The Stone Valley
Al-Ḥijr
الحِجر
LEARNING POINTS
The idol-worshippers like to make fun of the truth, but will regret it on Judgment Day.
The Quran was revealed by Allah and He will always protect it.
Allah is the Master Creator Who takes care of His creation.
Shaytan acted arrogantly with Allah and promised to mislead those who follow him.
This surah mentions stories of nations that were destroyed in the past, as a warning to the Makkan idol-worshippers.
The Prophet (ﷺ) is told to be patient and find comfort in patience and prayer.
WARNING TO THE DISBELIEVERS
1Alif-Lam-Ra. These are the verses of the Book-the clear Quran. 2'The day will come when' the disbelievers will wish they had submitted 'to Allah'. 3'So' let them eat and enjoy themselves and be distracted by 'false' hope; they will soon see. 4We have never destroyed a society without a set time. 5No people can speed up or delay their doom.
الٓرۚ تِلۡكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَقُرۡءَانٖ مُّبِين 1رُّبَمَا يَوَدُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوۡ كَانُواْ مُسۡلِمِينَ 2ذَرۡهُمۡ يَأۡكُلُواْ وَيَتَمَتَّعُواْ وَيُلۡهِهِمُ ٱلۡأَمَلُۖ فَسَوۡفَ يَعۡلَمُونَ 3وَمَآ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مِن قَرۡيَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٞ مَّعۡلُومٞ 4مَّا تَسۡبِقُ مِنۡ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسۡتَٔۡخِرُونَ5
Verse 2: They will wish they had been Muslims.
THE MAKKANS MOCK THE PROPHET
6Still, they say, 'O you who claim to have received the Reminder!² You must be insane!' 7Why do you not bring us the angels, if what you say is true? 8But We only send the angels down to bring justice, and then the end of these people will not be delayed. 9Surely We have re-vealed the Reminder, and We will defi-nitely protect it.
وَقَالُواْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِي نُزِّلَ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلذِّكۡرُ إِنَّكَ لَمَجۡنُونٞ 6لَّوۡ مَا تَأۡتِينَا بِٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ 7مَا نُنَزِّلُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَمَا كَانُوٓاْ إِذٗا مُّنظَرِينَ 8إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ9
Verse 6: The Quran.
CONTINUOUS DISBELIEF
10We already sent messengers before you 'O Prophet' among the groups of early peoples, 11but no messenger ever came to them without being mocked. 12This is how We allow disbelief to 'creep' into the hearts of the wicked. 13They would not believe in this 'Quran', even though the examples of those 'destroyed' before them are so many. 14And even if We opened for them a gate to heaven, through which they continued to climb, 15Still they would say, 'Our eyes have certainly been deceived! In fact, we must be under a spell.'
وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ فِي شِيَعِ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ 10وَمَا يَأۡتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ 11كَذَٰلِكَ نَسۡلُكُهُۥ فِي قُلُوبِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ 12لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِهِۦ وَقَدۡ خَلَتۡ سُنَّةُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ 13وَلَوۡ فَتَحۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم بَابٗا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَظَلُّواْ فِيهِ يَعۡرُجُونَ 14لَقَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتۡ أَبۡصَٰرُنَا بَلۡ نَحۡنُ قَوۡمٞ مَّسۡحُورُونَ15
ALLAH'S POWER
16Surely, We have placed sets of stars in the sky, and decorated it for all to see. 17And We protected it from every cursed devil. 18But whoever tries to listen secretly is chased by a shooting star:³ 19As for the earth, We spread it out and put on it stable mountains, and caused every-thing to grow there in perfect balance. 20And We made in it all means of sup-port for you and others, who you do not provide for. 21There is nothing that We do not have in unlimited supply, only re-leasing it in perfect measure. 22We send the winds to fertilize, and bring down rain from the sky for you to drink. It is not you who control its sources. 23Surely We give life and cause death. And every-thing belongs to Us after all. 24We know exactly those who lived before you and those who will come after. 25Surely your Lord 'alone' will gather them together 'for judgment'. He truly has perfect wisdom and knowledge.
