The Iron — Verse 1

All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies God that is to say all things exalt Him as being transcendent thus the lām of li’Llāhi is extra; mā ‘all that’ is used instead of min ‘all who’ in order to indicate what is the predominant sc. non-rational beings; and He is the Mighty in His kingdom the Wise in His actions.

Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies God. The maker of the world and the world's folk, the nurturer of mankind and jinn, the creator of earth and heaven, the wonder-worker of the emplaced and place, reports that everything in heaven and earth, whether wind, fire, water, mountains, seas, sun, moon, stars, trees, and all animate and in- animate things, praise Him for purity, mention His name with honor, and testify to His oneness. This glorification and tawḤīd throw tumult into the Adamic heart and are rejected by intellect, but the religion of the submission accepts them and the Creator of the creatures testifies to their cor- rectness. Whenever success-giving is someone's companion and felicity his helper, he will accept them, unperceived, with spirit and heart and will come forth with reverence, surrender, and attesta- tion. Then tomorrow, he will find his place in the gathering place of the sincerely truthful and the assemblies of the friends on the seat of everlasting exaltedness. Beware, O chevalier! Take care not to give one iota of innovation access to your heart. When you hear something that your intellect does not perceive, suspect only your intellect. Do not take the road of interpretation, because going after interpretation is a tested poison. It is to remove a thorn from the foot with a thorn. A knowing man will not test poison, for that would be to hurry to his own destruction. He will not pull a thorn from his foot with a thorn, for he knows it would only increase the pain. That chevalier said it beautifully: “Seek not the road of tawḤīd with intellect, scratch not the spirit's eye with a thorn. By God, can anyone ever take benefit from God without God? As trainer and leader on the path of the religion- consider none better than the Qur'an and the reports. Only the hand of MuḤammad's heart can undo the locks on the treasury of secrets.” [DS 201-2]

Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies God. The maker of the world and the world's folk, the nurturer of mankind and jinn, the creator of earth and heaven, the wonder-worker of the emplaced and place, reports that everything in heaven and earth, whether wind, fire, water, mountains, seas, sun, moon, stars, trees, and all animate and in- animate things, praise Him for purity, mention His name with honor, and testify to His oneness. This glorification and tawḤīd throw tumult into the Adamic heart and are rejected by intellect, but the religion of the submission accepts them and the Creator of the creatures testifies to their cor- rectness. Whenever success-giving is someone's companion and felicity his helper, he will accept them, unperceived, with spirit and heart and will come forth with reverence, surrender, and attesta- tion. Then tomorrow, he will find his place in the gathering place of the sincerely truthful and the assemblies of the friends on the seat of everlasting exaltedness. Beware, O chevalier! Take care not to give one iota of innovation access to your heart. When you hear something that your intellect does not perceive, suspect only your intellect. Do not take the road of interpretation, because going after interpretation is a tested poison. It is to remove a thorn from the foot with a thorn. A knowing man will not test poison, for that would be to hurry to his own destruction. He will not pull a thorn from his foot with a thorn, for he knows it would only increase the pain. That chevalier said it beautifully: “Seek not the road of tawḤīd with intellect, scratch not the spirit's eye with a thorn. By God, can anyone ever take benefit from God without God? As trainer and leader on the path of the religion- consider none better than the Qur'an and the reports. Only the hand of MuḤammad's heart can undo the locks on the treasury of secrets.” [DS 201-2]

Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies God. The maker of the world and the world's folk, the nurturer of mankind and jinn, the creator of earth and heaven, the wonder-worker of the emplaced and place, reports that everything in heaven and earth, whether wind, fire, water, mountains, seas, sun, moon, stars, trees, and all animate and in- animate things, praise Him for purity, mention His name with honor, and testify to His oneness. This glorification and tawḤīd throw tumult into the Adamic heart and are rejected by intellect, but the religion of the submission accepts them and the Creator of the creatures testifies to their cor- rectness. Whenever success-giving is someone's companion and felicity his helper, he will accept them, unperceived, with spirit and heart and will come forth with reverence, surrender, and attesta- tion. Then tomorrow, he will find his place in the gathering place of the sincerely truthful and the assemblies of the friends on the seat of everlasting exaltedness. Beware, O chevalier! Take care not to give one iota of innovation access to your heart. When you hear something that your intellect does not perceive, suspect only your intellect. Do not take the road of interpretation, because going after interpretation is a tested poison. It is to remove a thorn from the foot with a thorn. A knowing man will not test poison, for that would be to hurry to his own destruction. He will not pull a thorn from his foot with a thorn, for he knows it would only increase the pain. That chevalier said it beautifully: “Seek not the road of tawḤīd with intellect, scratch not the spirit's eye with a thorn. By God, can anyone ever take benefit from God without God? As trainer and leader on the path of the religion- consider none better than the Qur'an and the reports. Only the hand of MuḤammad's heart can undo the locks on the treasury of secrets.” [DS 201-2]

Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies God. The maker of the world and the world's folk, the nurturer of mankind and jinn, the creator of earth and heaven, the wonder-worker of the emplaced and place, reports that everything in heaven and earth, whether wind, fire, water, mountains, seas, sun, moon, stars, trees, and all animate and in- animate things, praise Him for purity, mention His name with honor, and testify to His oneness. This glorification and tawḤīd throw tumult into the Adamic heart and are rejected by intellect, but the religion of the submission accepts them and the Creator of the creatures testifies to their cor- rectness. Whenever success-giving is someone's companion and felicity his helper, he will accept them, unperceived, with spirit and heart and will come forth with reverence, surrender, and attesta- tion. Then tomorrow, he will find his place in the gathering place of the sincerely truthful and the assemblies of the friends on the seat of everlasting exaltedness. Beware, O chevalier! Take care not to give one iota of innovation access to your heart. When you hear something that your intellect does not perceive, suspect only your intellect. Do not take the road of interpretation, because going after interpretation is a tested poison. It is to remove a thorn from the foot with a thorn. A knowing man will not test poison, for that would be to hurry to his own destruction. He will not pull a thorn from his foot with a thorn, for he knows it would only increase the pain. That chevalier said it beautifully: “Seek not the road of tawḤīd with intellect, scratch not the spirit's eye with a thorn. By God, can anyone ever take benefit from God without God? As trainer and leader on the path of the religion- consider none better than the Qur'an and the reports. Only the hand of MuḤammad's heart can undo the locks on the treasury of secrets.” [DS 201-2]

Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies God.The maker of the world and the world's folk, the nurturer of mankind and jinn, the creator of earth and heaven, the wonder-worker of the emplaced and place, reports that everything in heaven and earth, whether wind, fire, water, mountains, seas, sun, moon, stars, trees, and all animate and in- animate things, praise Him for purity, mention His name with honor, and testify to His oneness. This glorification and tawḤīd throw tumult into the Adamic heart and are rejected by intellect, but the religion of the submission accepts them and the Creator of the creatures testifies to their cor- rectness. Whenever success-giving is someone's companion and felicity his helper, he will accept them, unperceived, with spirit and heart and will come forth with reverence, surrender, and attesta- tion. Then tomorrow, he will find his place in the gathering place of the sincerely truthful and the assemblies of the friends on the seat of everlasting exaltedness.Beware, O chevalier! Take care not to give one iota of innovation access to your heart. When you hear something that your intellect does not perceive, suspect only your intellect. Do not take the road of interpretation, because going after interpretation is a tested poison. It is to remove a thorn from the foot with a thorn. A knowing man will not test poison, for that would be to hurry to his own destruction. He will not pull a thorn from his foot with a thorn, for he knows it would only increase the pain.That chevalier said it beautifully:�Seek not the road of tawḤīd with intellect, scratch not the spirit's eye with a thorn.By God, can anyone evertake benefit from God without God?As trainer and leader on the path of the religion- consider none better than the Qur'an and the reports.Only the hand of MuḤammad's heartcan undo the locks on the treasury of secrets.� [DS 201-2]

نزَّه الله عن السوء كلُّ ما في السموات والأرض من جميع مخلوقاته، وهو العزيز على خلقه، الحكيم في تدبير أمورهم.

