17. Al-Isra’ (Bani-Israel)
17.1 Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه)
Regarding Allah’s saying:
“It may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised station (17:79)”
that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) was asked about it and he said: “It is the intercession.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3137
17.2 Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه)
Regarding Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) saying:
“And recite the Qur’an in the early dawn. Verily the recitation of the Qur’an in the early dawn is ever witnessed (17:78).”
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “It is witnessed by the angels of the night and the angels of the day.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3135
17.3 Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه)
“The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) was in Makkah, then Hijrah was ordered, so the following was revealed to him:
Say: ‘My Lord! Let my entry be good, and likewise my exit be good. And grant me from You a helping authority (17:80).’
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3139
17.4 Narrated Ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه)
“The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) entered Makkah during the year of the Conquest, and there were three hundred and sixty Nusb (Altars to sacrifice to idols) around the Ka’bah. So the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) started hitting them with a stick he had in his hand” – or perhaps he said: “With a piece of wood, and he was saying:
The truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Surely falsehood is ever bound to vanish (17:81). The truth has come and falsehood can neither originate anything nor resurrect (anything) (34:49).”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3138
17.5 Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه)
That regarding the saying of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى):
“The Day when We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imam (17:71)”
the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “One of you will be called out to be given his record in his right hand, he will be grown in his body to sixty forearm-lengths, his face will be whitened, and a crown of sparkling pearls will be placed upon his head. So he will go to his companions, who can see him from afar, and they will say: ‘O Allah! Bring this one to us, and let us be blessed by him.’ Until he reaches them, and says to them: ‘Receive the good news! For each man among you shall be the likes of this.'” [He (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said:] “As for the disbeliever, then his face shall be blackened, he will be grown in his body to sixty forearm-lengths in the image of Adam, he will given a crown, and his companions will see him and say: ‘We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of this one. O Allah! Do not bring this one to us.'” He said: “So when he reaches them, they say: ‘O Allah! Take him away’ so they will be told: ‘May Allah cast you away! Indeed for each man among you is the likes of this.'”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3136
17.6 Abdullah b. Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) reported
In connection with the words of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious:
“Those to whom they call upon, themselves seek the means or access to their Lord as to whoever of them becomes nearest” (xvii. 57)
that it related to a party of Jinn who were being worshipped and they embraced Islam but those who worshipped them kept on worshipping them (though the Jinn whom the misguided people worshipped had become Muslims). It was then that this verse was revealed.
17.7 Narrated ‘Irbad bin Sariyah (رضي الله عنه)
That the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) would recite the Musabbihat (Chapters 17, 57, 59, 61, 62, 64 & 87) before sleep and say “Indeed there is an Ayah in them that is better than one thousand Ayat.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2921
17.8 Narrated Safwan bin ‘Assal Al-Muradi (رضي الله عنه)
“A Jew said to his companion: ‘Accompany us to this Prophet.’ So his companion said: ‘Do not say: “Prophet,” for if he hears you calling him a Prophet then he will be happy.’ So they went to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) to question him about Allah, the Most High, saying:
And indeed we gave Musa nine clear signs (17:101).
So the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said to them: ‘Do not associate anything with Allah, nor commit unlawful intercourse, nor take a life which Allah has made prohibited, except for what is required (in the law), nor steal, nor practice magic, nor hasten to damage the reputation of an innocent person in front of a ruler, so that he will be killed, nor consume Riba, nor falsely accuse the chaste woman, nor turn to flee on the day of the march (i.e. flee from war).’ – Shu’bah was in doubt – ‘and for you Jews particularly, to not violate the Sabbath.'” He said: “So they kissed his hands and his feet and they said: ‘We bear witness that you are a Prophet.’ So he said: ‘Then what prevents you from accepting Islam?’ They said: ‘Because Dawud supplicated to his Lord, that his offspring never be devoid of Prophets, and we feared that if we follow you then the Jews will kill us.'”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3144
17.9 Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) spoke about the ayat
“Give your relatives their due, and the very poor and travellers” (17: 26),
and said, “He begins by commanding the most pressing of the obligatory dues and He directs us to the best action if we have any money. He says: ‘Give your relatives their due, and the very poor and travellers.’ He also teaches us what we can say if we have nothing. He says,
‘But if you do turn away from them, seeking the mercy you hope for from your Lord, then speak to them with words that bring them ease’ (17:28)
in the form of an excellent promise. Things are as they are, but they might change if Allah wills.
‘Do not keep your hand chained to your neck’ and not give anything, ‘but do not extend it either to its full extent’ and give all you have, ‘so that you sit there blamed’ as those who come to you later and find you have nothing will blame you, ‘and destitute.’ (17:29)”
He said, “The person to whom you have given everything has made you destitute.”
17.10 Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) mentioned
The words of the Almighty,
“When one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say ‘Ugh!’ to them out of irritation and do not be harsh with them but speak to them with gentleness and generosity. Take them under your wing, out of mercy, with due humility and say: ‘Lord, show mercy to them as they did in looking after me when I was small.” (17:23-24)
He said, “This was abrogated in Surat at-Tawba:
‘It is not right for the Prophet and those who have iman to ask forgiveness for the mushrikun even if they are close relatives after it has become clear to them that they are the Companions of the Blazing Fire.’ (9:113)”
17.11 Narrated Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه)
That the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “I am the chief of the children of Adam on the Day of Judgement and I am not boasting, and in my hand is the banner of praise and I am not boasting, and there has been no Prophet since Adam or other than him, except that he is under my banner. And I am the first for whom the earth will split open, and I am not boasting.” He said: “The people will be frightened by three frights. So they will come to Adam (عليه السلام) saying: ‘You are our father Adam, so intercede for us with your Lord.’ So he says: ‘I committed a sin for which I was expelled to the earth, so go to Nuh.’