وَلَقَدۡ جَعَلۡنَا فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ بُرُوجٗا وَزَيَّنَّٰهَا لِلنَّٰظِرِينَ 16وَحَفِظۡنَٰهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيۡطَٰنٖ رَّجِيمٍ 17إِلَّا مَنِ ٱسۡتَرَقَ ٱلسَّمۡعَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُۥ شِهَابٞ مُّبِينٞ 18وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَدَدۡنَٰهَا وَأَلۡقَيۡنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِيَ وَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ مَّوۡزُون 19وَجَعَلۡنَا لَكُمۡ فِيهَا مَعَٰيِشَ وَمَن لَّسۡتُمۡ لَهُۥ بِرَٰزِقِينَ 20وَإِن مِّن شَيۡءٍ إِلَّا عِندَنَا خَزَآئِنُهُۥ وَمَا نُنَزِّلُهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِقَدَرٖ مَّعۡلُوم 21وَأَرۡسَلۡنَا ٱلرِّيَٰحَ لَوَٰقِحَ فَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَسۡقَيۡنَٰكُمُوهُ وَمَآ أَنتُمۡ لَهُۥ بِخَٰزِنِينَ 22وَإِنَّا لَنَحۡنُ نُحۡيِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَنَحۡنُ ٱلۡوَٰرِثُونَ 23وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡنَا ٱلۡمُسۡتَقۡدِمِينَ مِنكُمۡ وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡنَا ٱلۡمُسۡتَٔۡخِرِينَ 24وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَحۡشُرُهُمۡۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٞ25
Verse 18: Some jinn used to listen secretly to the angels in heaven so they could report this information to their human partners. But this practice stopped when the Prophet was sent with the message of Islam. See 72:8-10.
BACKGROUND STORY
As we mentioned in Surah 38, Shaytan was created from fire, and Adam (A.S.) was created from clay. Shaytan is a jinn, not an angel (18:50). When Allah created Adam (A.S.), He told the angels that He was going to put him on earth as an authority. Since Shaytan worshipped Allah a lot, he was always in the company of the angels assigned to worship Allah all the time. When Allah ordered those angels to bow down to Adam (A.S.), Shaytan was standing with them. They all bowed down, except for Shaytan. He protested, "I'm better than him—I was created from fire and he was created from clay. Why should I bow down to him?" So when Shaytan disobeyed Allah, he lost his place among the angels and was kicked out of Allah's mercy because of his arrogance. {Imam Ibn Kathir}
WORDS OF WISDOM
Someone may ask, "Why does the Quran say that Allah created Adam (A.S.) from dust in one place and mud or clay in other places?" According to the Quran, Adam (A.S.) was first created from dust, which turned into mud, and later into clay before developing into a man. This is just like when a baker describes the process of making bread. He or she might say they made the bread from grain, or they might say they made it from flour, or from dough. All of these are true because they're just different stages of the same process.
CREATION OF ADAM
26Surely, We created the first man from dry clay moulded from old mud. 27As for the first jinn, We created him earli-er from smokeless fire. 28'Remember, O Prophet' when your Lord said to the an-gels, 'I am going to create a human be-ing from dry clay moulded from old mud. 29So when I have perfectly shaped him and had a spirit of My Own 'creation' breathed into him, bow down to him'
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن صَلۡصَٰلٖ مِّنۡ حَمَإٖ مَّسۡنُون 26وَٱلۡجَآنَّ خَلَقۡنَٰهُ مِن قَبۡلُ مِن نَّارِ ٱلسَّمُومِ 27وَإِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّي خَٰلِقُۢ بَشَرٗا مِّن صَلۡصَٰلٖ مِّنۡ حَمَإٖ مَّسۡنُون 28فَإِذَا سَوَّيۡتُهُۥ وَنَفَخۡتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُواْ لَهُۥ سَٰجِدِينَ29
WORDS OF WISDOM
Someone may ask, "If Shaytan is so evil, why did Allah create him in the first place?" We need to understand that Allah is the Most Wise; He always does things based on His infinite knowledge and wisdom. Sometimes we understand His wisdom, sometimes we don't. According to Imam Ibn Al-Qayim (in his book 'Shifa' Al-Alil' 'Healing the Sick'), maybe Allah created Shaytan to:
• Show us His creative powers by creating opposites. For example, He created the day and night, heat and cold, angels and devils, etc.
