QURAN CHAPTER - 57
Al-Hadeed - The Iron
Revealed - Madinan
Ruku - 4
Ayat - 29
Theme - The theme of this Surah is to encourage the Muslims to spend in the cause of Allah.
- At the most critical juncture of the history of Islam when it was engaged in a life and death struggle against Arab paganism, this Surah was revealed to persuade the Muslim's to make monetary sacrifices in particular, and to make them realize that Islam did not merely consist in verbal affirmation and some outward practices but its essence and spirit is sincerity towards Allah and His Religion.
- For this object, first the attributes of Allah Almighty have been mentioned so that the listeners may fully realize as to Who is addressing them.
The following have been expressed in sequence:
(1) The inevitable demand of the Faith is that one should not hesitate spending one's wealth for the sake of Allah.
- For the wealth indeed belongs to Allah, on which man has been given proprietary rights only as His vicegerent.
(2) Although making sacrifices for the sake of Allah is commendable in any case, the true worth of these sacrifices is determined by the nature of the occasion.
- Those who sacrifice their lives and expend their wealth to further promote the cause of Islam when it is already strong cannot attain to the rank of those who struggled with their lives and their wealth to promote and uphold the cause of Islam when it was weak.
(3) Whatever is spent for the cause of the Truth is a loan on Allah, and Allah will not only return it increasing it manifold but will also give from Himself the best reward for it.
(4) In the Hereafter the Light shall be bestowed only on those believers who would have spent their wealth in the cause of Allah.
(5) The Muslims should not behave like those followers of the earlier Books, whose lives have been spent in the worship of the world and whose hearts have become hardened due to negligence with the passage of time.
- He cannot be a believer whose heart does not melt at the remembrance of Allah and does not bow to the Truth sent down by Him.
(6) The sincere upholders of the Truth and the true witnesses of the Faith in the sight of Allah are only those believers who spend their wealth in His way sincerely, without any desire of show.
(7) The life of this world is only a short lived spring and a means of pride and show. The everlasting life is the life hereafter when results of great consequence will be announced.
- Therefore, if one has to vie (compete) with another for something, one should strive for Paradise.
(8) Whatever good man meets with and whatever hardship he suffers in the world, are pre-ordained by Allah. A true believer is he who does not lose heart in affliction and is not puffed up with pride in good times.
(9) Allah sent His Messengers with clear signs and the Book and the Law of Justice so that the people may adhere to justice; besides, He sent down iron also so that power may be used to establish the Truth and vanquish (defeat) falsehood.
(10) Prophets came from Allah in the past, and by their preaching some people adopted the Right Path, but most of them persisted in wickedness.
- Then the Prophet Jesus came, whose teachings brought about many moral improvements in the lives of the people, but his community invented monasticism.
- Now Allah has sent the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), those who affirm faith in him and pass their life fearing Allah's accountability, will be given by Allah a double share of His mercy.
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