Al-Hadeed (ٱلْحَدِيد)

Surah Al-Hadeed is the 57th surah or chapter of the blessed Quran. Positioned in juz number 27, the surah has 4 rukus and a total of 29 verses. The surah takes its name from the word "Hadid (reference to iron)" which appears in the 27th chapter of the surah. Surah Al-Hadeed was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) in Madinah and is therefore classified as a Madni surah. The surah begins with the glorification of Allah and is an Al-Musabbihat surah.

Surah Al-Hadeed is a surah that serves as an invitation to strive and spend in the way of Allah. Along with this, it also highlights the power and supremacy of Allah. It emphasizes the fact that just like Allah has the power to revive the earth after it meets its death, He can also revive and awaken the faith of the believers. The hypocrites are warned of the punishment that they will be with for their actions and deeds, whereas the believers are taught about destiny and wordily life.

٥٧ - ٱلْحَدِيد

57 - Al-Hadeed

سَبَّحَ لِلہِ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ۝۰ۭ وَہُوَالْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ۝۱
Sabbaha lillahi ma fee alssamawati waalardi wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu

English

Ahmed Ali

WHATSOEVER IS IN the heavens and the earth sings the praises of God. He is all-mighty and all-wise.

1

لَہٗ مُلْكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ۝۰ۚ يُـحْيٖ وَيُمِيْتُ۝۰ۚ وَہُوَعَلٰي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ۝۲
Lahu mulku alssamawati waalardi yuhyee wayumeetu wahuwa AAala kulli shayin qadeerun

English

Ahmed Ali

His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, He is the giver of life and death, and He has power over everything.

2

ہُوَالْاَوَّلُ وَالْاٰخِرُ وَالظَّاہِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ۝۰ۚ وَہُوَبِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيْمٌ۝۳
Huwa alawwalu waalakhiru waalththahiru waalbatinu wahuwa bikulli shayin AAaleemun

English

Ahmed Ali

He is the first and He the last, the transcendent and the immanent; and He has knowledge of everything.

3

ہُوَالَّذِيْ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ فِيْ سِـتَّۃِ اَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْـتَوٰى عَلَي الْعَرْشِ۝۰ۭ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَـلِجُ فِي الْاَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْــرُجُ مِنْہَا وَمَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاۗءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيْہَا۝۰ۭ وَہُوَمَعَكُمْ اَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِيْرٌ۝۴
Huwa allathee khalaqa alssamawati waalarda fee sittati ayyamin thumma istawa AAala alAAarshi yaAAlamu ma yaliju fee alardi wama yakhruju minha wama yanzilu mina alssamai wama yaAAruju feeha wahuwa maAAakum ayna ma kuntum waAllahu bima taAAmaloona baseerun

English

Ahmed Ali

It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six stages, then assumed the throne. He knows whatsoever enters the earth, and whatsoever comes out of it, and what comes down from the sky and what goes up to it; and He is with you wheresoever you may be, and He perceives whatsoever you do.

4

لَہٗ مُلْكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ۝۰ۭ وَاِلَى اللہِ تُرْجَعُ الْاُمُوْرُ۝۵
Lahu mulku alssamawati waalardi waila Allahi turjaAAu alomooru

English

Ahmed Ali

His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and all things will go back to Him.

5

يُوْلِجُ الَّيْلَ فِي النَّہَارِ وَيُوْلِجُ النَّہَارَ فِي الَّيْلِ۝۰ۭ وَہُوَ عَلِيْمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوْرِ۝۶
Yooliju allayla fee alnnahari wayooliju alnnahara fee allayi wahuwa AAaleemun bithati alssudoori

English

Ahmed Ali

He turns night into day, and turns day into night; and He knows whatsoever is in your hearts.

6

اٰمِنُوْا بِاللہِ وَرَسُوْلِہٖ وَاَنْفِقُوْا مِمَّا جَعَلَكُمْ مُّسْتَخْلَفِيْنَ فِيْہِ۝۰ۭ فَالَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مِنْكُمْ وَاَنْفَقُوْا لَہُمْ اَجْرٌ كَبِيْرٌ۝۷
Aminoo biAllahi warasoolihi waanfiqoo mimma jaAAalakum mustakhlafeena feehi faallatheena amanoo minkum waanfaqoo lahum ajrun kabeerun

English

Ahmed Ali

Believe in God and His Apostle, and spend of what He has given you as His trustee. And those of you who believe and spend in charity will have a great reward.

7

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاؘ۝۰ۚ وَالرَّسُوْلُ يَدْعُوْكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوْا بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ اَخَذَ مِيْثَاقَكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ ￁مِنِيْنَ۝۸
Wama lakum la tuminoona biAllahi waalrrasoolu yadAAookum lituminoo birabbikum waqad akhatha meethaqakum in kuntum mumineena

English

Ahmed Ali

What has come upon you that you believe not in God, though the Prophet is calling you to believe in your Lord? And He has already taken your pledge, if you are believers.