So they will come to Nuh (عليه السلام) and he will say: ‘I supplicated against the people of the earth, so they were destroyed. So go to Ibrahim.’ So they will go to Ibrahim (عليه السلام), and he says: ‘I lied three times.'” Then the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “He did not lie except defending Allah’s religion.” “So go to Musa.’ So they will come to Musa (عليه السلام), and he will say: ‘I took a life. So go to ‘Eisa. So they go to ‘Eisa (عليه السلام) and he says: ‘I was worshiped besides Allah. So go to Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم).'”
He said: “So they will come to me, and I will go to them.” (One of the narrators) Ibn Ju’dan said: “Anas said: ‘It is as if I am looking at the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he is saying: “So I will take hold of a ring of a gate of Paradise to rattle it, and it will be said: ‘Who is there?’ It will be said: ‘Muhammad.’ They will open it for me, and welcome me saying, ‘Welcome.’ I will fall prostrate and Allah will inspire me with statements of gratitude and praise and it will be said to me: ‘Raise your head, ask and you shall be given, intercede, and your intercession shall be accepted, speak, and your saying shall be heard.’ And that is Al-Maqam Al-Mahmud about which Allah said:
It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqaman-Mahmud (17:79).”
Sufyan said: “None of it is from Anas except this sentence: ‘I will take hold of a ring of a gate of Paradise to rattle it.'”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3148
17.12 Narrated ‘Aishah (رضي الله عنها)
“The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) would not sleep until he recited Surat Bani Isra’il and Az-Zumar.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2920
17.13 Narrated `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (رضي الله عنه)
The Surahs of Bani Israel, Al-Kahf, Mariyam, Taha and Al-Anbiya are from the very old Surahs which I learnt by heart, and they are my first property.
Sahih al-Bukhari Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 263
17.14 Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah (رحمه الله) narrated from Hazrat Abu Umaru Ash-Shaybani (رحمه الله)
Abdullah led us in the Fajr Salah so he recited two Surahs and the last verse of Surah Bani Israel.
(Dur Al-Manthur)
17.15 Imam Abu Yala and Ibn Sunni (رحمهم الله) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه)
That the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) saw a man troubled with sickness so he told him, “Should I not teach you such words that will remove your pain and sickness? Recite :
توکلت علی الله حی الذی لایموت
الحمد لله الذي لم يتخذ ولدا ولم يكن له شريك في الملك ﴿
﴾ ولم يكن له ولي من الذل وكبره تكبيرا
(17:111)”
The man revisited the Prophet and he was now in very good condition. He said, “I always recite the words that you taught me.”
17.16 Ibn Abi Dunya in Kitab Al-Farj and Bayhaqi in Al-Asma Wa-Sifat narrated from Ismael bin Abi Fadeek that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said
Whenever I felt any hardship, Gabriel (عليه السلام) would come in the form of a human and ask to recite
توکلت علی الله حی الذی لایموت
الحمد لله الذي لم يتخذ ولدا ولم يكن له شريك في الملك ﴿
﴾ ولم يكن له ولي من الذل وكبره تكبيرا
(17:111)
(Dur Al-Manthur)
17.17 Imam Ibn Sunni and Dailami (رحمهم الله) narrated from Hazrat Fatimah (رضي الله عنها)
That the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) told her when you go to bed say
الحمد للہ الکافی، سبحان اللہ الاعلی، حسبی اللہ وکفی، ماشاء اللہ، قضی، سمع اللہ لمن دعا، لیس من اللہ ملجا ولا وراء اللہ ملتجا، توکلت علی اللہ ربی وربکم، ما من دابة الا ھو اخذبنا صیتھا، ان ربی علی صراط مستقیم
الحمد لله الذي لم يتخذ ولدا ولم يكن له شريك في الملك ﴿
﴾ ولم يكن له ولي من الذل وكبره تكبيرا
(17:111)
Whoever recites this before sleeping, the devils and insects will not be able to harm even if the person sleeps in midst of them.
(Dur Al-Manthur)
17.18 Imam Abdul Razzaq (رحمه الله) in Al-Musnaf narrated from Hazrat Abdul Karim bin Abi Umayya
That whenever a child of Bani Hashim learned to talk, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) would teach the verse
الحمد لله الذي لم يتخذ ولدا ولم يكن له شريك في الملك ﴿
﴾ ولم يكن له ولي من الذل وكبره تكبيرا
(17:111)
seven times to the youngster.
(Dur Al-Manthur)
17.19 The Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) told Imam Ali (عليه السلام) that
The last two verses of Surah Al-Isra’ are a protection and safety from theft.
(Tafsir Al-Safi)
17.20 Imam Ibn Jarir (رحمه الله) narrated from Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) that
The entire Torah is contained in the fifteen verses (17:22-37) of Bani-Israel (Surah Al-Isra’). Then he recited (beginning with)
لا تجعل مع الله إلها آخر فتقعد مذموما مخذولا
Do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity and [thereby] become censured and forsaken (17:22)
(Dur Al-Manthur)
[Related article ▷ How about “ten commandments” in the Quran?]
17.21 Duas
رب ارحمهما كما ربياني صغيرا
My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small (17:24)
رب أدخلني مدخل صدق وأخرجني مخرج صدق واجعل لي من لدنك سلطانا نصيرا
My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority (17:80)
﴾ بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ﴿ 
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