Verse 25: ​​Indeed, We sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and with them We sent down the Scripture and the balance ˹of justice˺ so that people may administer justice. And We sent down iron with its great might, benefits for humanity, and means for Allah to prove who ˹is willing to˺ stand up for Him and His messengers without seeing Him. Surely Allah is All-Powerful, Almighty.

Verse 26: And indeed, We sent Noah and Abraham and reserved prophethood and revelation for their descendants. Some of them are ˹rightly˺ guided, while most are rebellious.

Verse 27: Then in the footsteps of these ˹prophets˺, We sent Our messengers, and ˹after them˺ We sent Jesus, son of Mary, and granted him the Gospel, and instilled compassion and mercy into the hearts of his followers. As for monasticism, they made it up—We never ordained it for them—only seeking to please Allah, yet they did not ˹even˺ observe it strictly. So We rewarded those of them who were faithful. But most of them are rebellious.

Verse 28: O believers! Fear Allah and believe in His Messenger. And˺ He will grant you a double share of His mercy, provide you with a light to walk in ˹on Judgment Day˺, and forgive you. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Verse 29: ˹This is so˺ that the People of the Book ˹who deny the Prophet˺ may know that they do not have any control over Allah’s grace, and that all grace is in Allah’s Hands. He grants it to whomever He wills. For Allah is the Lord of infinite bounty.

What is the purpose of revelation?

Allah sends down revelation so that we may be guided and successful. Additionally, revelation is meant to establish balance and therefore justice in the world. “…While justice should align with moral and ethical standards, above all, it must be correct and pleasing to Allah.

Social justice without the Source of Justice falls short and can lead to sinfulness and great harm for society.

Revelation is one type of bayyinat (clear proof), which are sent for the purpose of making “the truth accessible for those whose hearts are sincere and minds are intellectually receptive.”

The Prophet said: ‘There has never been a Prophet amongst the prophets who was not bestowed with a sign (i.e., proof) amongst the signs which were bestowed (on the earlier prophets). Human beings believed in those signs, and verily I have been given revelation (the Qur’an), which Allah revealed to me. I hope that I will have the greatest following on the Day of Resurrection’ (Sahih Muslim 152).

The Greatest Messengers

The ulul ‘azmi min al- rusul (greatest messengers of firm resolve) are:

• Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him)
• Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him)
• Musa (Moses, peace be upon him)
• Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him)
• The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

In these ayat, Allah informs us that while some of the descendants of Prophets Nuh and Ibrahim are guided, the majority reject the truth. This highlights for us an important principle in Islam:

Guidance (and by extension sin) is not inherited from one’s ancestors. Each person has the choice to accept or reject the truth and will be judged according to their sincerity and good deeds.

The Injil (Gospel)

Allah sent the Injil (Gospel) to Prophet Isa (peace be upon him). This book was not preserved and was instead changed and corrupted, with many of the original teachings lost or intentionally omitted. From the Islamic perspective, anything mentioned in the New Testament or Old Testament, is either confirmed to be true in the Qur’an and authentic hadith, rejected if it contradicts the Qur’an and hadith, or we remain silent about it if it’s not referenced in our sources and has no conflict with the overall message of the final revelation.

The Descent of Iron

In verse 25, Allah informs us that He sent down iron for the benefit of mankind. Throughout history, iron has played an important role in the development of objects necessary for livelihood, such as coins, tools and farming equipment. Today, iron is used across various industries, such as transportation, technology, and energy. Further, iron is an essential mineral required for our growth and survival, and it cannot be produced by the body on its own.

The blessings of Allah are meant to bring us closer to Him. Moreover, we should use these blessings in order to support our fellow Muslims and advance causes that are pleasing to Allah.

Live upon tasbih

This surah begins with tasbih (glorification of Allah) and concludes with the statement, ‘Allah is the Lord of infinite bounty.’

What is the connection between these two verses?

Those who live upon tasbih, as mentioned in the first verse, will be granted more of His fadl (grace) in this life and the next.

“This ummah was honored with the final message – a miraculous, timeless, and preserved message – that was delivered through the great Messenger of mercy, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him”.

When we recognize the favor of Allah upon us, in that He guided us to this faith, our hearts should humbly submit and our tongues should actively engage in glorifying Him.

May Allah make us from amongst His honored servants.

Implementing these verses

1. Reflect: What are you personally doing to support the causes of truth?
2. Reflect: What are some of the greatest benefits you’ve taken from this surah?
3. Action Item: In Section 2, you were encouraged to find ways to incorporate tasbih into your everyday practice. Were you successful? If not, what steps can you take to achieve your goals?

#AlHadidLessons #TheIronHealing

For the full book and other works for Imam Sulieman Hani click here.