Exegesis of the Qur’an (Tafsir): Al-Hadid

We start our Academic year of tafsir with Surah al-Hadid, The Iron. The 57th chapter of the Quran, comprising 29 verses, has been disagreed by scholars whether it is Makkan or Medinan. We will expound upon the themes and central arguments made by the surah, such as the Majesty and Omnipotence of God, His necessary existence, and the incumbency to believe in Him and His messengers. The Surah highlights the Quran as the source of guidance and eternal success. Encourages the giving of charity, the promise of a felicitous outcome in the hereafter for believing men and women and the converse for disbelievers and hypocrites. Cautioning believers from developing hard hearts, a condition that people of the book had succumbed to, leading to corruption. Reminding about the hereafter and not seeking to amass worldly wealth. To have patience over the trials and difficulties one will face when attempting to fulfil the needs of people and bring about a sense of equity. The Surah concludes by encouraging believers to strive for righteousness. Knowing they will be granted discernment in their affairs and receive double the reward, a bounty exclusively in Allah’s sovereignty, as it is solely His decision to whom receives it.

We start the Winter Term from verse 10 of Surah al-Hadid;

وَمَا لَكُمۡ أَلَّا تُنفِقُوا۟ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِلَّهِ مِیرَ ٰ⁠ثُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰ⁠تِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ لَا یَسۡتَوِی مِنكُم مَّنۡ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبۡلِ ٱلۡفَتۡحِ وَقَـٰتَلَۚ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ أَعۡظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ ٱلَّذِینَ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعۡدُ وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ۚ وَكُلّاً وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِیرٌ

Why should you not give for God’s cause when God alone will inherit what is in the heavens and earth? Those who gave and fought before the triumph are not like others: they are greater in rank than those who gave and fought afterwards. But God has promised a good reward to all of them: God is fully aware of all that you do. (Abdul Haleem)