Parables of the QuranA parable of the Quran · Al-Hashr 59:21

The Quran on a mountain

مثل القرآن لو أُنزل على جبل

Were the Quran sent down on a mountain, it would humble itself and split from awe of Allah: how much more should hearts?

Quran

What it means

Had this Quran been sent down on a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and splitting apart from awe of Allah; such are the parables struck for people so that they reflect (59:21).

As-Sa'di explains that hearts should respond to the Quran even if they were as hard as firm mountains, for its admonitions are the greatest of all and its commands and prohibitions carry their wisdom with them, easy on the soul and fit for every time and place. Reflecting on it, he says, opens the treasures of knowledge.

Evidence

QuranAl-Hashr (The Exile)Quran 59:21

لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُۥ خَـٰشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَتِلْكَ ٱلْأَمْثَـٰلُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ٢١

If We had sent down this Qur’ān upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and splitting from fear of Allāh. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought.

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

21. Had We sent down this Qur’ân on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rent asunder by the fear of Allâh. Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect.[3]

[3] (V.59:21) Narrated Jâbir bin ‘Abdullâh رضي الله عنهما: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to stand by a tree or a date-palm on Friday. Then an Ansâri woman or man said, "O Allâh’s Messenger! Shall we make a pulpit for you?" He replied, "If you wish." So they made a pulpit for him and when it was Friday, he proceeded towards the pulpit [for delivering the Khutbah (religious talk)]. The date-palm cried like a child! The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم descended (from the pulpit) and embraced it while it continued moaning like a child being quietened. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "It was crying for (missing) what it used to hear of religious knowledge given near it." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.4, Hadîth No. 784).

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