As-Sajdah 32:24 - Linguistic Miracle

When they displayed patience, we made leaders from them, guiding with Our amr. They remained firm in being certain of our verses/signs.

This surah was revealed in Makkah when the Muslims were under severe persecution. Allah is telling the Muslims to endure and be patient. Just as He made leaders from the children of Israel because of their patience, He will do the same with the Muslims if they do display patience as well.

The sentence “They remained firm in being certain of our signs” explains “When they

displayed patience.” Even in tough times, they remained firm in being certain of our

signs, of our promises, of what Allah revealed. How did they display patience? By firmly believing that Allah’s promises will come true even in tough times., by firmly believing that what Allah has revealed is the truth, and that Allah will give them victory. Allah has promised the Muslims in Makkah victory and comfort. If they firmly believe in His promise, they will of course remain steadfast and patient in face of the persecution they are facing. They will endure knowing that one day, this will come to an end and God’s help will come. This is what the children of Israel did and Allah not only rescued them from Pharaoh, but He made leaders out of them, who would guide and lead men to Allah.

Just as the believers in verses 15 and 16 endured temporary discomfort by sacrificing their sleep and desires to obtain a greater and perfect form of comfort on judgment day, so will the Muslims achieve a greater form of comfort after enduring this temporary persecution and oppression at the hands of the disbelievers.

They remained firm in being certain of our signs - In verse 12, when the criminals are hanging their head in shame in front of Allah, they said

رَبَّنَآ أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَٱرْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَٰلِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ

Our Master, we have seen and heard, so return us; we will work righteousness for we are certain.

They had to visibly see what they were promised by Allah to become certain. Allah is telling Muslims to be their opposite. Do not be like those who only believe in the promise of Allah when they see it. Rather be certain in His promise of victory and comfort right now, before His help and victory actually come to you. This is what sets the believer apart from the disbeliever.

The disbeliever submitted to Allah on judgment day after visibly seeing the promises fulfilled in verse 12 , whereas the believer submitted to Allah while alive in this world in verse 15, before he actually got to see God’s promises on judgment day. Believers, be like the children of Israel who believed in Allah’s promises without even seeing them, by merely hearing them through His prophet Mūsā just as you are hearing right now through your prophet Muhammad ﷺ . Do not be like the criminals who will believe only when they see the things they are promised with their eyes on judgment day, by which time their faith and belief will not bring them any fruit. If you believe and become certain right now, during these tough times, and endure patiently and hold steadfast, you will not only be rescued, but Allah will make you leaders.

With Our amr -This goes back to verse 4.

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍۢ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ مَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَلِىٍّۢ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ

He does tadbīr of the amr from heaven to the earth;thumma, it ascends to Him in a span one day of which is thousand years of what you count.

Amr is what gives life and purpose. The human body is the khalq while the spirit inside it is an amr of Allah. Allah deliberately said “Guiding with Our amr” instead of “Guiding

with Our book or signs” to draw connection to the fourth verse. Amr here refers to the words of Allah, His book and His promises, which too are invisible.

The disbelievers only believed in the khalq, but not the amr since khalq is visible to the

eyes while amr is not. The Muslims will become leaders as well - which came true. The very fact that the children of Israel became leaders and guided men to Allah, similar to how the Muslims will become leaders and guide the world to Islam, is proof that amr exists beyond khalq because if you only believe in the visible part and believe that death is the ultimate end, wouldn’t your main goal be restricted to this life to avoid suffering while maximizing pleasure as much as you can? Your goals would remain confined within this world. Yet, these believers willingly chose suffering and bore persecution. Patience stands in opposition to pleasure. If this world is all there is, your goals would remain confined to maximizing pleasures inside this world. Hence, anything that goes against it, would be shunned immediately. Yet, by being patient, you endure the suffering, and choose to let go of these pleasures because you realize there exists a bigger reality than this world.

There is a beautiful correlation here. You believed in the promise of Allah only when you saw it. You also only believe in khalq because it is visible. Anything that is invisible to your eyes, you deny. If you want to see a proof of the fact that something does not have to be visible for it to be true, if you want to see the proof that the amr of Allah, and the meeting of judgment day is true, look at the fact that the children of Israel became leaders when they endured and remained steadfast against Pharaoh’s oppression. Now naturally, the response to this is, what happened with the children of Israel and the Pharaoh is invisible as well! So the response Allah gave them is that you will see it happen again with your own eyes. The Muslims will endure your oppression and persecution, they will go against their desires and hence not only be victorious, but become leaders, all because of the amr of Allah.

To the Muslims, Allah is simply saying to be patient. Allah has promised you relief, victory and leadership. Become certain that the promise of Allah is true and that victory, relief and leadership will come BEFORE they actually arrive. Believe in the unseen. Do not be like the disbelievers who only believe when they see it on

judgment day because just as it will be too late for them to believe on that day, so it might be too late for you when the victory and help of Allah come.