• Prove to us who is really sincere in their worship and who is not. Everybody can claim to be a good Muslim. Only the test of Shaytan will show who is sincere and who is not. In the same way, everyone standing on a beach may claim they are good swimmers. Being in the water is the only thing that can show who is a good swimmer and who is not.
• Humble us so we don't become arrogant. Iblis had so much knowledge and he worshipped Allah a lot. This made him too proud. The scholars say that a sin that humbles you and makes you repent is better than a good deed that makes you arrogant.
WORDS OF WISDOM
Someone may ask, "In verse 39, Shaytan promises to mislead people. How does he do that?" Shaytan usually deceives people with doubts (for example, by asking who created Allah and why do people circle the Ka'bah 7 times) as well as desires (greed for money, authority, etc.). The following are some of his tricks: making evil things look good and dressing haram as halal.
He convinces people that they are still young so they can do whatever they want and maybe repent later. He makes people think they are better than others. He makes sinners lose hope in the mercy of Allah. He makes a person rush into a sin without thinking about the consequences. He makes a person make a decision or take action when they are angry, which is something they might regret for the rest of their life. He causes people to lose the reward of their good deeds, for example, when people pray then cheat, when they give charity and then show off, and so on. He slowly traps a person into sin. For example, it would be difficult to get a person to rob a bank at first. So Shaytan would start by convincing that person to steal a pencil, then $10, then $1,000. Later, robbing a bank would seem okay.
In 4:76, Allah tells us that the tricks of Shaytan are weak. According to 7:200, we should seek Allah's protection against Shaytan's tricks.
SATAN'S ARROGANCE
30So the angels bowed down all together 31but not Iblis, who refused to bow down with the others, 32Allah asked, 'O Iblis! What is the matter with you that you did not bow with the others?' 33He replied, 'It is not suitable for me to bow down to a human You created from dry clay moulded from old mud' 34Allah ordered, 'Then get out of here; you are truly cursed.' 35And you are definitely doomed until Judgment Day.'
فَسَجَدَ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ كُلُّهُمۡ أَجۡمَعُونَ 30إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ أَبَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ مَعَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ 31قَالَ يَٰٓإِبۡلِيسُ مَا لَكَ أَلَّا تَكُونَ مَعَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ 32قَالَ لَمۡ أَكُن لِّأَسۡجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقۡتَهُۥ مِن صَلۡصَٰلٖ مِّنۡ حَمَإٖ مَّسۡنُونٖ 33قَالَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ مِنۡهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِي 34وَإِنَّ عَلَيۡكَ ٱللَّعۡنَةَ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ35
SATAN'S REQUEST
36Satan begged, 'My Lord! Then delay my end until the Day they are raised from the dead' 37Allah said, 'You will be delayed 38until the set Day.' 39Satan replied, 'My Lord! For letting me stray, I will certainly deceive them on earth and mislead them all together, 40eXcept Your chosen servants among them.' 41Allah said, 'This is a duty I must keep: 42you will have no authority over My 'faithful' servants, except the misguided who fol-low you. 43And those will all end up in Hell. 44It has seven gates, to each gate a group of them will be assigned.”
قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنظِرۡنِيٓ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ يُبۡعَثُونَ 36قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُنظَرِينَ 37إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡوَقۡتِ ٱلۡمَعۡلُومِ 38قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَغۡوَيۡتَنِي لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَأُغۡوِيَنَّهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ 39إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنۡهُمُ ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِينَ 40قَالَ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ عَلَيَّ مُسۡتَقِيمٌ 41إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيۡسَ لَكَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ سُلۡطَٰنٌ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡغَاوِينَ 42وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوۡعِدُهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ 43لَهَا سَبۡعَةُ أَبۡوَٰبٖ لِّكُلِّ بَابٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ جُزۡءٞ مَّقۡسُومٌ44
THE FAITHFUL IN JANNAH
45Surely, the faithful will be in the mid-dle of Gardens and springs, 46'They will be told,' 'Enter in peace and security.' 47We will remove whatever bad feelings they had in their hearts. Like a family, they will be on thrones, facing each oth-er. 48There, they will never suffer or be asked to leave.