سورة الحديد: قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا يزيد بن عبد ربه حدثنا بقية بن الوليد حدثني بجير بن سعد عن خالد بن معدان عن ابن أبي بلال عن عرباض بن سارية أنه حدثهم أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقرأ المسبحات قبل أن يرقد وقال "إن فيهن آية أفضل من ألف آية" وهكذا رواه أبو داود والترمذي والنسائي من طرق عن بقية به وقال الترمذي حسن غريب ورواه النسائي عن ابن أبي السرح عن ابن وهب عن معاوية بن صالح عن بجير بن سعد عن خالد بن معدان قال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فذكره مرسلا ولم يذكر عبدالله بن أبي بلال ولا العرباض بن سارية والآية المشار إليها في الحديث هي والله أعلم قوله تعالى "هو الأول والآخر والظاهر والباطن وهو بكل شيء عليم" كما سيأتي بيانه قريبا إن شاء الله تعالى وبه الثقة وعليه التكلان وهو حسبنا ونعم الوكيل يخبر تعالى أنه يسبح له ما في السماوات والأرض أي من الحيوانات والنباتات كما قال في الآية الأخرى "تسبح له السموات السبع والأرض ومن فيهن وإن من شيء إلا يسبح بحمده ولكن لا يفقهون تسبيحهم إنه كان حليما غفورا" وقوله تعالى "وهو العزيز" أي الذي قد خضع له كل شيء "الحكيم" في خلقه وأمره وشرعه.

افتتحت سورة " الحديد " بتنزيه الله - تعالى - عن كل مالا يليق به ، وبالثناء عليه - تعالى - بما هو أهله ، وببيان جانب من صفاته الجليلة ، الدالة على وحدانيته ، وقدرته ، وعزته ، وحكمته ، وعلمه المحيط بكل شىء .افتتحت بقوله - عز وجل - : ( سَبَّحَ للَّهِ مَا فِي السماوات والأرض وَهُوَ العزيز الحكيم ) .وقوله : ( سَبَّحَ ) من التسبيح ، وأصله الإبعاد عن السوء ، من قولهم سبح فلان فى الماء ، إذا توغل فيه ، وسبح الفرس ، إذا جرى بعيدا وبسرعة .قالوا : وهذا الفعل ( سَبَّحَ ) قد يتعدى بنفسه ، كما فى قوله - تعالى - : ( وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً ) وقد يتعدى باللام كما هنا . وهى للتأكيد والتبيين أى : سبح لله لا لغيره .والمراد بالتسبيح هنا : تنزيه الله - تعالى - عن كل مالا يليق بجلاله وكماله .والمعنى : نزه الله - تعالى - وعظمه وخضع له ، وانقاد لمشيئته ، جميع ما فى السموات والأرض من كائنات ومخلوقات . . . لا يعلمها إلا هو - سبحانه - .وقد جاء التسبيح تارة بصيغة الفعل الماضى كما فى هذه السورة ، وكما فى سورتى الحشر والصف ، وتارة بصيغة المضارع ، كما فى سورتى الجمعة والتغابن ، وتارة بصيغة الأمر كما فى سورة الأعلى ، وتارة بصيغة المصدر كما فى سورة الإسراء .جاء التسبيح بهذه الصيغ المتنوعة ، للإشعار بأن تسبيح هذه المخلوقات لله - تعالى - شامل لجميع الأوقات والأحوال .قال - تعالى - ( تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السماوات السبع والأرض وَمَن فِيهِنَّ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلاَّ يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ ولكن لاَّ تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيماً غَفُوراً ) وختم - سبحانه - الآية الكريمة بقوله : ( وَهُوَ العزيز الحكيم ) ، والعزيز : هو الغالب على كل شىء ، إذ العزة معناها : الغلية على الغير ، ومنه قوله - تعالى - : ( وَعَزَّنِي فِي الخطاب ) أى : غلبنى فى الخصام .وفى أمثال - العرب : من عزَّ بزَّ ، أى : من غلب غيره تفوق عليه .والحكيم مأخوذ من الحكمة ، وهى وضع الأمور فى مواضعها اللائقة بها .أى : وهو - سبحانه - الغالب الذى لا يغلبه شىء - الحكيم الذى يضع الأمور فى مواضعها السليمة .

يعني تعالى ذكره بقوله: (سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ) أن كلّ ما دونه من خلقه يسبحه تعظيما له، وإقرارا بربوبيته، وإذعانا لطاعته، كما قال جلّ ثناؤه تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالأَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَكِنْ لا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ .وقوله: ( وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ) يقول: ولكنه جلّ جلاله العزيز في انتقامه ممن عصاه، فخالف أمره مما في السموات والأرض من خلقه ( الْحَكِيمُ ) في تدبيره أمرهم، وتصريفه إياهم فيما شاء وأحبّ.

مدنية وآيها تسع وعشرون "سبح لله ما في السموات والأرض وهو العزيز الحكيم".

سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ (1)افتتاح السورة بذكر تسبيح الله وتنزيهه مؤذن بأن أهم ما اشتملت عليه إثبات وصف الله بالصفات الجليلة المقتضية أنه منزّه عما ضل في شأنه أهل الضلال من وصفه بما لا يليق بجلاله ، وأول التنزيه هو نفي الشريك له في الإِلهية فإن الوحدانية هي أكبر صفة ضل في كنهها المشركون والمانوية ونحْوهم من أهل التثنية وأصحاب التثليث والبراهمة ، وهي الصفة التي ينبىء عنها اسمه العَلَم أعني «الله» لما علمت في تفسير الفاتحة من أن أصله الإِله ، أي المنفرد بالإِلهية .وأتبع هذا الاسم بصفات ربانية تدل على كمال الله تعالى وتنزّهُهُ عن النقص كما يأتي بيانه فكانت هذه الفاتحة براعة استهلال لهذه السورة ، ولذلك أتبع اسمهُ العلَم بعشر صفات هي جامعة لصفات الكمال وهي : العزيز ، الحكيم ، له ملك السماوات والأرض ، يحيي ، ويميت ، وهو على كل شيء قدير ، هو الأول ، والآخر ، والظاهر ، والباطن ، وهو بكل شيء عليم .وصيغ فعل التسبيح بصيغة الماضي للدلالة على أن تنزيهه تعالى أمر مقرر أمر الله به عباده من قبل وألهمه الناس وأودعَ دلائله في أحوال ما لا اختيار له ، كما دل عليه قوله تعالى : { ولله يسجد من في السماوات والأرض طوعاً وكرهاً وظلالهم بالغدو والآصال } [ الرعد : 15 ] وقوله : { وإن من شيء إلا يسبح بحمده ولكن لا تفقهون تسبيحهم } [ الإسراء : 44 ] .ففي قوله : { سبح } تعريض بالمشركين الذين أهملوا أهم التسبيح وهو تسبيحه عن الشريك والند .واللام في قوله : { لله } لام التبيين . وفائدتها زيادة بيان ارتباط المعمول بعامله لأن فعل التسبيح متعدَ بنفسه لا يحتاج إلى التعدية بحرف ، قال تعالى : { فاسجد له وسبحه } [ الإنسان : 26 ] ، فاللام هنا نظيره اللام في قولهم : شكرتُ لك ، ونصحتُ لك ، وقوله تعالى : { ونقدس لك } [ البقرة : 30 ] ، وقولهم سَقْيا لك ورعيا لك ، وأصله : سقَيَك ورَعْيَك .و { ما في السموات والأرض } يعم الموجودات كلها فإن { ما } اسم موصول يعمّ العقلاء وغيرهم ، أو هو خاص بغير العقلاء فجرى هنا على التغليب ، وكلها دال على تنزيه الله تعالى عن الشريك فمنها دلالة بالقول كتسبيح الأنبياء والمؤمنين ، ومنها دلالة بالفعل كتسبيح الملائكة ، ومنها دلالة بشهادة الحال كما تنبىء به أحوال الموجودات من الافتقار إلى الصانع المنفرد بالتدبير ، فإن جُعل عموم { ما في السموات والأرض } مخصوصاً بمن يتأتى منهم النطق بالتسبيح وهم العقلاء كان إطلاق التسبيح على تسبيحهم حقيقة .وإن حمل العموم على ظاهره لزم تأويل فعل { سبح } بما يشمل الحقيقة والمجاز فيكون مستعملاً في حقيقته ومجازه .والعزيز : الذي لا يغلب ، وهذا الوصف ينفي وجود الشريك في الإِلهية .و { الحكيم } الموصوف بالحكمة ، وهي وضع الأفعال حيثُ يليق بها ، وهي أيضاً العلم الذي لا يخطىء ولا يتخلف ولا يحول دون تعلقه بالمعلومات حائل ، وتقدما في سورة البقرة . وهذا الوصف يثبت أن أفعاله تعالى جارية على تهيئة المخلوقات لما به إصابة ما خُلقت لأجله ، فلذلك عززها الله بإرشاده بواسطة الشرائع .

يخبر تعالى عن عظمته وجلاله وسعة سلطانه، أن جميع ما في السماوات والأرض من الحيوانات الناطقة والصامتة وغيرها، [والجوامد] تسبح بحمد ربها، وتنزهه عما لا يليق بجلاله، وأنها قانتة لربها، منقادة لعزته، قد ظهرت فيها آثار حكمته، ولهذا قال: { وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ } فهذا فيه بيان عموم افتقار المخلوقات العلوية والسفلية لربها، في جميع أحوالها، وعموم عزته وقهره للأشياء كلها، وعموم حكمته في خلقه وأمره.

