Overview - Surah 15: al-Hijr (The Valley of Stone)
The main theme of the Surah is divine guidance, and people's response. Allah's warns those who deny this message and as a reminder of these warnings, we have here the stories of Prophet Lot's people, Thamud and other groups.
Sections:
- Qur'an is the Books of Allah. He revealed it and He will guard it.
- Allah knows everything in the universe. He is the Creator of all.
- The creation of human being is from a very humble stuff, but Allah honored him and asked angels to bow down to Adam. Satan's response.
- Allah is very forgiving, but His punishment is also severe.
- Prophet Lot and Prophet Shu'aib's people.
- The People of Hijr and what happened to them. Qur'an and Surah al-Fatihah are special gifts of Allah. Allah will take care of those who ridicule His message
It is named ‘Hijr’ after the valley located between Madinah and Sham [Greater Syria], where the people of Salih, Thamud lived.
There are 99 Ayat in this Surah.
Overview
| Total Ayat | 99 |
| Total Words * | 655 |
| Root Words * | 210 |
| Unique Root Words * | 3 |
| Makki / Madani | Makki |
| Chronological Order* | 54th (according to Ibn Abbas) |
| Year of Revelation* | 9th year of Prophethood |
| Events during/before this Surah*
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*
Death of Abu Talib - Death of Khadijah - Stoning at Ta'if - al-Isra wal Mi'raj - Night Journey,1st Pledge of Aqabah,2nd Pledge of Aqabah,,Migration from Makkah to Madinah - Building of Masjid Nabi in Madinah - Treaty with Jews of Madinah - Marriage of Prophet to Aishah,Change of Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah - Battle of Badr,Battle of Uhud,,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
Lut, Ibrahim
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| Surah Index
Abraham, Angels, Angels (not sent to satisfy whims) , Astronomy (constellations) , Communications (overhearing the Host on high) , Death (those communities who have no revelation will not be destroyed) , Earth, Friends (avoid active disbelievers) , Future (learning of it through divination forbidden) , Hell, Humankind (creation of) , Humankind (creation of) (from clay), Humankind (creation of) (from dark transmuted slime), Iblis, Jinn, Jinn (created of fire) , Judgement (Day) , Lot, Madyan, Materialism (envy forbidden) , Mountains, Prayer (prostration) , Qur’an, Resurrection (of soul) , Revelation, Thamud, Thamud (rock dwellings) , Weather (rain) , Weather (wind) , Weather (wind) (to pollinate)
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Theme 1: Allah protects and preserves His Deen [religion]
Though the main topics of the Surah are :
a. warning to those who rejected his Message, opposed it tooth and nail and ridiculed him.
b. comfort and encouragement to the Prophet
It does not mean that this Surah does not contain admonition and instructions. As a matter of fact the Qur’an never confines itself to mere warning; rebuke and censure but resorts to precept in every suitable place. Accordingly this Surah contains brief arguments for Monotheism (Tawhid) on the one hand and admonition in the story of Adam and Satan on the other.
At the beginning and end of the surah there are profound statements about the Qur’an – 15:9 “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.” And in 15:87 “And We have certainly given you, [O Muhammad], seven of the often repeated [verses] and the great Qur'an.”