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّٰتٖ وَعُيُونٍ 45ٱدۡخُلُوهَا بِسَلَٰمٍ ءَامِنِينَ 46وَنَزَعۡنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنۡ غِلٍّ إِخۡوَٰنًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٖ مُّتَقَٰبِلِينَ 47لَا يَمَسُّهُمۡ فِيهَا نَصَبٞ وَمَا هُم مِّنۡهَا بِمُخۡرَجِينَ48
Verse 47: Meaning the bad feelings they had in their hearts towards other believers who have wronged them in this life.
ALLAH'S MERCY & PUNISHMENT
49Tell My servants 'O Prophet' that I am truly the Forgiving and Merciful, 50and that My punishment is really the most painful.
نَبِّئۡ عِبَادِيٓ أَنِّيٓ أَنَا ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 49وَأَنَّ عَذَابِي هُوَ ٱلۡعَذَابُ ٱلۡأَلِيمُ50
IBRAHIM VISITED BY ANGELS
51And tell them 'O Prophet' about Ibra-him's guests. 52When they came to him, they greeted 'him with', 'Peace!' He 'lat-er' said, 'We are really afraid of you.'⁶ 53They said, 'Do not be afraid! We give you good news of a son blessed with knowledge' 54He wondered, 'How can you give me this good news in such old age? What unlikely news!' 55They re-plied, 'We give you good news in all truth, so do not lose hope' 56He said, 'Only the misguided would lose hope in the mercy of their Lord' 57He added, 'What is your mission, O messenger-angels?' 58They replied, 'We have actu-ally been sent against a wicked people. 59As for the family of Lut, we will cer-tainly save them all, 60except his wife. We have counted her among the doomed.'
وَنَبِّئۡهُمۡ عَن ضَيۡفِ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ 51إِذۡ دَخَلُواْ عَلَيۡهِ فَقَالُواْ سَلَٰمٗا قَالَ إِنَّا مِنكُمۡ وَجِلُونَ 52قَالُواْ لَا تَوۡجَلۡ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيم 53قَالَ أَبَشَّرۡتُمُونِي عَلَىٰٓ أَن مَّسَّنِيَ ٱلۡكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ 54قَالُواْ بَشَّرۡنَٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡقَٰنِطِينَ 55قَالَ وَمَن يَقۡنَطُ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ 56قَالَ فَمَا خَطۡبُكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ 57قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّآ أُرۡسِلۡنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمٖ مُّجۡرِمِينَ 58إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطٍ إِنَّا لَمُنَجُّوهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ 59إِلَّا ٱمۡرَأَتَهُۥ قَدَّرۡنَآ إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ ٱلۡغَٰبِرِينَ60
Verse 52: As mentioned in 11:69-70., the angels came to Ibra-him in the form of men and when he offered them food, they did not eat. According to ancient Middle Eastern culture, if the guest refused to eat, that was a sign that he probably wanted to harm the host.