مدنية في قول الجميع ، وهي تسع وعشرون آيةعن العرباض بن سارية أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقرأ بالمسبحات قبل أن يرقد ويقول : إن فيهن آية أفضل من ألف آية ، يعني بالمسبحات : ( الحديد ) و ( الحشر ) و ( الصف ) و ( الجمعة ) و ( التغابن ) .بسم الله الرحمن الرحيمسبح لله ما في السماوات والأرض وهو العزيز الحكيمقوله تعالى : سبح لله ما في السماوات والأرض أي : مجد الله ونزهه عن السوء . وقال ابن عباس : صلى لله ما في السماوات ممن خلق من الملائكة والأرض من شيء فيه روح أو لا روح فيه . وقيل : هو تسبيح الدلالة . وأنكر الزجاج هذا وقال : لو كان هذا تسبيح الدلالة وظهور آثار الصنعة لكانت مفهومة ، فلم قال : ولكن لا تفقهون تسبيحهم وإنما هو تسبيح مقال . واستدل بقوله تعالى : وسخرنا مع داود الجبال يسبحن فلو كان هذا تسبيح دلالة فأي تخصيص لداود ؟ ![ ص: 214 ] قلت : وما ذكره هو الصحيح ، وقد مضى بيانه والقول فيه في ( سبحان ) عند قوله تعالى : وإن من شيء إلا يسبح بحمده وهو العزيز الحكيم

The universe, in its silent language, sings the praises of and describes the attributes of its Creator. In the Quran, those same attributes have been put into words. When a thing comes into being here, it has manifestly been brought into existence by the Supreme Being. Its end itself announces its termination by the Supreme Being. The fact is the universe is the vehicle of God’s praises, while the Quran is their verbal recitation.

Some of the Merits of Surah Al-Hadid It is recorded in Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Nasa'i that Sayyidna ` Irbad Ibn Sariyah ؓ said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite Al-Musabbihat before he went to sleep and said: "In them there is a verse that is more meritorious than a thousand verses." The collective name of the series Al-Musabbihat refers to the following five Surahs: [ 1] Al-Hadid; [ 2] Al-Hashar; [ 3] As-Saff; [ 4] Jumu'ah; and [ 5] At-Taghabun. Having cited this Hadith, Ibn Kathir says that the best verse referred to in Surah Al-Hadid is verse [ 3] هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ‌ وَالظَّاهِرُ‌ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ (He is the First and the Last, and the Manifest and the Hidden, and He is All-Knowing about everything....57:3] Among the five Surahs, the first three, namely Al-Hadid, Al-Hashr and As-Saff commence with the past perfect tense 'sabbaha' [ purity has been proclaimed ] whilst the last two, namely Al-Jumu` ah and Al-Taghabun commence with the imperfect tense yusabbihu [ purity is proclaimed ]. This implies that the purity of Allah should be declared at all times, the past, the present and the future. [ Mazhari ]

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying's (All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifieth Allah): 'He says: (All that is in the heavens) of creation (and the earth) of created beings (glorifieth Allah) pray to Allah; and it is said this means: makes remembrance of Allah, (and He is the Mighty) in retribution against those who disbelieve in Him, (the Wise) in His command and decree: He commanded that none should be worshipped save Him.