Manuscripts / Inscriptions
764 H 1363 CE
764 H 1363 CE
1037-1194 CE
1037-1194 CE
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
Total Word Count per Ayat (shows how many words per Ayat) = 3* | ||
| # | Root Word | Frequency in Surah | Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | ق و ل | 25 | 1722 |
| 2. | ك و ن | 16 | 1390 |
| 3. | إِلَّا | 13 | 663 |
| 4. | ع ل م | 12 | 854 |
| 5. | ر ب ب | 9 | 980 |
| 6. | أ ت ي | 7 | 549 |
| 7. | ر س ل | 7 | 513 |
| 8. | ب ش ر | 7 | 123 |
| 9. | ن ز ل | 6 | 293 |
| 10. | خ ل ق | 6 | 261 |
| Root Word | Frequency in Surah |
Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|
| ق و ل | 25 | 1722 |
| ك و ن | 16 | 1390 |
| إِلَّا | 13 | 663 |
| ع ل م | 12 | 854 |
| ر ب ب | 9 | 980 |
| أ ت ي | 7 | 549 |
| ر س ل | 7 | 513 |
| ب ش ر | 7 | 123 |
| ن ز ل | 6 | 293 |
| خ ل ق | 6 | 261 |
“This surah was revealed in Makkah, after the revelation of Surah 12, Joseph. The time was a very critical one, falling as it did between the ‘year of sorrow’ when the Prophet lost his wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib and the year when the Prophet migrated to Madinah. The surah thus reflects the needs and requirements of this difficult period.” [Ref: Qutb, Fi Dhilal]
“It is clear from its topics and style that the period of its revelation is similar to that of Surah 14: Ibraheem (Abraham) as two things are quite prominent in its background. Firstly, it appears from the repeated warnings in this Surah that despite the fact that the Prophet had been propagating the Message for many years his people in general had not shown any inclination towards its acceptance, nay they had become more and more obdurate and stubborn in their antagonism, enmity and ridicule with the passage of time. Secondly by that time the Prophet had begun to feel a little tired of making strenuous efforts to eradicate disbelief and opposition of his people. That is why God has consoled and comforted him over and over again by way of encouragement..” [Ref: Mawdudi]
- The Qur'an is a Divine Book.
- Allah protects His Book (15:9), the heavans (15:17), provisions, (15:21), water on earth (15:22), Adam and his children (15:39-40), Ibrahim and his nephew by saving them from the plots of their people, the Prophet Shuayb and finally the Prophet Muhammad (15:95) [verification of Ayat numbers required]
- On the Day of Judgement, the disbelievers will wish that they had become Muslims.
- Allah Himself has taken the responsibility of preserving and safeguarding Al-Qur'an.
- Admonition through the story of Adam's creation, prostration of the angels before him, and refusal of Shaitan to prostrate.
- The Prophet Ibrahim was given the good news of having a son by the same two angels who were assigned to destroy the nation of Lut.
- Al-Fatiha is also named, "seven verses worthy of oft-recitation."
- Divine order to proclaim the commandments of Allah publicly and turn away from the mushrikin.
Tafsir Zone
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Overview (Verse 9) Preservation of the Qur’ān The sūrah then calls on them to look carefully on God’s guidance and reflect on it. God only sends down the angels with the truth. He commands them to establish and implement it. In the case of persistent unbelievers, the truth is to destroy them. Not only do they deserve this, but it is also inevitable. Such destruction, then, is a truth in itself and the angels carry it out without delay. God chooses for them what is better than the choice they make for themselves. He gives them the Reminder so that they may reflect on it and follow its guidance. This is much better than sending down the angels with the final truth, if only they would reflect: “It is We Ourselves who have bestowed this reminder from on high, and it is We who shall preserve it intact.” (Verse 9) It is much better for them, then, to approach it positively, because it will remain intact, suffering no loss or change. It will remain pure, unaffected by falsehood, free of distortion. It guides them to the truth with God’s care, if they really want the truth. If they were asking for angels to make sure of it, they should know that God does not wish to send down angels for them, because He wants what is better for them. Hence, He sent down the Reminder which is preserved intact. That is better than sending angels to destroy them. When we look today, after the passage of many centuries, at the fulfilment of God’s promise to preserve the Qur’ān, we see a great miracle testifying to the fact that it is God’s book. We see that the circumstances and situations that it has endured over the centuries could not have left it intact, suffering no change of even a single sentence or a single word, without the interference of a superior power. That power, which is greater than all situations, factors and circumstances, has preserved this book keeping it pure from change or distortion. There was a time when many sects and groups sought to find support for their ideas in the Qur’ān and the Ĥadīth. The resulting conflict was fuelled by the Jews, the diehard enemies of this faith, and by those who advocated nationalism. These were known in Islamic history as Shu`ūbiyyīn. These groups sought to introduce foreign elements into the Sunnah. Only