Surah Al Hadid Notes (21-24)

Source: Ibn Kathir

(21) Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord (Allah), and towards Paradise, the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He pleases. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.

(Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord, and Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth,) 

Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah,

(And march forth in the way (to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who have Taqwa.)(3:133) 

Allah said here,

(prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He is pleased with. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty.) meaning, "This, that Allah has qualified them for, is all a part of His favor, bounty, and compassion.'' We mentioned a Hadith collected in the Sahih in which the poor emigrants said to the Messenger, "O Allah's Messenger! The wealthy people will get higher grades and permanent enjoyment.'' He asked,

(Why is that) They said, "They pray like us and fast as we do. However, they give in charity, whereas we cannot do that, and that free servant, whereas we cannot afford it.'' The Prophet said, (Shall I tell you of a good deed that, if you acted upon, you would catch up with those who have surpassed you none would overtake you and be better than you, except those who might do the same. Say, "Glorious is Allah,'' "Allah is Most Great,'' and "Praise be to Allah,'' thirty-three times each after every prayer.) They later came back and said, "Our wealthy brethren heard what we did and they started doing the same.'' Allah's Messenger said,

This is the favor of Allah that He gives to whom He wills.)

Everything that affects Mankind, is duly measured and destined

(22) No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz), before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah.

Allah reminds of His measuring and deciding the destiny of all things before He created the creation,

(No calamity occurs on the earth nor in yourselves) meaning, `there is nothing that touches you or happens in existence,'

(but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees before We bring it into existence.) meaning, `before We created the creation and started life.' 

Qatadah commented on this Ayah,

(No calamity occurs on the earth) refers to famine, while

(or nor in yourselves) refers to suffering and diseases.'' He also said, "We were told that every person who suffers a prick of a thorn, a twisted ankle, or a bleeding vein, have it occur on account of his sins. What Allah forgives is even more.'' This great, honorable Ayah provides clear evidence to the misguidance of the cursed Qadariyyah sect, who deny Allah's Preordaihnent and His knowledge of everything before it occurs. 

Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah say,

(Allah ordained the measures (of everything) fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth.)'' Muslim collected this Hadith in his Sahih with the addition: (And His Throne was over the water.) At-Tirmidhi also collected it and said, "Hasan Sahih.'' 

Allah's statement,

(Verily, that is easy for Allah.) means that He knows all things before they occur, and He records them exactly as they will occur when they occur, and this is easy for Him. Verily, Allah knows what happened, what will happen and what did not happen, and what shape and form it will take if it were to happen.

Ordering Patience and Gratitude

(23) In order that you may not be sad over matters that you fail to get, nor rejoice because of that which has been given to you. And Allah likes not prideful boasters.

Allah said,

(In order that you may not grieve at the things over that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you.) meaning, `We informed you of Our encompassing knowledge, recording all things before they occur and creating all things in a due measure known to Us, so that you may know that what has met you would never have missed you and what has missed you would never have met you. Therefore, do not grieve for what you have missed of fortune because had it been destined for you, you would have achieved it.' (It is also recited:) (nor rejoice over that which came to you) meaning, come to you. According to the recitation,

it means (which has been given to you.) Both meanings are related. Allah says here, `do not boast before people about what Allah has favored you with because it is not you who earned it by your efforts. Rather, all this came your way because Allah destined them for you and provided them for you as provisions. Therefore, do not use what Allah has granted you as a reason to boast and become arrogant with others.' 

Allah's statement,

(And Allah likes, not prideful boasters.) meaning, who acts arrogantly with other people. `Ikrimah commented by saying, "Everyone of us feels happiness and grief. However, make your joy with gratitude and endure your grief with patience.''

Censuring the Stinginess

(24) Those who are misers and enjoin upon people miserliness (Allah is not in need of their charity). And whosoever turns away (from Faith Allah's Monotheism), then Allah is Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise.

Allah the Exalted then said,

(Those who are misers and enjoin miserliness upon people.) meaning those who commit evil and encourage people to commit it,

(And whosoever turns away,) from abiding by Allah's commandments and obeying Him,

(then Allah is Rich, Worthy of all praise.) As Musa, peace be upon him, said,

(If you disbelieve, you and all on earth together, then verily, Allah is Rich, Owner of all praise.)(14:8)