Which was revealed in Madina The Virtues of Surat Al-Hadid Imam Ahmad recorded that `Irbad bin Sariyah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite Al-Musabbihat before he went to sleep, saying, «إِنَّ فِيهِنَّ آيَةً أَفْضَلُ مِنْ أَلْفِ آيَة» (In them there is an Ayah that is better than a thousand Ayat.) Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i collected this Hadith; At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib." The Ayah referred to in this Hadith is -- and Allah knows best -- هُوَ الاٌّوَّلُ وَالاٌّخِرُ وَالظَّـهِرُ وَالْبَـطِنُ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ (He is Al-Awwal and Al-Akhir, Az-Zahir and Al-Batin. And He is the All-Knower of everything.)(57:3) Allah willing, we will again mention this subject. Upon Allah we trust and our total reliance and dependence are on Him, and sufficient He is to us as Supporter and Helper. بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Everything that exists glorifies Allah and mentioning some of His Attributes In this Ayah, Allah states that everything that exists in the heavens and earth praises and glorifies Him, including creatures and plants. Allah said in another Ayah, تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَـوَتُ السَّبْعُ وَالاٌّرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدَهِ وَلَـكِن لاَّ تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا (The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His praise. But you understand not their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving.)(17:44) And His saying: وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ (and He is the Almighty,) meaning the One to Whom all things submit humility, الْحَكِيمُ (All-Wise.) in His creating, commanding and legislating, لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ يُحْىِ وَيُمِيتُ (His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. It is He Who gives life and causes death;) He is the absolute Owner of His creation, bringing life and death and granting what He wills to whom He wills, وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (and He is Able to do all things.) whatever He wills, is, and whatever He does not will, will never be. He said, هُوَ الاٌّوَّلُ وَالاٌّخِرُ وَالظَّـهِرُ وَالْبَـطِنُ (He is Al-Awwal and Al-Akhir, Az-Zahir and Al-Batin.) This is the Ayah indicated in the Hadith of `Irbad bin Sariyah that is better than a thousand Ayat. Abu Dawud recorded that Abu Zamil said, "I mentioned to Ibn `Abbas that I felt something in my heart. He said, `Doubts' and then laughed. Next, he said, `No one can escape this. Allah the Exalted stated, فَإِن كُنتَ فِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ فَاسْأَلِ الَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْكِتَـبَ مِن قَبْلِكَ لَقَدْ جَآءَكَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ (So if you are in doubt concerning that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who are reading the Book before you. Verily, the truth has come to you from your Lord.)(10:94)' He then said to me, `When you feel any of this in your heart, recite, هُوَ الاٌّوَّلُ وَالاٌّخِرُ وَالظَّـهِرُ وَالْبَـطِنُ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ (He is Al-Awwal and Al-Akhir, Az-Zahir and Al-Batin. And He is the All-Knower of everything.)"' There are about ten and some odd number of different sayings collected from the scholars of Tafsir regarding the explanation of this Ayah. Al-Bukhari said, "Yahya said, `Az-Zahir: knowing all things, Al-Batin: knowing all things."' Our Shaykh Al-Hafiz Al-Mizzi said, "Yahya is Ibn Ziyad Al-Farra', who authored a book entitled Ma`ani Al-Qur'an." There are Hadiths mentioned about this. Among them, Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would recite this supplication while going to bed, «اللْهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّموَاتِ السَّبْعِ، وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، رَبَّنَا وَرَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، مُنْزِلَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالْفُرْقَانِ، فَالِقَ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَى، لَا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهِ، أَنْتَ الْأَوَّلُ لَيْسَ قَبْلَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْاخِرُ لَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ لَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ لَيْسَ دُونَكَ شَيْءٌ. اقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ، وَأَغْنِنَا مِنَ الْفَقْر» (O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Magnificent Throne! Our Lord, and the Lord of everything, Revealer of the Tawrah, the Injil and the Furqan, the Splitter of the grain of corn and the date stone! I seek refuge with You from the evil of everything whose forhead You have control over. O Allah! You are Al-Awwal, nothing is before You; Al-Akhir, nothing is after You; Az-Zahir, nothing is above You; and Al-Batin, nothing is below You. Remove the burden of debt from us and free us from poverty.) Muslim recorded this Hadith via Sahl, who said, "Abu Salih used to order us to lay on our right side when we were about to sleep, and then say, «اللْهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّموَاتِ وَرَبَّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، رَبَّنَا وَرَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَالِقَ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَى، وَمُنْزِلَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالْفُرْقَانِ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ ذِي شَرَ أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهِ، اللْهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْأَوَّلُ فَلَيْسَ قَبْلَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْاخِرُ فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ فَلَيْسَ دُونَكَ شَيْءٌ، اقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ، وَأَغْنِنَا مِنَ الْفَقْر» (O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Magnificent Throne! Our Lord, and the Lord of everything, Revealer of the Tawrah, the Injil and the Furqan, the Splitter of the grain of corn and the date stone! I seek refuge with You from the evil of everything whose forhead You have control over. O Allah! You are Al-Awwal, nothing is before You; Al-Akhir, nothing is after You; Az-Zahir, nothing is above You; and Al-Batin, nothing is below You. Remove the burden of debt from us and free us from poverty.) And he used to narrate that from Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet ."