Juz 23: Yā Sīn 28 to Az-Zumar 31
Section 2 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
2. Story of Habib an-Najar and the Messengers
In Surah Ya-Sin, Allah (swt) narrates the powerful story of a believing man who supported the divine messengers against his own disbelieving community. This account serves as a profound example of faith, courage, and ultimate triumph despite worldly defeat.
وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلاً أَصْحَابَ الْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَاءهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ
“And give them the example of the people of the town, when the messengers came to it.”
Allah (swt) instructs the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to relate this story as an example for his people. Initially, Allah (swt) sent two messengers to this town, but the people rejected them. To reinforce the message, Allah (swt) sent a third messenger, yet the townspeople persisted in their denial.
When the situation escalated, a man from the farthest part of the city came rushing to support the messengers. According to the commentators of the Quran, this man was Habib an-Najar, a believer who lived on the outskirts of the city. Despite his distance from the center of town, his spiritual insight brought him swiftly to defend the truth when he heard of his people's rejection.
Habib addressed his people with sincere advice, saying:
وَمَا لِيَ لاَ أَعْبُدُ الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
“And why should I not worship the One who created me, and to whom you will be returned?”
His argument was logical and compelling – why should one not worship the Creator to whom all will ultimately return? He further emphasized that the messengers sought no reward for their message, indicating the purity of their intentions.
Unfortunately, the people remained obstinate in their disbelief. When Habib openly declared his faith, they turned against him:
إِنِّي آمَنتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَاسْمَعُونِ
“I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me.”
For this declaration of faith, they killed him. However, his martyrdom led to his immediate admission into Paradise, a far greater reward than anything this world could offer:
قِيلَ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ ۖ قَالَ يَا لَيْتَ قَوْمِي يَعْلَمُونَ
“It was said, "Enter Paradise." He said, "Would that my people knew”
بِمَا غَفَرَ لِي رَبِّي وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ
“How my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honored ones.”
The beauty of Habib's character shines through in this verse. Even after attaining Paradise, his concern remained with his people. His wish was not for vengeance but for their guidance – if only they could know how Allah (swt) had forgiven him and honored him, perhaps they would believe.
Following this, Allah (swt) swiftly punished the disbelieving town:
مَا كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ خَامِدُونَ
“It was but a single Shout, and they were extinguished.”
The punishment came in the form of a single devastating blast that completely destroyed them. This exemplifies how quickly Allah (swt) can bring about destruction when His signs are persistently rejected.
This story carries profound lessons about standing for truth even in the face of overwhelming opposition. Habib an-Najar represents those believers who, driven by sincere faith, speak out against injustice and falsehood regardless of personal cost. His ultimate success in the Hereafter, despite his apparent defeat in this world, reminds believers that true victory lies not in worldly outcomes but in divine approval and Paradise.