Surah Al-Hadid

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

✦

The Surah · Al-Hadid

﴾١﴿ سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

Sabbaha lillahi ma fi as-samawati wal-ard, wa huwa al-'Azizu al-Hakim

Whatever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

﴾٢﴿ لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ

Lahu mulku as-samawati wal-ard, yuhyi wa yumit, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir

To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and He gives death, and He is capable of all things.

﴾٣﴿ هُوَ ٱلْأَوَّلُ وَٱلْءَاخِرُ وَٱلظَّٰهِرُ وَٱلْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Huwa al-awwalu wal-akhiru waz-zahiru wal-batin, wa huwa bikulli shay'in 'alim

He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He is Knowing of all things.

﴾٤﴿ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍۢ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ

Huwa alladhi khalaqa as-samawati wal-arda fi sittati ayyamin thumma istawa 'ala al-'arsh, ya'lamu ma yaliju fi al-ardi wa ma yakhruju minha wa ma yanzilu mina as-sama'i wa ma ya'ruju fiha, wa huwa ma'akum ayna ma kuntum, wallahu bima ta'maluna basir

He created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what enters the earth and what comes out of it, what descends from the sky and what ascends into it. And He is with you wherever you are, and Allah sees what you do.

﴾٥﴿ لَّهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ

Lahu mulku as-samawati wal-ard, wa ila Allahi turja'u al-umur

To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah all matters are returned.

﴾٦﴿ يُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ

Yuliju al-layla fi an-nahari wa yuliju an-nahara fi al-layl, wa huwa 'alimun bidhati as-sudur

He merges the night into the day and merges the day into the night, and He knows what is inside the chests.

﴾٧﴿ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ

Aminu billahi wa Rasulihi wa anfiqu mimma ja'alakum mustakhlafina fih, falladhina amanu minkum wa anfaqu lahum ajrun kabir

Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and spend from that in which He has made you successors. Those among you who believed and spent will have a great reward.

﴾٨﴿ وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۙ وَٱلرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَٰقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Wa ma lakum la tu'minuna billahi war-Rasulu yad'ukum litu'minu bi-Rabbikum wa qad akhadha mithaqakum in kuntum mu'minin

What is wrong with you that you do not believe in Allah, while the Messenger calls you to believe in your Lord, and He has already taken your covenant, if you are believers.

﴾٩﴿ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦٓ ءَايَٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَٰتٍۢ لِّيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Huwa alladhi yunazzilu 'ala 'abdihi ayatin bayyinatin liyukhrijakum mina az-zulumati ila an-nur, wa inna Allaha bikum la-Ra'ufun Rahim

He sends down clear signs upon His servant to bring you out of the darknesses into the light, and Allah is Kind and Merciful to you.

﴾١٠﴿ وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوِى مِنكُم مَّنْ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبْلِ ٱلْفَتْحِ وَقَٰتَلَ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَقَٰتَلُوا۟ ۚ وَكُلًّۭا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌۭ

Wa ma lakum alla tunfiqu fi sabili Allahi wa lillahi mirathu as-samawati wal-ard, la yastawi minkum man anfaqa min qabli al-fathi wa qatal, ula'ika a'zamu darajatan mina alladhina anfaqu min ba'du wa qatalu, wa kullan wa'ada Allahu al-husna, wallahu bima ta'maluna khabir

What is wrong with you that you do not spend in the way of Allah, when to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth. Those among you who spent and fought before the conquest are not equal to others. They are greater in rank than those who spent and fought afterward, and to each Allah has promised the best. Allah is aware of what you do.

﴾١١﴿ مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا فَيُضَٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥ وَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ

Man dha alladhi yuqridu Allaha qardan hasanan fayuda'ifahu lahu wa lahu ajrun karim

Who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan, so that He will multiply it for him, and he will have a generous reward.

﴾١٢﴿ يَوْمَ تَرَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ يَسْعَىٰ نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَٰنِهِم بُشْرَىٰكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ جَنَّٰتٌۭ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

Yawma tara al-mu'minina wal-mu'minati yas'a nuruhum bayna aydihim wa bi-aymanihim bushrakumu al-yawma jannatun tajri min tahtiha al-anharu khalidina fiha, dhalika huwa al-fawzu al-'azim

On the day you see the believing men and the believing women, their light running ahead of them and on their right: your good news today is gardens with rivers running beneath them, where you will remain. That is the great triumph.

