Teaching Through Examples:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In the Qur’aan we come across many Aayaat that are arranged in such a way that we, a lot of times, fail to understand the wisdom behind their arrangement. At first glance, we would not be able to make any connections between these different Aayaat, but upon pondering over them again and again, one can appreciate the Wisdom of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى.

A few examples of such pairing of `Aayaat are as follows:
1. Aayaat on Patience paired with Aayah of al-Safa & al-Marwah
2. Aayaah of Du`aa paired with Aayaat on Fasting
3. Aayah on Tawakkal paired with Surah Yusuf

It is like when Allaah تعالى instructed His Prophet ﷺ and the Believers to be patient, He تعالى gave an example in Patience. And when He تعالى instructed His Prophet ﷺ and the Believers to trust Him in all our affairs, He تعالى gave an example in Trust.

1. Pairing of Aayaat on Patience with Aayah of al-Safa & al-Marwah:

Right after the Aayaat on al-Sabr, Allaah تعالى mentioned about al-Safa and al-Marwah. Allaah تعالى said: 

﴿وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ﴾ إلى قوله تعالى ﴿إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ﴾

{And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits} till His saying: {Indeed, al-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allaah}

[Surah al-Baqarah (2): 155-158]

The pairing between these Aayaat is really wonderful. This Aayah is mentioned right after the Aayaat on al-Sabr, as if Allaah تعالى is reminding us about the people who were tried severely, i.e., the Khaleel of Allaah, Ibraaheem عليه السلام and his family. He عليه السلام left his family in the middle of the desert, complying with the instructions of his Lord, and was patient. And Umm Ismaa’eel ran between the two mountains, between al-Safa and al-Marwah, seeking water for her son. 

“The connection of this Aayah with those before it is from many perspectives… one of them being: When Allaah تعالى said: {And We will surely test you with something of fear…} till His saying: {but give good tidings to those who are patient}, and He تعالى said: {Indeed, al-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allaah}, the reason why Allaah تعالى arranged it that way (and Allaah knows best) is because going between al-Safa and al-Marwah are from the legacy of Haajar and Ismaa`eel, and the ordeal that befell them. And from this they concluded that whoever is patient when faced with adversities, will reach greater levels and higher stations (in Jannah).”

[Mafaateeh al-Ghaib (4/135), Tafseer al-Muharrar (1/439)]

 

2. Pairing of Aayaah of Du`aa with Aayaat on Fasting: 

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ﴾ إلى قوله تعالى ﴿وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ﴾ وقوله تعالى ﴿ أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَائِكُمْ﴾

{O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the Fasting) is prescribed for you} till His saying: {And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad ﷺ) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me} till His saying: {It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of As-Saum (the fasts).}

[Surah al-Baqarah (2): 183-187]

While commenting on Aayah # 186 (on Du`aa), Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

“From the benefits of this Aayah is that (the state of) Fasting is the most likely time for the acceptance of the Du`aa, because Allaah تعالى mentioned this Aayah in between the Aayaat on Fasting, He تعالى especially mentioned it near the end of the Aayah on Fasting.

Some people of knowledge have said that there is another benefit that one learns from this Aayah: i.e., a person should make the Du`aa near the last part of the day in which he is Fasting – meaning near the time of breaking the Fast.

[Tafseer Ibn al-`Uthaymeen]

3. Pairing Aayah on Tawakkal with Surah Yusuf:

﴿وَلِلَّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُ الْأَمْرُ كُلُّهُ فَاعْبُدْهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ﴾ إلى قوله تعالى ﴿الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ﴾

{And to Allaah belongs the Ghaib (unseen) of the heavens and the earth, and to Him return all affairs (for decision). So worship Him (O Muhammad ﷺ) and put your trust in Him. And your Lord is not unaware of what you (people) do} till His saying: {Alif, Laam, Raa. These are the verses of the clear Book.}

[Surah Hood (11): 123 – till end of Surah Yusuf]

Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer said: “Allaah تعالى informs that He is the All-Knower of the unseen of the heavens and the earth and that unto Him is the final return. He explains that everyone who does a deed, He will give them their deed (reward for it) on the Day of Reckoning. Unto Him belongs the creation and the command.

Then He تعالى commands that He should be worshipped and relied upon, for verily, He is sufficient for whoever trusts and turns to Him.

Concerning His statement: (And your Lord is not unaware of what you do.) This means, “The lies (of the disbelievers) against you O Muhammad ﷺ are not hidden from Him. He is the All-Knower of the conditions of His creatures and He will give them the perfect recompense for their deeds in this life and the Hereafter. He will aid you (Muhammad ﷺ) and His party over the disbelievers in this life and in the Hereafter.”

[Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

After Allaah تعالى commanded Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to continue worshiping Him – irrespective of what the Kuffaar do - and to put his trust in His Lord, Allaah تعالى mentioned Surah Yusuf, as if to teach us how Allaah took control of the affairs of Yusuf’s عليه السلام life. The whole of Surah Yusuf is about patience and trusting on Allaah for your affairs, as Allaah تعالى said: 

﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾

{Thus did We establish Yusuf in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allaah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not.}

[Surah Yusuf (12):21]

Yusuf عليه السلام was separated from his father, went through a lot ordeals, only to fulfill a far superior role in the end. 

This is how Allaah تعالى ends Surah Hood with the command to worship Him and to trust Him in all our affairs and He تعالى then gives the example from the story of Yusuf عليه السلام.

These were a few examples, and one would find many more examples, like how Surah al-Faatihah ends with mentioning about the people who earned Allaah’s anger and who went astray (meaning the Jews and Christians) and then most part of Surah al-Baqarah deals with the misguidance of Banee Israa’eel, to teach us about the mistakes they fell into. And when Allaah mentioned about guidance in Surah al-Faatihah, He تعالى mentioned the way to seek guidance and the qualities of those who are guided in the beginning Aayaat of Surah al-Baqarah.

And Allaah knows best.