Tafseer of The Rock · Al-Hijr · 15:24
And We have already known the preceding [generations] among you, and We have already known the later [ones to come].
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
His saying وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ -- the exegetes differed concerning its interpretation. Some said: the meaning is: We know those among the earlier peoples who have already perished, those who are living now, and those who have not yet been created but will be created.
Mention of who said that:
Aḥmad ibn Isḥāq related to us, saying: Abū Aḥmad related to us, saying: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of his father, on the authority of ʿIkrima: وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: he said: the mustaqdimūn are those who have already been created and the earlier peoples who have passed away; the mustaʾakhirūn are those who have not yet been created.
Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: al-Ḥakam related to us, saying: ʿAmr ibn Qays related to us, on the authority of Saʿīd ibn Masrūq, on the authority of ʿIkrima, concerning وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: he said: they are the entire creation of Allah; He knows all who have been created of it up to today, and He knows all whom He will create after today.
Al-Ḥasan ibn Yaḥyā related to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Razzāq informed us, saying: Ibn al-Taymī informed us, on the authority of his father, on the authority of ʿIkrima, he said: Allah created the creation and finished with it; the mustaqdimūn are those who have already come forth from the creation, and the mustaʾakhirūn are those who still remain in the loins of the men and have not yet come forth from them.
Muḥammad ibn Abī Maʿshar related to me, saying: Abū Maʿshar informed me, saying: I heard ʿAwn ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUtba ibn Masʿūd discussing with Muḥammad ibn Kaʿb the saying of Allah وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ. ʿAwn ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUtba ibn Masʿūd said: the first row of the men in prayer is the best, and the rearmost row of the men is the worst; the rearmost row of the women is the best, and the foremost row of the women is the worst. But Muḥammad ibn Kaʿb said: it is not so; وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ: the one who has died and the one who has been killed; and the mustaʾakhirūn: those who will follow them thereafter. And truly your Lord will gather them together -- truly He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing. ʿAwn ibn ʿAbd Allāh said: may Allah guide you and reward you with good.
Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: al-Muʿtamir related to us, on the authority of his father, he said: Qatāda said: the mustaqdimūn are those who have passed away, and the mustaʾakhirūn are those who still remain in the loins of the men.
Al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad related to us, saying: Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr related to us, saying: Abū al-Aḥwaṣ related to us, saying: Saʿīd ibn Masrūq related to us, on the authority of ʿIkrima and Khuṣayf, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: they said: whoever has died and whoever is still alive.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ: he said: Ibn ʿAbbās said: Adam ﷺ and those of his descendants who have passed away. وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: those who still remain in the loins of the men.
Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Muḥammad ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda: وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: he said: the mustaqdimūn are Adam and those who came after him until this verse was sent down; and the mustaʾakhirūn -- he said: every one of his descendants. I think he said: what has not yet been created and what has already been created.
Aḥmad related to us, saying: Abū Aḥmad related to us, saying: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of his father, on the authority of ʿIkrima: he said: the mustaqdimūn are what has already come forth from the loins of the men, and the mustaʾakhirūn are what has not yet come forth from them. Then he recited: وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ إِنَّهُ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ.
Others said: what is meant are those who have already died, and the mustaʾakhirūn are the living who have not yet died.
Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: by the mustaqdimūn he means whoever has died, and by the mustaʾakhirūn he means whoever is still living and has not died.
It was reported to me from al-Ḥusayn, he said: I heard Abū Muʿādh say: ʿUbayd informed us, saying: I heard al-Ḍaḥḥāk say concerning وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ: that is, the dead among you; وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: those remaining of them, who are the living; he says: We know who has died and who has remained.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: he said: the mustaqdimūn are those who passed away among the earlier peoples, and the mustaʾakhirūn are those remaining.
Others said: the meaning is: We know the first of the creation and the last of them.
Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn al-Muthannā related to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Wahhāb related to us, saying: Dāwūd related to us, on the authority of ʿĀmir, concerning وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: he said: the first of the creation and the last of it.
Ibn al-Muthannā related to us, saying: Ibn Abī ʿAdiyy related to us, on the authority of Dāwūd, on the authority of al-Shaʿbī, concerning وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: what went before at the beginning of the creation, and what remained at the end of the creation.
Al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad related to us, saying: ʿAlī ibn ʿĀṣim related to us, on the authority of Dāwūd ibn Abī Hind, on the authority of ʿĀmir, concerning وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ: he said: in the epochs; and the mustaʾakhirūn among you are in the loins of the men and the wombs of the women.
Others said: the meaning is: We know the mustaqdimūn among the earlier peoples, and the mustaʾakhirūn from the community of Muḥammad ﷺ.
Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us; and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us; and al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad related to us, saying: Shabāba related to us, saying: Warqāʾ informed us; and al-Muthannā related to me, saying: Abū Ḥudhayfa informed us, saying: Shibl related to us -- all on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: the mustaqdimūn are you, he said: the earlier generations; and the mustaʾakhirūn: the community of Muḥammad ﷺ.
Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of Mujāhid, the same.
Al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad related to us, saying: Muḥammad ibn ʿUbayd related to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Malik related to me, on the authority of Qays, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: he said: the mustaqdimūn are the earlier peoples who have passed away, and the mustaʾakhirūn are the community of Muḥammad ﷺ.
Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: ʿAmr ibn ʿAwn related to us, saying: Hushaym informed us, on the authority of ʿAbd al-Malik, on the authority of Qays, on the authority of Mujāhid, similar.
Al-Ḥasan ibn Yaḥyā related to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Razzāq informed us, saying: al-Thawrī informed us, on the authority of ʿAbd al-Malik, on the authority of Mujāhid, similar -- without mentioning Qays.
Others said: the meaning is: We know the mustaqdimūn among you in good, and the mustaʾakhirūn who lagged behind therein.
Mention of who said that:
Bishr ibn Muʿādh related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: he said: al-Ḥasan said: the mustaqdimūn are those who go forward in obedience to Allah, and the mustaʾakhirūn are those who lag behind in disobedience to Allah.
Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: ʿAmr ibn ʿAwn related to us, saying: Hushaym informed us, on the authority of ʿAbbād ibn Rāshid, on the authority of al-Ḥasan: he said: the mustaqdimūn in good, and the mustaʾakhirūn -- he says: those who tarry therein.
Others said: the meaning is: We know the mustaqdimūn among you in the prayer rows, and the mustaʾakhirūn therein on account of the women.
Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: al-Muʿtamir ibn Sulaymān related to us, on the authority of his father, on the authority of a man who reported to us from Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam, that he said: there were people who lagged behind in the prayer rows on account of the women, whereupon Allah sent down: وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ.
Al-Ḥasan ibn Yaḥyā related to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Razzāq informed us, saying: Jaʿfar ibn Sulaymān informed us, saying: ʿAmr ibn Mālik informed me, saying: I heard Abū al-Jawzāʾ say concerning the saying of Allah وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ: he said: the mustaqdimūn in the prayer rows and the mustaʾakhirūn.
Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Ḥarasī related to me, saying: Nūḥ ibn Qays related to us, saying: ʿAmr ibn Mālik related to us, on the authority of Abī al-Jawzāʾ, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, he said: there was a woman who used to pray behind the Prophet ﷺ. Ibn ʿAbbās said: by Allah, I never saw the like of her. Some of the Muslims, when they prayed, would go forward, and others would stand back; when they went down to the ground in prostration, they would look at her from under their arms. Whereupon Allah sent down: وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ.
Abū Kurayb related to us, saying: ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Mūsā related to us, saying: Nūḥ ibn Qays informed us; and Abū Kurayb related to us, saying: Mālik ibn Ismāʿīl related to us, saying: Nūḥ ibn Qays related to us, on the authority of ʿAmr ibn Mālik, on the authority of Abī al-Jawzāʾ, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, he said: there used to pray behind the Prophet ﷺ a beautiful woman, one of the most beautiful of people; some people would stand in the first row so as not to see her, and others would stand back in the rearmost row; when they bowed they would look under their armpits in the row -- whereupon Allah sent down on her account: وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ.
Abū Jaʿfar said: the most correct opinion in my judgment in this matter is the opinion of those who said: the meaning is: We know the dead among you, O children of men, whose death has gone before, and We know the mustaʾakhirūn whose death has lagged behind -- those who are living now and those who will be created in the future. That is because of the indication of what precedes the saying -- namely His saying وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ نُحْيِي وَنُمِيتُ وَنَحْنُ الْوَارِثُونَ -- and of what follows it, namely His saying وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ, which indicates that it is so, since it lies between these two statements, while in the preceding words there is nothing that indicates the contrary, nor in the words that follow it. It is, however, also possible that this verse was sent down on account of the mustaqdimūn in the prayer row on account of the women and the mustaʾakhirūn therein for the same reason, after which Allah -- exalted is He -- extended the intended meaning to the whole of creation and said: We know what of the creation has passed away and have counted them, and what they did, and who of you are living now, and who after you, O people, will be created, and the deeds of all of you -- good and evil -- and We have counted all of that; We gather them all together and requite each according to his deeds: whoever did good, with good, and whoever did evil, with evil. Thus that would be a warning and a threat to the mustaʾakhirūn in the prayer rows on account of the women and to everyone who transgresses the limits of Allah and acts contrary to what is permitted to him, and a promise to whoever goes forward in the rows for reasons connected with the women and is swift in all his actions toward the love and good pleasure of Allah.