﴾١٣﴿ يَوْمَ يَقُولُ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقُونَ وَٱلْمُنَٰفِقَٰتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱنظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ قِيلَ ٱرْجِعُوا۟ وَرَآءَكُمْ فَٱلْتَمِسُوا۟ نُورًۭا فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍۢ لَّهُۥ بَابٌۢ بَاطِنُهُۥ فِيهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةُ وَظَٰهِرُهُۥ مِن قِبَلِهِ ٱلْعَذَابُ

Yawma yaqulu al-munafiquna wal-munafiqatu lilladhina amanu unzuruna naqtabis min nurikum qila irji'u wara'akum faltamisu nura, faduriba baynahum bisurin lahu babun batinuhu fihi ar-rahmatu wa zahiruhu min qibalihi al-'adhab

On the day the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women say to those who believed: wait for us so we may borrow from your light. It will be said: go back behind you and look for light. A wall will be placed between them with a gate, its inner side holding mercy and its outer side facing the punishment.

﴾١٤﴿ يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ

Yunadunahum alam nakun ma'akum, qalu bala wa lakinnakum fatantum anfusakum wa tarabbastum wartabtum wa gharratkumu al-amaniyyu hatta ja'a amru Allahi wa gharrakum billahi al-gharur

They will call out to them: were we not with you. They will say: yes, but you tested yourselves, and you waited, and you doubted, and false hopes deceived you until the command of Allah came, and the deceiver deceived you about Allah.

﴾١٥﴿ فَٱلْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنكُمْ فِدْيَةٌۭ وَلَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ مَأْوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ هِىَ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ

Fal-yawma la yu'khadhu minkum fidyatun wa la mina alladhina kafaru, ma'wakumu an-nar, hiya mawlakum, wa bi'sa al-masir

So today no ransom will be taken from you, nor from those who disbelieved. Your refuge is the Fire. It is your protector, and wretched is that destination.

﴾١٦﴿ ۞ أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ فَٰسِقُونَ

Alam ya'ni lilladhina amanu an takhsha'a qulubuhum lidhikri Allahi wa ma nazala mina al-haqq, wa la yakunu kalladhina utu al-kitaba min qablu fatala 'alayhimu al-amadu faqasat qulubuhum, wa kathirun minhum fasiqun

Has the time not come for those who believe, that their hearts should be humbled at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth, and that they not be like those given the Scripture before, for whom the period was prolonged, so their hearts hardened. And many of them are defiantly disobedient.

﴾١٧﴿ ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْىِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

I'lamu anna Allaha yuhyi al-arda ba'da mawtiha, qad bayyanna lakumu al-ayati la'allakum ta'qilun

Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its death. We have made the signs clear to you, so that you may reason.

﴾١٨﴿ إِنَّ ٱلْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُصَّدِّقَٰتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا يُضَٰعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ

Inna al-mussaddiqina wal-mussaddiqati wa aqradu Allaha qardan hasanan yuda'afu lahum wa lahum ajrun karim

The men who give in charity and the women who give in charity, and who lend Allah a goodly loan, it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a generous reward.

﴾١٩﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلصِّدِّيقُونَ ۖ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءُ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ وَنُورُهُمْ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

Walladhina amanu billahi wa rusulihi ula'ika humu as-siddiquna wash-shuhada'u 'inda Rabbihim lahum ajruhum wa nuruhum, walladhina kafaru wa kadhdhabu bi-ayatina ula'ika ashabu al-jahim

Those who believed in Allah and His messengers are the truthful, and the witnesses in the sight of their Lord. They will have their reward and their light. And those who disbelieved and denied Our signs are the companions of the Blaze.

﴾٢٠﴿ ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ وَزِينَةٌۭ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّۭا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَٰمًۭا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌۭ شَدِيدٌۭ وَمَغْفِرَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌۭ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ

I'lamu annama al-hayatu ad-dunya la'ibun wa lahwun wa zinatun wa tafakhurun baynakum wa takathurun fi al-amwali wal-awlad, kamathali ghaythin a'jaba al-kuffara nabatuhu thumma yahiju fatarahu musfarran thumma yakunu hutama, wa fi al-akhirati 'adhabun shadidun wa maghfiratun mina Allahi wa ridwan, wa ma al-hayatu ad-dunya illa mata'u al-ghurur

Know that the life of this world is only play, and diversion, and adornment, and boasting among you, and competition in wealth and children. It is like rain whose growth pleases the farmers, then it dries and you see it turned yellow, then it becomes debris. And in the hereafter there is severe punishment, and forgiveness from Allah and approval. The life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.

