Al-Ahqaf (The Dunes)

35. Therefore be patient [O Prophet!] as did the arch-prophets [lit. possessor of constancy, determination, and strong will, applied to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad]. On the Day when they will see that [torment] with which they are promised as if they had not stayed more than an hour in a single day. [This is] a clear Message [for all]. But shall any be destroyed except the people who are evil doers?

‘Azm is used in the senses of will, decision, determination, and Divine Law (shari’a) Uulu al-’azm is applied to the legislating prophets.

Taking disbelievers’ chastisement into consideration paves the way for believers’ patience and perseverance. Addressing His Messenger (S), God asks him to be patient with disbelievers and their false claims as to deeming you words as legends in the same manner as the arch-prophets were patient with disbelievers and their cruelty.

He also asks him to not make haste in having them chastised for their vicious deeds since mundane life is so transient that when disbelievers taste Divine Torment they think that they stayed in this world but for a single hour. Compared to the life to come, this worldly life seems to resemble a single moment. In retrospect, this mundane life may be likened to a dream. Fanciful pleasures of the flesh preoccupying man leave him with nothing but misfortune, cruelty, and darkness of heart.

“Illa al-sa’a” (“except an hour”)

may indicate the changeable moment referred to the time that is constantly in the process of generation and corruption lacking stable existence.

The world to come is the stable and unchangeable world of life, i.e., eternal life, referred to in the Holy Qur’an as:

“Verily, the home of the Hereafter - that is the life indeed [i.e., the eternal life that will never end], if they but knew”1 .

In Manhaj al-Sadiqin it is narrated from Imam Muhammad Baqir and Imam Ja’far Sadiq (as) that the arch-prophets were five in number who abrogated their preceding Laws. They are Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus (as), and Muhammad (S) who are also referred to as Sarat al-Nabiyin. Thus is narrated on the authorities of Ibn ‘Abbas and Qatada. Other narrations have been narrated by exegets but space limitations impede their citation.

In short, ulu al-’azm in its literal sense of “having a strong will” may be applied to all the prophets since they possessed strong will, clemency, and perseverance in the fulfillment of their Divine Mission. Their words were against the beliefs and practices of their time, as a consequence of which they suffered many an affliction and were patient with disbelievers for the fulfillment of Divine Command.

The Verse in question may serve as an encouragement for the Noble Prophet (S) to be patient in the same manner as all the prophets were patient with disbelievers and their vicious deeds.