the colossal efforts of scores of bright, pious and meticulous scholars, over several decades, purged the Ĥadīth from that which did not belong to it. In times of conflict and strife, such sects deliberately misinterpreted Qur’ānic verses, twisting Qur’ānic texts so that they could cite them in support of their views and rulings. But they were all, even in the darkest and hardest circumstances, totally unable to introduce a single change into the text of the Qur’ān, the book God has guaranteed to preserve. Its text has remained exactly as it was revealed by God, providing a challenge to every would-be perpetrator of distortion. This is irrefutable testimony to the fact that this Qur’ān is God’s own book and He is the One who guarantees its preservation. A Guarantee for All Time Muslims generally have gone through a time, which we continue to endure these days, when they have been too weak to defend themselves, or their faith, way of life, land, honour, property, moral values or even their reasoning and intellectual faculties. Their enemies have managed to replace every moral value, sound belief, virtuous practice, and legal standard they have had with something foul and alien. They have tempted Muslims to accept loose morality and shameless behaviour. What is more, such behaviour has been given attractive titles such as progress, advancement, secularism, freedom, breaking one’s shackles, revolution and innovation, etc. Muslims have thus become Muslims only by name. They have retained practically nothing of their profound faith. Hence, their power has been sapped, and they have become little more than the scum that floats on the surface of a river. Yet in spite of all their attempts, the enemies of this religion have not been able to change the text of the Qur’ān, or to distort it. This is not due to any lack of motive. They would indeed have loved dearly to alter its text if that were at all possible. But try as hard as they might, they have been unable to achieve their goal. The enemies of this faith, particularly its Jewish elements, have utilized their great expertise, stretching over four thousand years, in scheming against the divine faith. Indeed, they have even been successful in many ways. For example, they succeeded in introducing some foreign elements into the Sunnah and the history of the Muslim nation. They have been able to falsify events and even implant their own people within the Muslim community so that they could play roles they could not otherwise do. They managed to destroy states, communities, systems and laws, and to dress some of their traitors in a heroic guise so that they continued their destructive work against the Muslim community. Although they have done this throughout history, they have been more successful in modern times. One thing, however, they have not been able to achieve, although circumstances appear to make it seem easy, is tamper with this preserved book, which receives no protection from people who allege to believe in it. This is yet further evidence, if any were needed, that this is God’s book. The fact that it has remained free of all distortion in spite of these conditions testifies to the fact that it was revealed by God Almighty. At the time of the Prophet, this promise to preserve the Qur’ān intact sounded a mere promise. Today, however, after all these great events and long centuries, it is indeed a great miracle confirming the indisputable fact that it is God’s revealed book. No one disputes this fact except a stubborn, ignorant fool. “It is We Ourselves who have bestowed this reminder from on high, and it is We who shall preserve it intact.” (Verse 9) God certainly tells the truth. |
Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
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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Overview (Verse 9) Preservation of the Qur’ān The sūrah then calls on them to look carefully on God’s guidance and reflect on it. God only sends down the angels with the truth. He commands them to establish and implement it. In the case of persistent unbelievers, the truth is to destroy them. Not only do they deserve this, but it is also inevitable. Such destruction, then, is a truth in itself and the angels carry it out without delay. God chooses for them what is better than the choice they make for themselves. He gives them the Reminder so that they may reflect on it and follow its guidance. This is much better than sending down the angels with the final truth, if only they would reflect: “It is We Ourselves who have bestowed this reminder from on high, and it is We who shall preserve it intact.” (Verse 9) It is much better for them, then, to approach it positively, because it will remain intact, suffering no loss or change. It will remain pure, unaffected by falsehood, free of distortion. It guides them to the truth with God’s care, if they really want the truth. If they were asking for angels to make sure of it, they should know that God does not wish to send down angels for them, because He wants what is better for them. Hence, He sent down the Reminder which is preserved intact. That is better than sending angels to destroy them. When we look today, after the passage of many centuries, at the