8

ہُوَالَّذِيْ يُنَزِّلُ عَلٰي عَبْدِہٖۗ اٰيٰتٍؚبَيِّنٰتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِّنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ اِلَى النُّوْرِ۝۰ۭ وَاِنَّ اللہَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ۝۹
Huwa allathee yunazzilu AAala AAabdihi ayatin bayyinatin liyukhrijakum mina alththulumati ila alnnoori wainna Allaha bikum laraoofun raheemun

English

Ahmed Ali

It is He who sends down splendent revelations to His votary that he may take you out of darkness into light; for surely God is gracious and kind to you.

9

وَ مَا لَكُمْ اَلَّا تُنْفِقُوْا فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللہِ وَلِلہِ مِيْرَاثُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ۝۰ۭ لَايَسْتَوِيْ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ اَنْفَقَ مِنْ قَبْلِ الْفَتْحِ وَقٰتَلَ۝۰ۭ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ اَعْظَمُ دَرَجَۃً مِّنَ الَّذِيْنَ اَنْفَقُوْا مِنْۢ بَعْدُ وَقٰتَلُوْا۝۰ۭ وَكُلًّا وَّعَدَ اللہُ الْحُسْنٰى۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ خَبِيْرٌ۝۱۰ۧ
Wama lakum alla tunfiqoo fee sabeeli Allahi walillahi meerathu alssamawati waalardi la yastawee minkum man anfaqa min qabli alfathi waqatala olaika aAAthamu darajatan mina allatheena anfaqoo min baAAdu waqataloo wakullan waAAada Allahu alhusna waAllahu bima taAAmaloona khabeerun

English

Ahmed Ali

What has come upon you that you do not spend in the way of God, when the heritage of the heavens and the earth belongs to God? Those of you who spent before the victory and fought, are not equal (to those who did not). They are higher in position than those who spent after (the victory) and fought. To each one God has made the promise of excellence, for God is aware of all you do.

10

Theme and Subject Matter of Surah Al-Hadeed (الْحَدِيد)

The surah motivates Muslims to spend their riches in Allah's way – In Islamic history, there was a significant point where the believers were engaged in a life-and-death struggle against paganism. The surah was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) so that the Muslims could be encouraged to make financial sacrifices for their faith. It also made them realize that practicing Islam was not merely verbal affirmations but ultimately meant making sacrifices and putting all of their faith in Allah and Islam. 

The surah emphasizes that whatever wealth one possesses is from Allah alone and will go back to Him. The only wealth that will come as any use to man is the wealth he will spend in the way of his Lord. Moreover, the surah also states how those who spend their money on the cause of Islam when it is struggling and enduring times of hardship will be held superior to those who spend in Islam's way when it is already thriving.

Allah also says in surah Al-Hadeed that whatever is spent in His cause is a loan and will be returned manifold to the believer along with rewards and blessings. Allah also promises the believers that light will be bestowed upon those on the final day who are spent in the way of Allah. However, those hypocrites who stood by and watched and, in return, only served their interests will be counted among the disbelievers and be dealt with accordingly.

The surah reminds the believers that the life of this world is merely temporary – be it its pastimes, sports, decorations, and other luxuries. However, the life of the hereafter is everlasting. Therefore, they should strive for paradise and ensure that they do not lose themselves in their wealth and worldly affairs, as that will certainly not do them any good.

Whatever one encounters in the world – be it good or hardship is from Allah. A good believer must not lose hope in hardship and be consumed by arrogance and pride in the good time as those are the characteristics of the hypocrites. Allah also reminds the people that he sent down His messengers, book, and divine law so that people ensure justice in all their affairs and He also sent down iron so that its power may be used to ensure justice is maintained and falsehood perishes. 

Allah also says how Prophet Isa brought several moral improvements in his nations. And now Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has been sent as the last messenger, and those who put faith in his message and fear the accountability of Allah will be met with Allah's mercy.

Benefits and Virtues of Surah Al-Hadeed (الْحَدِيد)

Surah Al-Hadeed encourages believers to remain patient and steadfast during times of hardship as they, like blessings and good times, are also from Allah. The surah also emphasizes the significance of charity, especially if it is done in the way of Allah and for the cause of strengthening Islam. 

Surah Al-Hadeed raises an important point regarding the implementation of justice. Allah calls upon the believers to ensure justice and fairness among themselves and their society. Moreover, it also encourages the believers to be grateful for Allah's blessings upon them whether they are seen or unseen, and seek His mercy and forgiveness as He is the most merciful. The theme of the surah motivates individuals to seek Allah's mercy repent from the weight of their sins and strive in the way of Allah – monetarily and otherwise.

Muhammad Shafi Deobandi, in his tafsir, Ma'ariful Quran, reported that "It is recorded in Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Nasa'i that Sayyidna' Irbad Ibn had 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.' Thus, recite surah Al Hadid and the rest of the Al-Musabbihat surahs as much as you can to find that meritous verse and benefit from it in this life and the hereafter.