Overview - Surah 57: al-Hadid (The Iron )
This Surah takes its name from the Ayat, وَأَنزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ "...And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might ..." (57:25).
There are 29 Ayat in this Surah.
Sections:
- All knowledge and authority belongs to God. Have faith in Allah's power, make sacrifice and give charity for the cause of truth.
- Light and Life are for the Believers. The disbelievers walk in darkness. Warning to those who refuse to acknowledge Allah. Sincere in faith are those who are willing to sacrifice and help the poor and needy..
- The life of this world is temporary. Compete with each other in doing good things to receive the eternal reward from Allah. Prophets were sent to establish justice with authority.
- References to Prophets Noah, Ibrahim, and Jesus -peace be upon them all. All Prophets preached same message, but some of their followers went into extremes. The Christians thus invented monasticism for themselves. It was not commanded by God. The Believers are asked to have faith and walk in the light of Allah. The final success belongs to the Believers.
Overview
| Total Ayat | 29 |
| Total Words * | 574 |
| Root Words * | 180 |
| Unique Root Words * | 0 |
| Makki / Madani | Madani |
| Chronological Order* | 94th (according to Ibn Abbas) |
| Year of Revelation* | 17th year of Prophethood (4th Year Hijri) |
| Events during/before this Surah*
, Battle of Uhud, Change of Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah - Battle of Badr, Migration from Makkah to Madinah - Building of Masjid Nabi in Madinah - Treaty with Jews of Madinah - Marriage of Prophet to Aishah, , 2nd Pledge of Aqabah, 1st Pledge of Aqabah, Death of Abu Talib - Death of Khadijah - Stoning at Ta'if - al-Isra wal Mi'raj - Night Journey, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 3, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 2, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 1, 2nd Migration to Abyssinia, Physical beating and torture of some Muslims - 1st Migration of Muslims to Abyssinia, Public Invitation to Islam - Persecution of Muslims; antagonism - ridicule - derision - accusation - abuse and false propaganda., Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam
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| Events during/after still to occur*
Battle of Ahzab - Expedition of Banu Quraydhah,Treaty of Hudaiybiyah - Letters to Kings and Rulers,,Conquest of Makkah - Battle of Hunain,Hajj led by Abu Bakr - Expedition of Tabuk,Farewell Hajj by Prophet - Death of Prophet - End of Divine Revelation
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| Names of Prophets Mentioned
Nuh, Ibrahim, Isa
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| Surah Index
Abraham, God (ability to do anything) , God (grants life and death) , God (is the) (First and the Last), God (is the) (Outward and Inward), Behaviour (conceit discouraged) , Charity, Charity (niggardliness) , Children, Earth, Earth (creation of) (in six days), Earth (inclination of rotational axis to orbital plane) , Gospel, Hell, Hypocrites, Iron, Jews (and Christians) (have no rights to claim God’s bounty exclusively), Jihad, Judgement (Day) , Materialism, Metallurgy (iron) , Monastic asceticism (some types criticised) , Noah, Revelation, Sexes (equality of) , Weather (rain)
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The theme of this Surah is to exhort the Muslims to spend in the cause of God. 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 realise that Islam did not merely consist in verbal affirmation and some outward practices but its essence and spirit is sincerity towards God and His Religion. The faith of the one who was devoid of this spirit and who regarded his own self and wealth as dearer to himself than God and His Religion, was hollow and therefore of little worth in the sight of God. For this object, first the attributes of God Almighty have been mentioned so that the listeners may fully realise as to Who is addressing them. Then, the following themes have been expressed in sequence:
1. The inevitable demand of the Faith is that one should not avoid spending one’s wealth for the sake of God. This would not only be contrary to the Faith but also wrong realistically. For the wealth indeed belongs to God, on which man has been given proprietary rights only as His vicegerent. Yesterday this wealth was in other people’s possession; today it is with one particular man, and tomorrow it will pass into someone else’s hand. Ultimately, it will go back to God, Who is the inheritor of everything in the universe. The only amount of wealth that will be of any use to a man, is that amount which he spends in the cause of God during the period it is in his possession.
2. Although making sacrifices for the sake of God is commendable in any case, the true worth of these sacrifices is determined by the nature of the occasion. There is an occasion when the power of paganism is overwhelming and there is a danger that it might subdue and overcome Islam completely; there is another occasion when Islam is in a stronger position in its struggle against un-Islam and the believers are attaining victories. Both these states are not equal as regards their respective importance. Therefore, the sacrifices that are made in these different states would also not be equal. 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 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 God, and God 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 God. As for the hypocrites who watched and served only their own interests in the world, and who least bothered whether the Truth or falsehood prevailed will be segregated from the believers in the Hereafter although they might have lived in close association with them in the world. They will be deprived of the Light, and they will be counted among the disbelievers.
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 God 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 God 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. Its sports and pastimes, its adornments and decorations, its pride of place, its wealth and possessions, for which the people try to oppose with one another, are transient. Its likeness is of the crop which flourishes and blooms, then turns pale and then finally is reduced to chaff. The everlasting life, is the life hereafter when results of great consequence will be announced. Therefore, if one has to complete with another for something, one should strive for Paradise.
8. Whatever good man meets with and whatever hardship he suffers in the world, are preordained by God. A true believer is he who does not lose heart in affliction and is not puffed up with pride in good times. It is the character of a hypocrite and disbeliever that he is puffed up with pride when God favours him with His blessings, behaved boastfully and shows stinginess when called upon to spend in the cause of the same God Who blessed him, and also counsels others to be stingy like himself.
9. God 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 falsehood. Thus, God likes to see as to who from among the people would rise to support and aid His true Religion even at the risk of their lives. These opportunities God has created for man’s own advantage and development; otherwise God does not stand in need of others for His works.
10. Prophets came from God 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 God has sent the Prophet Muhammad. Those who affirm faith in him and pass their life fearing God’s accountability, will be given by God a double share of His mercy and He will bless them with the Light by which they will see and walk the straight path among the crooked paths met with at every step in the life of this world. Although the followers of the earlier revelation regard themselves as the monopolists of God’s bounties, the fact remains that God Himself controls His bounties He may bless with these whomever He pleases.
Allah Almighty has strenghtened His slaves by sending down Iron to them. Iron has many benefits for humanity, including weapons for battle. Iron is a crucial building block of steel and is even involved in nourishing plants and helping carry oxygen in our blood. Iron is a brittle, hard substance, classified as a metal in Group 8 on the Periodic Table of the Elements. The most abundant of all metals, its pure form rapidly corrodes from exposure to moist air and high temperatures. Iron is also the fourth most common element in Earth's crust by weight and much of Earth's core is thought to be composed of iron.
Ninety percent of all metal that is refined these days is iron, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry. Most of it is used to make steel — an alloy of iron and carbon — which is in turn used in manufacturing and civil engineering.
Manuscripts / Inscriptions
328/940
328/940
3rd /4th Century Hijrah
3rd /4th Century Hijrah
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
- Surah al-Waqiah ends with فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ "So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great." (56:96) and Surah al-Hadeed begins with, سَبَّحَ لِلَّـهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ "Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Allah, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise." (57:1)
- The word Nur [Light] has been used a number of times. (57:9) (57:12) (57:13) (57:19) (57:28)
Total Word Count per Ayat (shows how many words per Ayat) = 0* | ||
| # | Root Word | Frequency in Surah | Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | أ ل ه | 32 | 2851 |
| 2. | ٱلَّذِى | 16 | 1464 |
| 3. | أ م ن | 14 | 879 |
| 4. | ر س ل | 10 | 513 |
| 5. | أ ر ض | 9 | 461 |
| 6. | س م و | 7 | 381 |
| 7. | ع ل م | 7 | 854 |
| 8. | ن ف ق | 7 | 111 |
| 9. | ن و ر | 7 | 194 |
| 10. | أ ت ي | 7 | 549 |
| Root Word | Frequency in Surah |
Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|
| أ ل ه | 32 | 2851 |
| ٱلَّذِى | 16 | 1464 |
| أ م ن | 14 | 879 |
| ر س ل | 10 | 513 |
| أ ر ض | 9 | 461 |
| س م و | 7 | 381 |
| ع ل م | 7 | 854 |
| ن ف ق | 7 | 111 |
| ن و ر | 7 | 194 |
| أ ت ي | 7 | 549 |
This is unanimously a Madīnan Surah, and a study of its subject matter shows that it was probably sent down some time during the interval between the Battle of Uhud and the Truce of Hudaibiyah. This was the time when the tiny Islamic State of Madīnah had been hemmed in by the disbelievers and the handful of the ill equipped Muslims were entrenched against the combined power of entire Arabia. In this state Islam not only stood in need of the sacrifice of Life from its followers, but it also needed monetary help and assistance. In this Surah a forceful appeal has been made for the same. This view is further strengthened by verse 10 in which God has addressed the believers to the effect: “Those of you who would spend and fight after the victory can never be equal to those who have spent and fought before the victory.” And the same is supported by the traditions that Ibn Marduyah has related on the authority of Anas (a famous companion), in respect of v16, “Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of God…”, he says that 17 years after the commencement of the revelation of the Qur’an this verse was sent down to arouse the believers to action. Thus it is thought that the period of the revelation of this Surah falls between the 4th and 5th year after the migration (Hijra).