fulfilment of God’s promise to preserve the Qur’ān, we see a great miracle testifying to the fact that it is God’s book. We see that the circumstances and situations that it has endured over the centuries could not have left it intact, suffering no change of even a single sentence or a single word, without the interference of a superior power. That power, which is greater than all situations, factors and circumstances, has preserved this book keeping it pure from change or distortion. There was a time when many sects and groups sought to find support for their ideas in the Qur’ān and the Ĥadīth. The resulting conflict was fuelled by the Jews, the diehard enemies of this faith, and by those who advocated nationalism. These were known in Islamic history as Shu`ūbiyyīn. These groups sought to introduce foreign elements into the Sunnah. Only the colossal efforts of scores of bright, pious and meticulous scholars, over several decades, purged the Ĥadīth from that which did not belong to it. In times of conflict and strife, such sects deliberately misinterpreted Qur’ānic verses, twisting Qur’ānic texts so that they could cite them in support of their views and rulings. But they were all, even in the darkest and hardest circumstances, totally unable to introduce a single change into the text of the Qur’ān, the book God has guaranteed to preserve. Its text has remained exactly as it was revealed by God, providing a challenge to every would-be perpetrator of distortion. This is irrefutable testimony to the fact that this Qur’ān is God’s own book and He is the One who guarantees its preservation. A Guarantee for All Time Muslims generally have gone through a time, which we continue to endure these days, when they have been too weak to defend themselves, or their faith, way of life, land, honour, property, moral values or even their reasoning and intellectual faculties. Their enemies have managed to replace every moral value, sound belief, virtuous practice, and legal standard they have had with something foul and alien. They have tempted Muslims to accept loose morality and shameless behaviour. What is more, such behaviour has been given attractive titles such as progress, advancement, secularism, freedom, breaking one’s shackles, revolution and innovation, etc. Muslims have thus become Muslims only by name. They have retained practically nothing of their profound faith. Hence, their power has been sapped, and they have become little more than the scum that floats on the surface of a river. Yet in spite of all their attempts, the enemies of this religion have not been able to change the text of the Qur’ān, or to distort it. This is not due to any lack of motive. They would indeed have loved dearly to alter its text if that were at all possible. But try as hard as they might, they have been unable to achieve their goal. The enemies of this faith, particularly its Jewish elements, have utilized their great expertise, stretching over four thousand years, in scheming against the divine faith. Indeed, they have even been successful in many ways. For example, they succeeded in introducing some foreign elements into the Sunnah and the history of the Muslim nation. They have been able to falsify events and even implant their own people within the Muslim community so that they could play roles they could not otherwise do. They managed to destroy states, communities, systems and laws, and to dress some of their traitors in a heroic guise so that they continued their destructive work against the Muslim community. Although they have done this throughout history, they have been more successful in modern times. One thing, however, they have not been able to achieve, although circumstances appear to make it seem easy, is tamper with this preserved book, which receives no protection from people who allege to believe in it. This is yet further evidence, if any were needed, that this is God’s book. The fact that it has remained free of all distortion in spite of these conditions testifies to the fact that it was revealed by God Almighty. At the time of the Prophet, this promise to preserve the Qur’ān intact sounded a mere promise. Today, however, after all these great events and long centuries, it is indeed a great miracle confirming the indisputable fact that it is God’s revealed book. No one disputes this fact except a stubborn, ignorant fool. “It is We Ourselves who have bestowed this reminder from on high, and it is We who shall preserve it intact.” (Verse 9) God certainly tells the truth. |
- Surah 15. Al-Hijr - Saad al Ghamidi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvlchpsEhWw&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN&index=15
- Surah 15. Al-Hijr Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MstV_Kbp9_4&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM&index=15
- Surah 15. Al-Hijr Muhammad Al Luhaydan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHnL6SvX4d4&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe&index=15
- Idris Akbar Surah Hijr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ6kdndUmpw
- Surah 15. Al-Hijr muhammad Minshawi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGOHF57JukM&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG&index=15
