What Is Meant by the Most Comprehensive Verse (Ahkam Aya)?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
What is meant by the most comprehensive verse (أحكم آية) in the Book of Allah, and is there an example of this?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate.
Meaning of Ahkam Aya (The Most Comprehensive Verse)
The meaning of (أحكم آية) in the Book of Allah is: the most comprehensive verse, the most conclusive verse, the fairest verse, and the most just verse. Allah (Most High) says:
“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” [Quran, 99:7-8]
These two verses indicate the perfection of divine justice and are the most comprehensive in judgment. It has also been described as the most comprehensive verse, and the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) referred to it as “the comprehensive, significant verse.” In a lengthy hadith, he said,
“Horses are for three (purposes)…” When asked about the zakat on donkeys, he said, “Allah has not revealed anything to me about them except this comprehensive, significant verse: ‘So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.’” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Who Describes it as the Most Comprehensive Verse?
Among those who described it as the most comprehensive verse (أحكم آية) was Ibn Mas‘ud, may Allah be pleased with him, who said,
“The most comprehensive verse in the Quran is: ‘So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.’” [‘Abd al-Razzaq, Tafsir al-Quran; Suyuti, al-Itqan; Qasimi, Mahasin al-Ta‘wil]
Ka‘b al-Ahbar said, “In the Quran, what was revealed to Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) are two verses that summarize what is in the Torah and the Gospel. Do you not find: ‘So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.’” [Asbahani, Hilyat al-Awliya’]
It’s narrated from Sa‘sa‘a ibn Muawiya, the uncle of Farazdaq, that he came to the Prophet Muhammad,(Allah bless him and give him peace) and recited: “So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it. [Ahmad]
Sa‘sa‘a said: “This is sufficient for me. I don’t care if I don’t hear anything other than this.” In another narration, Sa‘sa‘a said: “This is sufficient for me, the admonition has ended. I don’t care if I don’t hear anything other than this from the Quran.” [Zurqani, Manahil al-Irfan]
Meaning of these Verses
These are actually two verses, as you can see. The term “verse” in the Quran can mean a part of it or more, but this is a kind of metaphor and expansion in interpretation. [Ibid.]
The meaning of Allah’s statement (So whoever does an atom’s weight (mithqala dharra) of good will see it. [Quran, 99:7]) is that “mithqal” refers to what is used to measure the weight of something, like a scale. “Dharra” refers to an ant in the early stages of its life, a metaphor used by Arabs to denote something very small and delicate. The intended meaning is that whoever does the smallest amount of good in this world will see its reward there.
Some say “dharra” refers to the tiny particles seen in sunlight when they enter through a window, reflecting off these extremely minute particles.
His statement (And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it. [Quran, 99:8]) means that whoever does the smallest amount of evil in this world will see its consequences there. [Ibn Ashur, Tafsir Ibn Ashur]
These two verses encourage doing even the smallest amount of good and warn against the smallest amount of evil. [Suyuti, al-Iklil fi Istinbat al-Tanzil]
Scholars agree on the general applicability of this verse, considering it as one of the comprehensive statements. [Qastalani, Irshad al-Sari; Zurqani, Sharh al-Muwatta’; Qurtubi, al-Jami‘ li Ahkam al-Quran]
Therefore, you should keep the content of this verse in mind in all your states and actions, to be fully aware and alert to the consequences of your deeds.
Conclusion
In conclusion, let us not forget what Allah (Most High) says:
“They will cry, ‘Woe to us! What kind of record is this that does not leave any sin, small or large, unlisted?’ They will find whatever they did present (before them). And your Lord will never wrong anyone.” [Quran, 18:49]
And He (Most High) says:
“We set up the scales of justice for the Day of Judgment, so no soul will be wronged in the least. And (even) if a deed is the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as a (vigilant) Reckoner.” [Quran, 21:47]
May Allah make us all among those who remember and comply with the implications of these noble verses by His grace and generosity.
May Allah send peace and blessings upon our Master, Prophet Muhammad, and upon his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