- Allah created the heavens and earth in six periods and has the knowledge of everything.
- Wealth truely belongs to Allah. He gives it to Man as a responsibility. (57:7)
- A reminder of the contract that Man has with Allah (57:8)
- The superiority of those who spent their wealth in charity before the conquest (57:10)
- The situation of the apostates and hypocrites on the Day of Judgement (57:13) (57:15)
- On that Day, the true believers will have their light shining before them while the hypocrites will have a fate similar to the disbelievers.
- Those who spend in charity will be repaid manyfold and also be given a liberal reward besides it.
- The life of this world is but play, amusement and illusion.
- Do not grieve for the things that you miss, nor overjoy at what you gain.
- Prophets Nuh, Ibrahim and Isa (Jesus) were sent for guidance to the Right Path, as for the monasticism, people instituted it themselves.
Tafsir Zone
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Sayyid Qutb Overview (Verses 25 - 27) Far Back in History The third part of the surah briefly outlines the history of the divine message, starting with Noah and Abraham. It states its aims and objectives in people's lives, referring briefly to the conditions of the people of earlier revelations, particularly those who followed Jesus (peace be upon him). In essence, the divine message is the same. All messengers preached it, equipped with clear evidence of the truth it teaches. Most of them were also given miracles of a preternatural kind. Some were given books of scripture. In reference to this, the surah says, through them We bestowed the book from on high,' making them all one unit in the same way as all divine revelations are one. This confirms the unity of the divine message. The divine message also sets `the balance,' because all divine messages were given to establish a proper balance in human life to which people should refer in their evaluation of actions, events, people, indeed in everything. It is this balance that keeps human life safe from conflicting desires and interests that pull in different directions. The balance does not give special favour to anyone because it works for all on the basis of divine truth. It does no injustice to anyone because God is the Lord of all. This balance or standard bestowed by God is the only guarantee of safety for humanity in the midst of tempests, earthquakes and other turmoil that overwhelms it as it finds itself in the middle of an ocean of conflicting desires and sentiments, competition and selfishness. Hence it is imperative that people should have an accurately balanced and steady standard that points them to the truth, justice and fairness with no favouritism whatsoever. The purpose of this balance, then, is "that people could uphold justice." (Verse 25) This accurate balance that is an essential part of divine law is indispensable. Without it, people would not be able to recognize justice. Even if they recognized it, it would not remain steady and consistent in their hands. "We have also sent down iron, with its mighty strength and diverse uses for mankind. Thus God may mark out those who would stand up for Him and His messengers, even though He is beyond the reach of human perception." (Verse 25) The phrase, We have also sent down iron,' is similar to the statement, 'He has bestowed on you four kinds of cattle in pairs.' (39: 6) Both refer to God's will and planning as He creates things and events. Thus, they are all sent down, or bestowed from on high, by God's will and wisdom. Use here of the expression `sent down' in reference to iron ensures harmony within the verse which speaks of sending down, or bestowing from on high, the book setting the balance. Likewise, everything God creates is according to His accurate planning. So, God has sent down iron which gives strength in war and peace. In addition to its `mighty strength', iron provides diverse uses for mankind.' Indeed the present human civilization is based primarily on iron and its uses. "Thus God may mark out those who would stand up for Him and His messengers, even though He is beyond the reach of human perception." (Verse 25) This is a reference to using arms in Jihad, or striving for God's cause. This is the appropriate place to refer to such striving in the surah that speaks of sacrifice of life and property for God's cause. The comment at the end of the verse explains the meaning of people 'standing up' for Him and His messengers. It means standing up for and advocating His message. God Himself is in no need of support from any quarter: "God is indeed powerful, almighty." (Verse 25) The slit-1th then