The Seventh Flash

The word:

وَالشُّهَدَٓاءِand the martyrs

refers collectively to Umar (ra)Umar ibn al-Khattāb, a prominent Companion of Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the second caliph after his death., Uthmān (ra)Uthmān ibn Affān, a prominent Companion and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (saw), and the third of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. He was known by the title Dhu'n-Nūrayn, “the Possessor of the Two Lights., and Ali (ra)Ali ibn Abī Tālib, cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (saw), husband of Fātimah, and the fourth caliph in the Islam... It indicates that these three would become caliphs after Abū Bakr as-Siddīq (ra)The closest Companion of Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the first caliph after his death. He was given the title as-Siddīq, “the Most Truthful.”. It also proclaims that they would be martyred, and that the virtue they would acquire through martyrdom would be added to their other virtues.

The word:

وَالصَّالِحِينَand the righteous

refers to distinguished persons such as the People of the SuffahA sheltered area adjoining the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah where a group of poor and devoted Companions, known as the Ahl as-Suffah, lived and studied. and the participants of BadrA place near Madinah where the Battle of Badr took place in 624 (2 AH), the first major battle between the Muslims of Madinah and the Quraysh of Mecca. and the Pledge of RidwānThe Pledge of Ridwān; a pledge of loyalty made by the Sahābah to Prophet Muhammad (saw) at Hudaybiyyah in 628 (6 AH), mentioned in Qur’an 48:18.. Through the explicit meaning of:

وَحَسُنَ أُولٰئِكَ رَفِيقًاAnd what excellent companions they are

the verse encourages people to follow them and shows that the tābiīnThe generation of Muslims who met and learned from the Sahābah (Companions of Prophet Muhammad), but did not meet the Prophet himself. followed this encouragement in an honourable and beautiful manner. At the same time, through its implicit meaning, it points to Hasan (ra)Hasan ibn Ali (ra); grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (saw), son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatima (ra), and elder brother of Husayn (ra)., the fifth caliph, who confirmed the meaning of the hadithA report of the sayings, actions, or approvals of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).:

إِنَّ الْخِلَافَةَ بَعْدِي ثَلَاثُونَ سَنَةًIndeed, the caliphate after me will last thirty years

and thereby indicates the great value of his caliphate despite its short duration.

In short: just as the verses at the end of SurahChapter of the Qur’an. al-Fath point to the four Rightly Guided CaliphsThe first four caliphs after Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him): Abū Bakr, Umar, Uthmān, and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them). They are known as al-Khulafā ar-Rāshidūn., so too the verses mentioned here point, through their explicit meanings, in part to their future positions as a proclamation concerning the ghaybThe unseen; that which is hidden from human perception and knowledge..

Flashes of this kind of miraculousness—the revealing of matters concerning the ghaybThe unseen; that which is hidden from human perception and knowledge., which is one of the forms of the Qur’an’s miraculousness—are so numerous that they cannot be counted. Literalist scholars restrict them to forty or fifty verses because of their outward-looking perspective, but in reality they exceed a thousand. Sometimes a single verse contains four or five aspects of giving news from the ghaybThe unseen; that which is hidden from human perception and knowledge..

رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَاOur Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake. — The Qur’an 2:286

سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَٓا اِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَٓا اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْعَلٖيمُ الْحَكٖيمُGlory be to You. We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. – The Koran 2:32