﴾٢١﴿ سَابِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

Sabiqu ila maghfiratin min Rabbikum wa jannatin 'arduha ka'ardi as-sama'i wal-ardi u'iddat lilladhina amanu billahi wa rusulih, dhalika fadlu Allahi yu'tihi man yasha', wallahu dhu al-fadli al-'azim

Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a garden whose width is like the width of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah, which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.

﴾٢٢﴿ مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ إِلَّا فِى كِتَٰبٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّبْرَأَهَآ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌۭ

Ma asaba min musibatin fi al-ardi wa la fi anfusikum illa fi kitabin min qabli an nabra'aha, inna dhalika 'ala Allahi yasir

No disaster strikes the earth or yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being. That is easy for Allah.

﴾٢٣﴿ لِّكَيْلَا تَأْسَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا تَفْرَحُوا۟ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍۢ فَخُورٍ

Likayla ta'saw 'ala ma fatakum wa la tafrahu bima atakum, wallahu la yuhibbu kulla mukhtalin fakhur

So that you do not grieve over what escaped you, nor exult over what He gave you. And Allah does not love anyone self-important and boastful.

﴾٢٤﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبُخْلِ ۗ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ

Alladhina yabkhaluna wa ya'muruna an-nasa bil-bukhl, wa man yatawalla fa-inna Allaha huwa al-Ghaniyyu al-Hamid

Those who are miserly and order people to be miserly. And whoever turns away, then Allah is the Free of Need, the Praiseworthy.

﴾٢٥﴿ لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَنزَلْنَا ٱلْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌۭ شَدِيدٌۭ وَمَنَٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥ وَرُسُلَهُۥ بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌۭ

Laqad arsalna rusulana bil-bayyinati wa anzalna ma'ahumu al-kitaba wal-mizana liyaquma an-nasu bil-qist, wa anzalna al-hadida fihi ba'sun shadidun wa manafi'u lin-nasi wa liya'lama Allahu man yansuruhu wa rusulahu bil-ghayb, inna Allaha Qawiyyun 'Aziz

We sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance, so that people may uphold justice. And We sent down iron, in which is severe might and benefits for people, and so that Allah may make evident who supports Him and His messengers unseen. Allah is Strong and Exalted in Might.

﴾٢٦﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًۭا وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا ٱلنُّبُوَّةَ وَٱلْكِتَٰبَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مُّهْتَدٍۢ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ فَٰسِقُونَ

Wa laqad arsalna Nuhan wa Ibrahima wa ja'alna fi dhurriyyatihima an-nubuwwata wal-kitab, faminhum muhtad, wa kathirun minhum fasiqun

We sent Nuh and Ibrahim, and We placed prophethood and the Scripture in their descendants. Among them are those who are guided, and many of them are defiantly disobedient.

﴾٢٧﴿ ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ ٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةًۭ وَرَحْمَةًۭ وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ٱبْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَٰهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ رِضْوَٰنِ ٱللَّهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا ۖ فَـَٔاتَيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ فَٰسِقُونَ

Thumma qaffayna 'ala atharihim birusulina wa qaffayna bi-'Isa ibni Maryama wa ataynahu al-Injila wa ja'alna fi qulubi alladhina ittaba'uhu ra'fatan wa rahmatan wa rahbaniyyatan ibtada'uha ma katabnaha 'alayhim illa ibtigha'a ridwani Allahi fama ra'awha haqqa ri'ayatiha, fa'atayna alladhina amanu minhum ajrahum, wa kathirun minhum fasiqun

Then We sent Our messengers following in their footsteps, and We followed with 'Isa ibn Maryam, and We gave him the Injil. We placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him. As for monasticism, they invented it. We did not prescribe it for them, only the seeking of the approval of Allah, and they did not observe it as it should have been observed. So We gave those among them who believed their reward, and many of them are defiantly disobedient.

