Tafseer of The Reality · Al-Haaqqa · 69:12
That We might make it for you a reminder and [that] a conscious ear would be conscious of it.
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.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His saying: "That We might make it a reminder for you" (69:12) — so Allah caused it to endure as a reminder, a lesson, and a sign, until the first people of this community looked upon it. And how many ships have there been after the ark of Nūḥ that have turned to ashes?
His saying: "And that a retaining ear might retain it" (wa-taʿiyahā udhunun wāʿiya) means: a preserving ear that has understood from Allah what it heard.
And in accordance with what we have said concerning this, the people of interpretation have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
ʿAlī related to me, saying: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās: "And that a retaining ear might retain it" — he says: a preserving ear.
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: "And that a retaining ear might retain it" — he says: a hearing ear, and that is the proclamation.
* Mention of who said that:
Naṣr ibn ʿAlī related to us, saying: my father related to us, saying: Khālid ibn Qays related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: "And that a retaining ear might retain it" — he said: an ear that has understood from Allah.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning his saying: "And that a retaining ear might retain it" — an ear that has understood from Allah, and so benefited from what it heard of the Book of Allah.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda: "A retaining ear" — he said: an ear that heard and understood what it heard.
It was related to me on the authority of al-Ḥusayn, saying: I heard Abū Muʿādh say: ʿUbayd related to us, saying: al-Ḍaḥḥāk said concerning his saying: "And that a retaining ear might retain it" — an ear heard it and retained it.
ʿAlī ibn Sahl related to us, saying: al-Walīd ibn Muslim related to us, on the authority of ʿAlī ibn Ḥawshab, saying: I heard Makḥūl say: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited: "And that a retaining ear might retain it," and then turned to ʿAlī and said: "I asked Allah to make it your ear." ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, said: and I have since heard nothing from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that I have forgotten.
Muḥammad ibn Khalaf related to me, saying: Bishr ibn Ādam related to me, saying: ʿAbdallāh ibn al-Zubayr related to us, saying: ʿAbdallāh ibn Rustum related to me, saying: I heard Burayda say: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say to ʿAlī: "O ʿAlī, verily Allah has commanded me to bring you near and not to keep you away, and to teach you and that you understand, and it is a right upon Allah that you understand." He said: then was revealed: "And that a retaining ear might retain it."
Muḥammad ibn Khalaf related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan ibn Ḥammād related to us, saying: Ismāʿīl ibn Ibrāhīm Abū Yaḥyā al-Taymī related to us, on the authority of Fuḍayl ibn ʿAbdallāh, on the authority of Abū Dāwūd, on the authority of Burayda al-Aslamī, saying: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say to ʿAlī: "Verily Allah has commanded me to teach you and to bring you near, and not to treat you harshly and not to keep you away," and he then mentioned something similar.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning his saying: "And that a retaining ear might retain it" — he said: retaining, while they guard themselves against acts of disobedience toward Allah, out of fear that Allah would punish them for it just as He punished those who were before them; it hears it and retains it. For the hearts retain only what the ears hear of good and evil, by the principle of retaining.
