Surah Ar-Rum

The Byzantines

Introduction

Name of Chapter and Reason for its Name

This chapter has been named Surah Al-Room/Ar-Rum (The Romans or Byzantines), due to this being mentioned in the first verse. Furthermore, the chapter goes on to narrate the incident of Rome’s defeat against its enemy.

Chapter Number

Surah Al-Room/Ar-Rum is the 30th chapter of the Holy Quran.

Number of Verses

This chapter has 60 verses.

Place of Revelation

There is a difference of opinion among the exegetes as to whether this chapter is a Makki or Madani one. Some believe all of its verses to be Makki, while others believe that verse 17 is Madani.

Content

Important Concepts in this Chapter

Verses 2-6

The foretelling of Rome’s victory over the Persians occurs in the first few verses of this chapter. This concealed information is expressive of the Holy Quran’s Divinity and miraculous nature. Furthermore, it is strongly indicative of it being a revelation from Allah.

Verse 30

This verse hints towards intrinsic unity.

Verses 20-37, 40-43, 48-52 and 54

These verses mention the signs of the Oneness of Allah and the Day of Judgement. They start by counting the Divine signs in order to prove Allah’s unity. Next, they identify Allah’s characteristics from His attributes of action, and through doing this, all possible partners alongside their divinity and lordship are rejected.

Verses 55-60

The final verses of this chapter describe the state of the guilty people on the Day of Judgement due to their lack of faith in the Hereafter. After being resurrected, these individuals will feel that the time between their deaths and resurrection was extremely short.

Discussions on this Chapter

According to the Sunni Traditions

قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا محمد بن جعفر عن شعبة عن عبد الملك بن عمير، سمعت شبيب أبا روح يحدث عن رجل من أصحاب النبي صلى اللّه عليه و سلم أن رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه و سلم، صلى بهم الصبح فقرأ فيها الروم فأوهم، فقال «إنه يلبس علينا القرآن، فإن أقواما منكم يصلون معنا لا يحسنون‏ الوضوء، فمن شهد الصلاة معنا فليحسن الوضوء

Imam Ahmad says that Muhammad ibn Jafar narrated from Shubah ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Umayr, who heard Shabib Abu Ruh narrating from one of the companions of the Holy Prophet, that the Prophet of was offering his fajr prayers, and he recited Surah al-Room during it, then he received revelation and said: “Surely, the Quran covers us. Definitely, the most upstanding person among you is the one who prays with us without performing wudhu well. So, whoever sees us praying should perform wudhu well.”

Verse 17: “So glorify Allah when you enter evening and when you rise at dawn.”

فَسُبۡحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ حِينَ تُمۡسُونَ وَحِينَ تُصۡبِحُونَ ١٧ قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا حسن، حدثنا ابن لهيعة، حدثنا زبّان بن فائد عن سهل بن معاذ بن أنس الجهني عن أبيه عن رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه و سلم أنه قال «ألا أخبركم لم سمى اللّه إبراهيم خليله الذي و في؟ لأنه كان يقول كلما أصبح و كلما أمسى: سبحان اللّه حين تمسون و حين تصبحون و له الحمد في السموات و الأرض و عشيا و حين تظهرون»

Imam Ahmad says that Hasan narrates from Ibn Lahiah, from Zabban ibn Faaid, from Sahl ibn Muadh ibn Anas al-Jihani, from his father, from the Prophet of Allah that: “Have I not told you that Allah did not call Ibrahim His dear friend that died? It is because he would say whatever in the morning and whatever in the evening. ‘So glorify Allah when you enter the evening and when you rise at dawn. To Him belongs all praise in the heavens and the earth, at nightfall and when you enter noontime.’”

Verse 20: “He brings forth the living from the dead, and brings forth the dead from the living, and revives the earth after its death. Likewise you [too] shall be raised [from the dead].”

وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنۡ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٖ ثُمَّ إِذَآ أَنتُم بَشَرٞ تَنتَشِرُونَ ٢٠ قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا يحيى بن سعيد و غندر قالا: حدثنا عوف عن قسامة بن زهير عن أبي موسى قال: قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه و سلم «إن اللّه خلق آدم من قبضة قبضها من جميع الأرض، فجاء بنو آدم على قدر الأرض، جاء منهم الأبيض و الأحمر و الأسود و بين ذلك و الخبيث و الطيب و السهل و الحزن و بين ذلك

Imam Ahmad says that Yahya ibn Saeed and Ghundar narrate from Awf, from Qasamah ibn Zuhayr, from Abu Musa that the Prophet of Allah said: “Surely Allah created Adam from a handful taken from all of the earth. So, the sons of Adam come in different varieties just as the earth varies. They come in white, red, black, and [colours] in between; evil, good, easy-going, difficult, and something in between.”