﴾٢٨﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِرَسُولِهِۦ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًۭا تَمْشُونَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu ittaqu Allaha wa aminu bi-Rasulihi yu'tikum kiflayni min rahmatihi wa yaj'al lakum nuran tamshuna bihi wa yaghfir lakum, wallahu Ghafurun Rahim

You who believe, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger. He will give you a double portion of His mercy, and make for you a light by which you walk, and forgive you. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

﴾٢٩﴿ لِّئَلَّا يَعْلَمَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ أَلَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ مِّن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَأَنَّ ٱلْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

Li'alla ya'lama ahlu al-kitabi alla yaqdiruna 'ala shay'in min fadli Allahi wa anna al-fadla biyadi Allahi yu'tihi man yasha', wallahu dhu al-fadli al-'azim

So that the People of the Scripture may know that they have no power over anything of the bounty of Allah, and that bounty is in the hand of Allah, which He gives to whom He wills. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What The Surah Means

Overview

Surah Al-Hadid is twenty-nine verses, chapter 57, Madani. It is named after a metal, and the verse that names it places iron alongside scripture and the balance as one of three things sent down for the same purpose.

In between it contains the verse that al-Bukhari and Muslim record as having a particular effect on the early believers, verse 16, which asks whether the time has not yet come for their hearts to be humbled. It is addressed to believers, not to deniers, and it is the sharpest question in the surah.

Scripture, the balance, and iron. Three things sent down, and the purpose given for all three is that people uphold justice.

Verses 1–6 · The Four Names

He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He is Knowing of all things.

Huwa al-awwalu wal-akhiru waz-zahiru wal-batin: four names in one line, arranged as two pairs of opposites. Muslim records the supplication of the Prophet ﷺ that uses these four names in sequence, asking for the debt to be settled and the need removed.

The pairs work because they close every direction. Before and after, apparent and hidden. There is no position from which He is absent, which the next verse then states directly.

Wa huwa ma'akum ayna ma kuntum: and He is with you wherever you are. This follows a description of the six days of creation and the throne, which means the verse moves from the largest possible scale to the reader's own room in one step.

Yuliju al-layla fi an-nahari wa yuliju an-nahara fi al-layl: He merges the night into the day and the day into the night. The transition nobody can locate the moment of, used as evidence of continuous action.

First, Last, Manifest, Hidden. Every direction closed, and then, He is with you wherever you are.

Verses 7–12 · Spend From What Is Not Yours

Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and spend from that in which He has made you successors.

Wa anfiqu mimma ja'alakum mustakhlafina fih: spend from that in which He made you successors. The word is the one used for a deputy who holds something on behalf of the owner. The instruction to give is grounded in the fact that the holding was always temporary.

La yastawi minkum man anfaqa min qabli al-fathi wa qatal: those who spent and fought before the conquest are not equal to those after. Ula'ika a'zamu darajatan. The verse ranks the early givers above the later ones, and then adds, wa kullan wa'ada Allahu al-husna, and to each Allah has promised the best.

The principle is worth stating plainly. Giving when the outcome was uncertain counts differently from giving once the outcome is secure. Both are rewarded. They are not equal.

Man dha alladhi yuqridu Allaha qardan hasanan fayuda'ifahu lahu: who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan, and He will multiply it for him. The loan language again, the fourth time in this stretch of the Quran.

Yawma tara al-mu'minina wal-mu'minati yas'a nuruhum bayna aydihim wa bi-aymanihim: the day you see their light running ahead of them and on their right.

You are a deputy holding it, the early giving ranks higher, and the light runs ahead of the ones who gave.

Verse 16 · Has the Time Not Come

Has the time not come for those who believe, that their hearts should be humbled at the remembrance of Allah?

Alam ya'ni lilladhina amanu an takhsha'a qulubuhum lidhikri Allah: the question is asked of believers. Not of deniers. The people being addressed already accepted the message, and the question is about the state of their hearts, not their creed.

Wa ma nazala mina al-haqq: and to what has come down of the truth. The material is already in their possession. The question is what it has done to them.

Wa la yakunu kalladhina utu al-kitaba min qablu fatala 'alayhimu al-amadu faqasat qulubuhum: and not be like those given the Scripture before, for whom the period was prolonged, so their hearts hardened. The mechanism is named and it is time itself. Long possession of the truth without softening produces hardness.

Wa kathirun minhum fasiqun: and many of them are defiantly disobedient. Then verse 17. I'lamu anna Allaha yuhyi al-arda ba'da mawtiha. Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its death. The hardened heart is answered with an image of revival, placed immediately after the diagnosis.

The hearts hardened because the period was long. And the next verse says the earth is revived after it dies.

Verses 20–24 · The Shape of the Life

Know that the life of this world is only play, and diversion, and adornment, and boasting among you, and competition in wealth and children.

La'ibun wa lahwun wa zinatun wa tafakhurun baynakum wa takathurun fi al-amwali wal-awlad: five stages, in order, and they map onto a human life. Play, then distraction, then decoration, then boasting, then competing in wealth and children.

