasures of the worldly that We have given some wealthy people, who do not believe in the Hereafter to enjoy them in the worldly life. Their final abode will be Hell. You will have what is better than that in the Hereafter. Moreover, We have honored you in the worldly life by giving you the seven oft-repeated ayat and the Glorious Quran. Do not grieve for their disbelief in Islam. Your duty is only to convey the message, and it is not to force them to embrace Islam.
[And be tenderly humble with the believers.]
O Messenger! Be tenderly humble with the believers and make them close to you. Do not be harsh with them.
[Do not look desirously at what We have given groups of them to enjoy.]
A literal translation of the ayat will be as follows: [Do not turn your eyes longingly to …] In fact, the eyes do not turn longingly, but rather the eyesight. However, the graphic style of the Quran depicts the eyes as if they were turning longingly to the pleasures of the worldly life. It is a funny picture when it is imagined. The intended meaning is that it is a commandment to Messenger Muhammad not to desirously seek the pleasures of the worldly life, which Allah has granted to some people to test them. It does not befit him to care about such pleasure, admire it, or wish for it. Indeed, it is a fleeting and passing thing. He has the everlasting truth, i.e. the seven oft-repeated ayat and the Glorious Quran. This remark is sufficient to contrast between the great truth, and immense bounty that Messenger Muhammad has, and the trivial enjoyment that glitters despite its insignificance. [Fi Zilal al-Quran Sayyid Qutub]
Say, ‘Indeed, I am the clear warner.’ [Q 15:89]
O Messenger! Say to the disbelievers, ‘I am a warner, who clearly warn you of the torment and punishment of Allah that will befall you if you keep on disbelieving in Allah’s Oneness and disobey His commands.’
Abu Musa al-Asha’ry, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Messenger Muhammad said, ‘My example and the example of what Allah has sent me with is like a man, who came to his people. He said, ‘O my people! I have seen the enemy’s army with my own eyes. Indeed, I am the naked warner, so protect yourselves.’ Then, a group of his people obeyed him. They fled at night and proceed slowly, so they were saved. And another group of them disbelieved him, so they remained in their places until the morning. Thus, their enemy attacked them in the morning and destroyed them. That example is like a person who obeys me and follows what I have brought, and a person who disobeys me and disbelieves in the truth I have brought. [Sahih al-Bukhari]’
Learned Lessons from Surah al-Hijr ayah 85-89
• Allah, Exalted be He, has not created the creatures for nothing. Rather, He has created them to worship Him alone.
• Gracious forgiveness is to forgive those who harm you without reproofing and without anger.
• Allah is all-Able and all-Knowing. Nothing of the affairs of the creatures is hidden from Him, Exalted be He.
• Allah’s bounty on Prophet and Messenger Muhammad is great. He has granted him the seven oft-repeated ayat, i.e. surah al-Fatihah, and the Glorious Quran.
• The propagators to Islam should not seek desirously the enjoyments of the worldly life, as they are fleeting. What Allah has granted them, i.e. belief in Islam, knowledge, and righteousness, is better than the pleasures of the worldly life.
• It is recommended that the Muslim treat his fellows Muslims humbly and mercifully.
• The duty of the Messenger Muhammad was only to convey the message of Islam to people, and warn them of the torment of Allah if they disobey him. Similarly, the duty of the propagators to Islam is to convey the message of Islam and warn people of Allah’s punishment if they disbelieve in Allah, Exalted be He.
English Translation of Surah al-Hijr
Quran, Tafsir ibn Kathir, Surah al-Hijr
Toward Understanding the Quran, Surah al-Hijr
Introduction to Tafsir of Surah al-Hijr
Tafsir of Surah al-Hijr Ayah: 1-9 No Punishment without Warning
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