Verse 27: “It is He who originates the creation, and then He will bring it back - and that is simpler for Him. His is the loftiest description in the heavens and the earth. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي يَبۡدَؤُاْ ٱلۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ وَهُوَ أَهۡوَنُ عَلَيۡهِۚ وَلَهُ ٱلۡ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ٢٧ مَثَلُ روى البخاري‏: حدثنا أبو اليمان أخبرنا شعيب، أخبرنا أبو الزناد عن الأعرج عن أبي هريرة رضي اللّه عنه عن النبي صلى اللّه عليه و سلم «قال اللّه كذبني ابن آدم و لم يكن له ذلك و شتمني و لم يكن له ذلك، فأما تكذيبه إياي فقوله لن يعيدني كما بدأني و ليس أول الخلق بأهون علي من إعادته و أما شتمه إياي فقوله اتخذ اللّه ولدا و أنا الأحد الصمد الذي لم يلد و لم يولد و لم يكن له كفوا أحد»

Al-Bukhari narrates that Abu al-Yaman narrated to me from Shuayb, from Abu al-Zinad, from Al-Araj, from Abu Hurayrah, from the Messenger that: “Allah said: ‘The descendants of Adam denied Me, and they had no right to do so; and they hated Me, and they had no right to do so. In regards to their denial of Me, they say: ‘He will not bring me back just like He first created me.’ Creating things from the beginning is not any easier for Me than re-creating them. In regards to their hatred of Me, they say: ‘Allah has a son.’ I am the One, the Self-Sufficient which does not give birth, nor was I born, and there is no one comparable to Him.’”

Verse 30: “So set your heart on the religion as a people of pure faith, the origination of Allah according to which He originated mankind (There is no altering Allah’s creation; that is the upright religion, but most people do not know).”

فَأَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفٗاۚ فِطۡرَتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِي فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيۡهَاۚ لَا تَبۡدِيلَ لِخَلۡقِ ٱللَّهِۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ٣٠ قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا هاشم، حدثنا أبو جعفر عن الربيع بن أنس عن الحسن عن جابر بن عبد اللّه قال: قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه و سلم «كل مولود يولد على الفطرة حتى يعرب عنه لسانه، فإذا عبر عنه لسانه إما شاكرا و إما كفورا

Imam Ahmad says that Hashim narrated to him from Abu Jafar, from al-Rabi ibn Anas, from al-Hasan, from Jabir ibn Abdullah that the Prophet of Allah said: “Everyone is born with their original nature until they are made to express themselves through their language. So when they begin to express themselves through their language, they will be either grateful or ungrateful.”

According to the Shia Traditions

Benefits of Reciting this Surah

أبي بن كعب عن النبي ص قال مَنْ قَرَأَهَا كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ عَشْر حَسَنَاتٍ بِعَدَدِ كُلِّ مَلَكٍ يُسَبِّحُ اللَّهَ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ أَدْرَكَ مَا ضَيَّعَ‏ فِي يَوْمِهِ وَ لَيْلَتِهِ‏‏

Abu ibn Kab narrates from the Prophet that: “Whoever recites Surah al-Room will receive ten rewards for every angel that glorifies Allah between the heavens and the earth. They will also understand whatever opportunities they have missed each day and night.”

Verse 15: “As for those who have faith and do righteous deeds, they shall be in a garden, rejoicing.”

فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَهُمۡ فِي رَوۡضَةٖ يُحۡبَرُونَ ١٥ ‏ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْجَنَّةُ مِائَةُ دَرَجَةٍ مَا بَيْنَ كُلِّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ مِنْهَا كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ الْفِرْدَوْسُ أَعْلَاهَا سُمُوّاً وَ أَوْسَطُهَا مَحَلَّةً وَ مِنْهَا تَنْفَجِرُ أَنْهَارُ الْجَنَّةِ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ وَ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ الصَّوْتُ فَهَلْ لِي فِي الْجَنَّةِ صَوْتٌ حَسَنٌ فَقَالَ إِي وَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يُوحِي إِلَى شَجَرَةٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ أَسْمِعِي عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَغَلُوا بِعِبَادَتِي وَ ذِكْرِي عَنْ عَزْفِ الْبَرَابِطِ وَ الْمَزَامِيرِ فَتَرْفَعُ صَوْتاً لَمْ يَسْمَعِ الْخَلَائِقُ بِمِثْلِهِ قَطُّ مِنْ تَسْبِيحِ الرَّبِّ

Abu Hurayrah narrates from the Prophet of Allah that: “Heaven has one hundred levels. What is between every two levels is just like what is between the sky and the earth. The highest level is called firdaws. The middle level is called mahallah. The rivers in heaven spring forth from there.” Then, a man stood up and said, “O Prophet of Allah, I am most certainly a man who loves voices. So, will there for pleasant voices for me in heaven?” The Prophet replied: “I swear by the One who has my soul in His hands, surely Allah, the Exalted has revealed to a tree in heaven, ‘Have My worshippers who have kept busy with worshipping Me and remembering Me - listen to the sounds of hymns and chants.’ Then, it will raise its voice glorifying Allah in a way which no creation has ever heard like it before.”