The parable follows. Rain that pleases the farmers, growth, then yellowing, then debris. The whole arc is given in one sentence, and the pleasure of the farmers is included.

Sabiqu ila maghfiratin min Rabbikum wa jannatin 'arduha ka'ardi as-sama'i wal-ard: race toward forgiveness and a garden whose width is like the width of the heaven and the earth. The instruction after the diagnosis is a race, not a withdrawal.

Ma asaba min musibatin fi al-ardi wa la fi anfusikum illa fi kitabin min qabli an nabra'aha: no disaster strikes the earth or yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being. Likayla ta'saw 'ala ma fatakum wa la tafrahu bima atakum. So that you do not grieve over what escaped you, nor exult over what He gave you.

That is the stated purpose of the doctrine. Not resignation. Emotional stability in both directions, over losses and over wins.

Play, diversion, adornment, boasting, competing. And the reason you were told it was written down is so you neither grieve nor gloat.

Verse 25 · The Iron

We sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance, so that people may uphold justice.

Laqad arsalna rusulana bil-bayyinat wa anzalna ma'ahumu al-kitaba wal-mizana liyaquma an-nasu bil-qist: the stated purpose of sending messengers and books is that people uphold justice. The word is qist, equity in practice.

Wa anzalna al-hadida fihi ba'sun shadidun wa manafi'u lin-nas: and We sent down iron, in which is severe might and benefits for people. Iron is put in the same sentence as scripture and the balance, sent down for the same purpose.

Read the three together. The book gives the standard, the balance gives the measure, and the iron gives the capacity to enforce it. A society with the first two and none of the third cannot uphold anything.

Wa liya'lama Allahu man yansuruhu wa rusulahu bil-ghayb: and so that Allah may make evident who supports Him and His messengers unseen. The test is who acts on it without being watched.

The surah closes on the chain of prophets, on those who took monasticism upon themselves without it being prescribed, and on the double portion of mercy for those who fear Him and believe in His Messenger.

Scripture, balance, iron. The standard, the measure, and the strength to hold them up.

Structural Summary

Twenty-Nine Verses. Scripture, Balance, Iron.

Verses 1–6The NamesFirst, Last, Manifest, Hidden, and He is with you wherever you are.

Verses 7–11The DeputySpend from what you were made successors in. The early givers rank higher, and the loan is multiplied.

Verses 12–15The LightLight running ahead of the believers, and the hypocrites asking them to wait so they can borrow from it.

Verse 16The QuestionHas the time not come for hearts to be humbled. The period was prolonged for those before, and their hearts hardened.

Verses 17–19The RevivalAllah gives life to the earth after its death, and the truthful and the witnesses have their reward and their light.

Verses 20–24The ArcPlay, diversion, adornment, boasting, competing. Written down beforehand so you neither grieve nor gloat.

Verses 25–29The IronMessengers, scripture, and the balance, so people uphold justice. And iron, in which is severe might.

Why This Surah Is For You

Verse 25 is the verse for a man who has both a message and the means to act. Iron is sent down alongside the book and the balance, for the same stated purpose. Strength is not treated as separate from justice in this surah. It is treated as the third instrument justice requires.

Verse 16 is addressed to believers and asks whether it is not time yet. The mechanism it warns about is time itself. Long exposure to the truth without softening hardens a man, and the people it names as the example had the scripture, not the lack of it.

Verse 10 ranks giving by when it happened. Spending before the conquest, when the outcome was uncertain, is not equal to spending after. Everything you fund while the result is still in doubt is on a different line of the ledger.

Verse 23 gives the purpose of knowing that everything was written down, and it is emotional rather than philosophical. So that you do not grieve over what escaped you and do not exult over what came to you. The doctrine is issued as a stabilizer in both directions.

The Practice · Daily Integration

Twenty-Nine Verses. Hold It as a Deputy.

Give while the outcome is uncertain. Verse 10 ranks that giving above the giving that comes after the result is secure.

Ask verse 16 of yourself directly. How long have you had this, and what has it softened.

Use verse 23 on both sides. Not only over losses. Over the wins, where exulting is the failure being named.

Read verse 25 as a job description if you hold any strength. The book, the balance, and the iron are one instruction.

He sent the book, the balance, and the iron for one purpose. Hold what you have as a deputy, and give before the outcome is known.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verse 11 / 58

The Verse

سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

Sabbaha lillahi ma fi as-samawati wal-ard, wa huwa al-'Azizu al-Hakim

What does verse 1 say?