LUT VISITED BY ANGELS
61Then when the messengers came to the family of Lut, 62he said, 'You must be strangers!' 63They responded, 'In fact, we are bringing the punishment which those deniers' have been doubting. 64We come to you with the truth, and we are really serious. 65So travel with your family in the dark of night, and walk right behind them. Do not let any of you look back, and go where you are told. 66We revealed to him this decision: 'Those 'sinners' will be wiped out in the morning'
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ءَالَ لُوطٍ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ 61قَالَ إِنَّكُمۡ قَوۡمٞ مُّنكَرُونَ 62قَالُواْ بَلۡ جِئۡنَٰكَ بِمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَمۡتَرُونَ 63وَأَتَيۡنَٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِنَّا لَصَٰدِقُونَ 64فَأَسۡرِ بِأَهۡلِكَ بِقِطۡعٖ مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱتَّبِعۡ أَدۡبَٰرَهُمۡ وَلَا يَلۡتَفِتۡ مِنكُمۡ أَحَدٞ وَٱمۡضُواْ حَيۡثُ تُؤۡمَرُونَ 65وَقَضَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡأَمۡرَ أَنَّ دَابِرَ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ مَقۡطُوعٞ مُّصۡبِحِينَ66
DESTRUCTION OF THE PEOPLE OF LUT
67And there came the 'men' of the city, very excited. 68Lut said, 'These are my guests, so do not embarrass me. 69Fear Allah, and do not humiliate me' 70They protested, 'Have we not banned you from defending anyone?' 71He replied, 'O my people! Here are my daughters⁷ 'so marry them' if you wish to do that.' 72By your life 'O Prophet' they were totally blinded by desire.⁸ 73So the 'mighty' blast hit them at sunrise. 74And We turned those cities upside down and rained upon them stones of baked clay. 75Surely in this are signs for those with sharp minds. 76Their ruins still exist along the road. 77Surely in this is a sign for those who believe.
وَجَآءَ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ يَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ 67٦٧ قَالَ إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ ضَيۡفِي فَلَا تَفۡضَحُونِ 68وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُخۡزُونِ 69قَالُوٓاْ أَوَ لَمۡ نَنۡهَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ 70قَالَ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ بَنَاتِيٓ إِن كُنتُمۡ فَٰعِلِينَ 71لَعَمۡرُكَ إِنَّهُمۡ لَفِي سَكۡرَتِهِمۡ يَعۡمَهُونَ 72فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلصَّيۡحَةُ مُشۡرِقِينَ 73فَجَعَلۡنَا عَٰلِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ حِجَارَةٗ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ 74إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّلۡمُتَوَسِّمِينَ 75وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٖ مُّقِيمٍ 76إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ77
Verse 71: The single women of his community.
Verse 72: This is the only time in the Quran where Allah swears by the life of a human being. Elsewhere Allah swears by the sun, the moon, the stars, and other wonders of His creation.
THE PEOPLE OF SHU'AIB
78Also, the people of the Forest always did wrong, 79SO We hit them with pun-ishment. The ruins of both nations still exist on a well-known route.
وَإِن كَانَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡأَيۡكَةِ لَظَٰلِمِينَ 78فَٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ وَإِنَّهُمَا لَبِإِمَامٖ مُّبِينٖ79
THE PEOPLE OF ṢĀLIḤ
80Surely, the people of the Stone Valley also denied the messengers.⁹ 81We gave them Our signs, but they turned away from them. 82They carved their homes in the mountains, feeling secure. 83But the 'mighty' blast hit them in the morn-ing, 84and whatever they achieved did not help them.
وَلَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡحِجۡرِ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ 80وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا فَكَانُواْ عَنۡهَا مُعۡرِضِينَ 81وَكَانُواْ يَنۡحِتُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا ءَامِنِينَ 82فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلصَّيۡحَةُ مُصۡبِحِينَ 83فَمَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ84
Verse 80: Denying Ṣāliḥ was equal to denying all of Allah's messengers.
ADVICE TO THE PROPHET
85We have not created the heavens and the earth and everything in between except for a purpose. And the 'Hour of Judgment' is coming for sure, so forgive kindly. 86Your Lord is truly the Master Creator, full of knowledge. 87We have certainly given you the seven frequently repeated verses,¹⁰ along with the great Quran. 88Do not let your eyes desire the 'little' pleasures that We have given some of those 'deniers' or feel sorry for them. And be kind towards the believers.
وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَأٓتِيَةٞۖ فَٱصۡفَحِ ٱلصَّفۡحَ ٱلۡجَمِيلَ 85إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلۡخَلَّٰقُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ 86وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَٰكَ سَبۡعٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡمَثَانِي وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ ٱلۡعَظِيمَ 87لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيۡنَيۡكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعۡنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزۡوَٰجٗا مِّنۡهُمۡ وَلَا تَحۡزَنۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَٱخۡفِضۡ جَنَاحَكَ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ88
Verse 87: Surah 1 of the Quran, Al-Fatihah, which is repeated a total of 17 times in the daily prayers.