Verse 30: “So set your heart on the religion as a people of pure faith, the origination of Allah according to which He originated mankind (There is no altering Allah’s creation; that is the upright religion, but most people do not know).”

فَأَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفٗاۚ فِطۡرَتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِي فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيۡهَاۚ لَا تَبۡدِيلَ لِخَلۡقِ ٱللَّهِۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ٣٠ في الكافي، بإسناده عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى‏ فَأَقِمْ‏ وَجْهَكَ‏ لِلدِّينِ‏ حَنِيفاً قَالَ هِيَ الْوَلَايَةُ

It has been reported in Al-Kaafi through Abu Baseer from Abu Jafar regarding the part of the verse: ‘So set your heart on the religion as a people of pure faith’ that “[This is talking about] guardianship.”

Verse 39: “That which you give in usury in order that it may increase people’s wealth does not increase with Allah. But what you pay as zakat seeking Allah’s pleasure - it is they who will be given a manifold increase.”

وَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُم مِّن رِّبٗا لِّيَرۡبُوَاْ فِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَلَا يَرۡبُواْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِۖ وَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُم مِّن زَكَوٰةٖ تُرِيدُونَ وَجۡهَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُضۡعِفُونَ ٣٩ وَ قَالَ أمير المؤمنين فَرَضَ اللَّهُ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْزِيهاً عَنِ الْكِبْرِ وَ الزَّكَاةَ تَسْبِيباً لِلرِّزْقِ‏ وَ الصِّيَامَ ابْتِلَاءً لِإِخْلَاصِ الْخَلْقِ وَ صِلَةَ الرَّحِمِ مَنْمَاةً لِلْعَدَدِ

Amir al-Momineen said: “Allah has made the prayers mandatory because it is a cleanser of arrogance. He made zakat binding because it leads to gaining sustenance. He made fasting obligatory because it acts as a test for creation’s sincerity. He made maintaining cordial relationships with family compulsory because it increases [population].”

Verse 41: “Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea because of the doings of the people’s hands, so that He may make them taste something of what they have done, so that they may come back.”

ظَهَرَ ٱلۡفَسَادُ فِي ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ أَيۡدِي ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعۡضَ ٱلَّذِي عَمِلُواْ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ ٤١ قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ‏ حَيَاةُ دَوَابِّ الْبَحْرِ بِالْمَطَرِ فَإِذَا كُفَّ الْمَطَرُ ظَهَرَ الْفَسادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَ الْبَحْرِ وَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا كَثُرَتِ الذُّنُوبُ وَ الْمَعَاصِي‏

Al-Sadiq said: “Marine animal life is sustained by rain. So if rain was to be taken away, then corruption would appear on the land and in the sea. The same will take place when sinning increases.”

Verse 44: “Whoever is faithless shall face the consequences of his faithlessness, and those who act righteously only prepare for their own souls.”

مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيۡهِ كُفۡرُهُۥۖ وَمَنۡ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمۡ يَمۡهَدُونَ ٤٤ رُوِيَ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِنَّ الْعَمَلَ الصَّالِحَ لِيَسْبِقَ صَاحِبهُ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ فَيَمْهَدُ لَهُ كَمَا يَمْهَد لِأَحَدِكُمْ خَادِمه فِرَاشه

Mansoor ibn Haazim narrates from Abu Abdillah that: “Surely, righteous actions will lead the person performing them to enter into heaven first. It will be prepared for them just like your maid prepares your bed for you.”

Verse 47: “Certainly We sent apostles to their people before you, and they brought them manifest proofs. Then We took vengeance upon those who were guilty, and it was a must for Us to help the faithful.”

وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ رُسُلًا إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِمۡ فَجَآءُوهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ فَٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَجۡرَمُواْۖ وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيۡنَا نَصۡرُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٤٧ ‏ جاءت الرواية عن أم الدرداء آن‌ها قالت سمعت رسول الله ص يقول‏ مَا مِنِ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَرُدُّ عَنْ‏ عِرْضِ‏ أَخِيهِ‏ إِلَّا كَانَ حَقّاً عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يَرُدَّ عَنْهُ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ وَ كانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنا نَصْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏.

Umm al-Darda says that she heard the Prophet of Allah say: “Whenever any Muslim protects one’s fellow Muslim’s honour, it is a must for Allah to protect that person from the fire of Hell on the Day of Judgement.” Then he recited: ‘And it was a must for Us to help the faithful.’