speaks of the unity of the divine message in the men who advocated it, i.e. His messengers. They are all descendants of Noah and Abraham. "And We sent Noah and Abraham, and gave prophethood and revelation to their descendants." (Verse 26) They form a single tree, with interlinked branches stretching wide, bearing prophethood and receiving divine revelations, stretching from the dawn of humanity at the time of Noah. When it reached the time of Abraham, it branched out further. Thus all prophethood belonged to that main branch that has become a root in its own right. The offspring to whom prophets and messengers were sent were not of the same type: "Among them there are some who were rightly guided, but many who were transgressors." (Verse 26) Towards the end of the line, Jesus was sent with his message: "We sent other messengers to follow in their footsteps. After these We sent Jesus, son of Mary." (Verse 27) He followed in the footsteps of earlier messengers from among the descendants of Noah and Abraham, making the divine message a continuous chain, with one coming after another, up to Jesus' own time. At this point, the surah mentions a prominent characteristic of those who followed Jesus: "We gave him the Gospel and put compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who truly follow him." (Verse 27) These are the natural fruits of his message that emphasizes spiritual purity. Indeed such compassion and mercy are clearly noticed among those who truly believe in Jesus' message and who properly follow him. Other verses in the Qur'an refer to these qualities. History has given us some images of these, with reports about Negus, the ruler of Abyssinia, and the Christian delegation from Najran who came to the city of Islam willing to accept it, motivated by the truth established in their hearts, since they truly followed Jesus, son of Mary. The surah mentions another phenomenon that prevailed among the followers of Jesus: "As for monastic asceticism, We did not enjoin it upon them. They invented it themselves out of a desire for God's goodly acceptance." (Verse 27) The weightier explanation of this statement is that monastic asceticism, well known in Christian history, was a personal choice, an invention made by some of Jesus' followers who sought to win God's acceptance. Through it, they sought to steer themselves away from the burdens of this life and its many attractions. It was not something that God imposed on them in the first place. Yet when they made this choice, binding themselves to it, they were committed before God to observe its requirements such as purity, contentment, chastity, worship and piety; this so as to dedicate themselves to God's cause. However, such asceticism lost its grip on reality, and ended up as mere rituals devoid of spirituality. Many are those who make a show of it, without real substance. The fact is that only the very few are capable of rigorously fulfilling its requirements: "Even so, they did not observe it as it should properly be observed. So We gave those of them who truly believed their due reward, but many of them were transgressors. (Verse 27) God does not value people by appearances and rituals; He assigns their value on the basis of their actions and intentions. He holds them to account on the basis of what they truly feel and how they actually conduct themselves. He alone knows the reality of what they harbour in their hearts. |
Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
Mawdudi
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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- Surah 57. Al-Hadid - Saad al Ghamidi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIer4EUOP5w&index=57&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN
- Surah 57. Al-Hadid Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyQG-sAhIyo&index=57&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM
- Surah 57. Al-Hadid Muhammad Al Luhaydan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii1hs2lFo1k&index=57&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe
- Idris Akbar Surah Al-Hadid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJEnT87MtL0
- Surah 57. Al-Hadid Muhammad Minshawi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT2aHknVVCE&index=57&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-Hadeed to Surah Al-Mujadilah1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WqErc6GQ8E&index=99&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
- Surah Al Hadeed to Surah Al Mujadilah2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bFljDD4CYQ&index=100&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