MORE ADVICE TO THE PROPHET
89And say, 'I am truly sent with a clear warning'- 90a warning' similar to what We sent to those who pick and choose 'from holy books', 91Who 'now accept parts of the Quran and reject others.'¹¹ 92So by your Lord! We will definite-ly question them all 93about what they used to do. 94So declare whatever you have been commanded, and turn away from the idol-worshippers. 95Surely We are enough to deal with those who mock you, 96who set up 'other' gods with Al-lah. They will soon see.
وَقُلۡ إِنِّيٓ أَنَا ٱلنَّذِيرُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ 89كَمَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡمُقۡتَسِمِينَ 90ٱلَّذِينَ جَعَلُواْ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ عِضِينَ 91فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسَۡٔلَنَّهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ 92عَمَّا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ 93فَٱصۡدَعۡ بِمَا تُؤۡمَرُ وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ 94إِنَّا كَفَيۡنَٰكَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَهۡزِءِينَ 95ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡعَلُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَۚ فَسَوۡفَ يَعۡلَمُونَ96
Verse 91: They reject the parts of the Quran that say that Allah is One, Muhammad is His Prophet, and Judgment Day is true.
SIDE STORY
There was a famous Muslim scientist named Ibn Sina. His books on medicine were taught in European schools for centuries. He made an interesting experiment by putting 2 lambs in 2 separate cages. Both lambs were the same age and weight, and were fed with the same food. All conditions were equal. However, he put a wolf in a separate cage, where only one lamb could see and hear the wolf but not the other lamb. Over the next few weeks, the lamb that always saw and heard the wolf became cranky and restless and started losing weight. Eventually, this lamb died, while the other lamb that didn't see or hear the wolf was very healthy. Although the wolf did nothing to that poor lamb, the fear and stress that lamb experienced led to its death. But the other lamb that didn't go through this scary experience lived a peaceful life and developed a strong body. In this experiment, Ibn Sina showed the importance of mental health and staying away from things that cause stress and anxiety.
WORDS OF WISDOM
People usually get sad or frustrated when they don't feel appreciated or when they are bullied, rejected, mocked, or falsely accused. Sometimes people put themselves into stress over small issues by thinking that everything is working against them. For example: when they are late for an appointment and all traffic lights turn red for them; their device keeps breaking down, but when they finally take it to get it fixed, it seems to work perfectly; or they stumble on a household item like a screwdriver all the time, but when they actually need it, it's nowhere to be found.
However, as soon as they are hit with a bigger test (let's say, when they fall sick, lose their job, their car breaks down, or a close relative dies), they forget about those small issues. One practical way to avoid stressing over an issue is to imagine that you have only one day to live. Ask yourself, "If this was my last day, would I spend it worrying about small issues or focusing on more important things?"
If someone is struggling with anxiety and mental health issues, they should seek professional help.
WORDS OF WISDOM
'Don't be sad!' This is the advice that Allah always gives to the Prophet (ﷺ) and other prophets in the Quran. You can also see the same advice given to Maryam in verse 19:24 and the mother of Musa (A.S.) in 28:7.
Verses 97-99 instruct the Prophet (ﷺ) to turn to Allah for support when he feels down. He always made du'a, asking for Allah's protection from all worries. It's reported that he used to say, "O Allah! I seek protection in You from worry and sadness, from weakness and laziness, from acting cowardly and failing to share, from being burdened with debts and overpowered by others." {Imam Al-Bukhari}
SUPPORTING THE PROPHET
97We know very well that your heart is truly stressed by what they say. 98So praise the glory of your Lord and be one of those who always pray, 99and wor-ship your Lord until the sure end¹² comes your way.
وَلَقَدۡ نَعۡلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدۡرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ 97فَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ 98وَٱعۡبُدۡ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأۡتِيَكَ ٱلۡيَقِينُ99
Verse 99: Lit., what is certain-death.