What is meant by the “Spectacles of the Quran”?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

What is meant by the “Spectacles of the Quran”?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and Merciful,

The Reason for the Name

The term “Spectacles of the Quran” refers to certain Suras of the Quran. They are called so because they include descriptions of Allah’s attributes (Most High), what Allah has prepared for the believers, and His warnings to the disbelievers, as well as other attributes and qualities of Allah, Glorious and Exalted be He.

Which Suras are the “Spectacles” of the Quran?

This title is given to the Suras of the Quran that begin with the phrase “Ha Mim,” which comprise seven Suras, all of which are Meccan: Surat Ghafir, Fussilat, Al-Shura, Al-Zukhruf, Al-Dukhan, Al-Jathiya, and Al-Ahqaf. [Sakhawi, Jamal al-Qurra’ wa Kamal al-Iqra’]

It is also applied to the Suras of the Quran that begin with glorification, known as “al-Musabbihat,” which are also seven Suras:

1 – ”Glory be to the One Who took His servant ˹Muḥammad˺ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque…” [Quran, 17:1]

2 – “Whatever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, for He is the Almighty, All-Wise.” [Quran, 57:1]

3 – “Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth glorifies Allah. For He is the Almighty, All-Wise.” [Quran, 59:1]

4 – “Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth glorifies Allah. For He ˹alone˺ is the Almighty, All-Wise.” [Quran, 61:1]

5 – “Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth ˹constantly˺ glorifies Allah—the King, the Most Holy, the Almighty, the All-Wise.” [Quran, 62:1]

6 – “Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth ˹constantly˺ glorifies Allah—the King, the Most Holy, the Almighty, the All-Wise.” [Quran, 64:1]

7 – “Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High.” [87:1] [Ibid; Zarkashi, al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran; Ibrahim al-Jarmi, Mu‘jam ‘Ulum al-Quran]

The Source for the Name

The naming of the “Ha Mim” Suras as the “Spectacles of the Quran” is attributed to our Master Ali ibn Abi Talib (Allah be pleased with him).

Asim ibn Abi al-Nujud (Allah have mercy on him) narrated from Zirr ibn Hubaysh, who said: “I recited the entire Quran in the Great Mosque of Kufa to the Commander of the Faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). When I reached the ‘Ha Mim’ suras, he said: ‘Zirr ibn Hubaysh, you have reached the Spectacles of the Quran.’ When I reached verse twenty of Ha-Mim, ‘Ayn-Seen-Qaf: ‘Those who believe and do good will be in the lush Gardens of Paradise. They will have whatever they desire from their Lord. That is ˹truly˺ the greatest bounty,’ [Quran, 42: 22] he wept, and when his sobbing ceased, he raised his head to the sky and said: ‘Zirr, say Amin to my prayer.’ Then he said: ‘Allah, I ask You for the humility of the humble, the sincerity of the mu’minin, the companionship of the righteous, the materialization of true iman, the benefit from every good act, safety from every sin, the necessity of Your mercy, your great forgiveness, success with Paradise, and salvation from the Fire.’ Then he said: ‘Zirr when you complete [the Quran], pray with these supplications, for the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “When one of you completes the Quran, let him say: ‘O Allah, comfort me with it in the wistfulness of my grave’.” [Sakhawi, Jamal al-Qurra’ wa Kamal al-Iqra’]

The “Brocade” of the Quran

Note: The “Ha Mim” suras were also named “The Brocade of the Quran.”

Mujahid reported from Ibn Mas‘ud: “The Ha-Mim suras are the brocade of the Quran.” [Musannaf Abdul-Razzaq; Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba; Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman; Abu Ubaid al-Qasim ibn Salam, Fada’il al-Quran; Zarkashi, al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran]

Other Names for Sura Groups in the Quran

Imam Ghazali mentioned in Ihya ‘Ulum al-Din: “In the Quran are open grounds, gardens, palaces, spectacles, brocades, meadows, and dwellings. The ‘Mim’ suras are the open grounds of the Quran, the ‘Ra’ suras are its gardens, the ‘Ha’ suras are its palaces, the Musabbihat are its spectacles, the ‘Ha-Mim’ suras are its brocade, the Mufassal are its meadows, and the rest are its dwellings. When the reciter enters the open grounds, picks from the gardens, enters the palaces, witnesses the spectacles, bears the brocade, strolls in the meadows, and resides in the rooms of the dwellings, he is engulfed by them and occupied from anything else. His heart does not wander, nor does his thought scatter.”

Imam Sakhawi reported from some of the leading scholars among the righteous predecessors (Allah be pleased with them): “In the Quran are battlefields, gardens, palaces, spectacles, brocade, and meadows. The battlefields of the Quran are those beginning with ‘Alif Lam Mim,’ its gardens are those beginning with ‘Alif Lam Ra,’ its palaces are the ones beginning with praise, its spectacles are the Musabbihat, its brocade are the Ha Mim suras, and its meadows are the Mufassal.” [Zarkashi, al-Burahn fi ‘Ulum al-Quran; Sakhawi, Jamal al-Qurra’ wa Kamal al-Iqra’]

The Virtue of the Musabbihat Suras

Among the virtues of the Musabbihat suras is what was reported from ‘Irbad ibn Sariya: He narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to recite the Musabbihat before sleeping, and he said, “There is a verse in them better than a thousand verses.” [Ahmad]

The Quran is Our Fortress

All these titles for the Suras of the Quran are to ensure that we know that the Quran is a fortress, an elevation, guidance, and a path to happiness and security.

Allah, make the Quran the spring of our hearts, the light of our chests, the eliminator of our sorrows, and the removal of our griefs.

Allah send blessings upon our master and Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions, and grant them peace.

[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa.