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wa-la-qad ʾātaynāka sabʿan mina l-mathānī wa-l-qurʾāna l-ʿaẓīma
Certainly We have given you [the surah of] the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Quran.
— Ali Quli Qarai
15Al-ḤijrالحجرVerse 87 of 99
The Rocky Tract15. Al-Ḥijrالحجر
Al Ḥijr
The Rocky Tract
MeccanVerse 87 of 99
Surah Al-Hijr – Verse 87
87. “And indeed We have given you seven of the oft-repeated (verses) (Surah Al-Hamd) and the Grand Qur’an.”
The Islamic quotations narrated by both Shi‘ite and Sunni scholars indicate that the objective of the Qur’anic phrase /sab‘an minal- ma ani/ (seven of the oft-repeated (verses)) is Surah Al-Hamd. For this Surah is to be recited twice in every prayer, and it has been twice revealed. There has been mentioned in a quotation that Allah (s.w.t.) says He has separated Surah Al-Hamd into two parts between Himself and His servants. One part is in connection with Him, while the other part concerns His servants.
From the holy phrase /bismillah/ as far as /malik i yaumiddin/ is in connection with Allah, and from /’iyy aka na‘bud/, which is the expression of obedience in worshipping, seeking assistance, and invocation, relates to the servants. Also, some have claimed that the objective in mind in /ma ani/ is the Qur’an itself. In this case, the above mentioned Qur’anic phrase means ‘seven verses from the Qur’an’ which is necessarily the same Surah Al-Hamd.
The reason for this idea is the verse which says:
“Allah has revealed the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself (yet) repeating…” 2
The Book the verses of which are similar, harmonious and repetitive. The blissful Prophet (S) proclaimed:
“Whoever, upon whom Allah bestows the Qur’an, imagines such that another one has been bestowed something better than that, he has downgraded the magnificent (Qur’an) and has magnified a tiny (thing).” 3
Anyway, Allah seeks to condole the Prophet (S) not to be terrified by the enemy’s violence, their density of population and the immense capabilities which are at their disposal, for Allah has made some blessings available to him with which nothing will match equally. The verse says:
“And indeed We have given you seven of the oft-repeated (verses) (Surah Al-Hamd) and the Grand Qur’an.”
Allah explains to His Prophet (S) this reality that he possesses a great capital, a capital such as the Qur’an which is as great as the entire world of existence, in particular, the Surah Al-Hamd which embodies such magnificent content that it joins man with Allah instantly and makes his soul bow and submit before Him, as well as invoking Him for help. In Tafsir-i-Borhan, under this noble verse there is cited a quotation from Imam Muhammad-i-Baqir (as) who said: We are the objective of /ma ani/ which Allah has bestowed on our prophet, and we are Allah’s countenance on the earth known among the people and the Shi’ah followers.
He who has known us, he is certain to believe in the origin of existence, resurrection and paradise, and he who is ignorant as regards us, he will surely face the Hell and Divine chastisement.
Explanations
Legislation is solely the prerogative of the Creator, and the laws of religious edicts must be based on ‘creation’. The principle of repetition in educational issues is a fundamental matter. The word ‘Oft-repeated’ refers to the repetition of the revelation of the verses, the repetition of words, the repetition of stories, the repetition of Divine attributes, the repetition of verses of chastisement and of resurrection, the repetition of the fate of nations, the repetition of Divine blessings, the repetition of commandments, and the repetition of reciting the Qur’an.
Surah Al-Hamd is equivalent with the Qur’an, though the number of its verses amounts to seven.
Footnotes