Sūrah Al-Ḥijr The Rocky Tract

الحجر

99 verses, Makkī. Named for the people of al-Ḥijr the ancient Thamūd people whose stone-carved dwellings still exist in northwest Arabia (modern Mada'in Ṣāliḥ). Ibn Kathīr covers the divine protection of the Qurʾān, the creation and expulsion of Iblīs, the guests of Ibrāhīm ﷺ, and the punishment of Thamūd.

Surah Overview

DetailInformationClassificationSignificance

SurahالحجرAl-Ḥijr The Rocky TractNamed for the ancient Thamūd settlements

TypeMakkī99 versesJuzʾ 14

Key Promise"Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qurʾān and We will be its guardian" (15:9)Divine guarantee of preservationFulfilled across 1400+ years

Key StoryAngels visit Ibrāhīm ﷺ · Thamūd's punishment15:51–77, 15:80–84Pride punished whether by sin or arrogance

Key Themes from Ibn Kathīr

The divine preservation of the Qurʾān (15:9): Ibn Kathīr: this is a definitive promise from Allah no manuscript is lost, no word changed, no meaning distorted, no authentic recitation extinguished. The Qurʾān stands today exactly as it was revealed while every other religious text has been altered.

Iblīs created from fire, Ādam from clay (15:26–44): Allah created mankind from dried clay like pottery. The angels were commanded to prostrate all did except Iblīs. He sought respite until the Day of Resurrection was granted it. He vowed to make the straight path difficult for all of mankind except Allah's sincere servants whom he has no power over.

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ Innā naḥnu nazzalnā dh-dhikra wa innā lahu la-ḥāfiẓūn Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder and indeed We will be its guardian. (15:9) The divine guarantee of the Qurʾān's preservation the greatest miracle of the ummah.

وَنَبِّئْهُمْ عَن ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۘ إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا قَالَ إِنَّا مِنكُمْ وَجِلُونَ Wa nabbiʾhum ʿan ḍayfi Ibrāhīma · idh dakhalū ʿalayhi fa-qālū salāman qāla innā minkum wajilūn And inform them about the guests of Abraham when they entered upon him and said: "Peace." He said: "Indeed, we are fearful of you." (15:51–52)

Iblīs's power is limited (15:42): "Indeed, over My servants there is no authority for you except those who follow you of the deviators." Shaytān can whisper, seduce, and beautify but cannot force. The believer who seeks refuge is protected.
Seven oft-repeated verses (15:87): "And We have certainly given you seven of the oft-repeated and the great Qurʾān." The scholars unanimously identify this as Al-Fātiḥah reinforcing its status as the heart of the Qurʾān.
Thamūd destroyed in the morning (15:83–84): The cry (ṣayḥah) struck them at sunrise. Whatever they had built and accumulated did not benefit them. The archaeological remains of their carved dwellings (Mada'in Ṣāliḥ) stand today as the sign the Qurʾān promised.
Do not grieve over the disbelievers (15:88): The Prophet ﷺ was in deep anguish over his people's rejection. Allah comforts him lower your wing (be gentle) to the believers, and do not concern yourself with what the rejecters enjoy.
The gates of the sky (15:14–15): Even if the disbelievers were to ascend to the heavens and see the angels, they would say "Our eyes have been bewitched." Ibn Kathīr: obstinate rejection is not a matter of evidence it is a matter of will.

Surah Overview

Key Themes from Ibn Kathīr

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