Tafseer of The Iron · Al-Hadid · 57:25
We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that Allah may make evident those who support Him and His messengers unseen. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
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.
The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: Indeed, We have sent Our messengers with the clear signs of explanation and proofs, and We have sent down with them the Book containing the ordinances and laws, and the balance with justice.
As Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda: الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ ("the Book and the balance"); he said: the balance: justice.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word: وَأَنْزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ ("and We have sent down with them the Book and the balance"), with the truth (1); he said: the balance: it is that with which the people deal and with which they conduct business among themselves in this world in their livelihood, which they take and give; they take with a balance and give with a balance, whereby one knows what one takes and what one gives. He said: and the Book: in it is the religion of the people, according to which they act and what they abandon; the Book is thus for the Hereafter, and the balance for this world.
And His word: لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ ("so that the people would observe justice"). The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: so that the people would deal with one another with justice.
And His word: وَأَنْزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ ("and We have sent down iron, in which is great might"). The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: and We have sent down for them iron, in which is great might. He says: in it is strong might and benefit for the people, and that is what they are benefited by from it in striking the enemy, and its other benefits.
And Ibn Ḥumayd has already related to us, saying: Yaḥyā ibn Wāḍiḥ related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, on the authority of ʿIlbāʾ ibn Aḥmar, on the authority of ʿIkrima, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, who said: three things were sent down with Adam — may Allah's blessings be upon him —: the anvil and the tongs, and the chopping block, and the hammer.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word: وَأَنْزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ ("and We have sent down iron, in which is great might"); he said: the great might: those are the swords and the weapons with which the people fight, وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ ("and benefits for the people") besides that: they dig up the earth and the mountains with it and other things.
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to us, 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, both on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning his word: وَأَنْزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ ("and We have sent down iron, in which is great might and benefits for the people"): both a shield and a weapon; and He sent it down so that Allah would know who helps Him.
And His word: وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ وَرُسُلَهُ بِالْغَيْبِ ("and so that Allah would know who helps Him and His messengers in the unseen"). The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: We have sent Our messengers to Our creatures and sent down with them these things so that they would judge justly between them, and so that the party of Allah would know who helps the religion of Allah and His messengers in the unseen.
And His word: إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ ("indeed, Allah is Strong, Almighty"). The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: indeed, Allah is strong enough to take vengeance on whoever confronts Him with enmity and opposes His command and prohibition, Almighty in His retribution upon them; no one is able to take vengeance on Him for the punishment that He brings down upon him.
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The footnotes:
(1) Perhaps: "and the balance, and the balance with the truth."
