The Ayat about The Shin

 

   قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Say, "He (is) Allah, the One.

Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute.

Not He begets and not He is begotten.

And not is for Him equivalent any [one]."

[Al-Quran 112]

In Surah al-Qalam, ayaat 42,43 state: 

42 يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍۢ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

43 خَـٰشِعَةً أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۭ ۖوَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَـٰلِمُونَ

Translation: Saheeh International 

42. The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able,

43. Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.

Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali 

42. The Day that the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but they shall not be able,-

43. Their eyes will be cast down,- ignominy will cover them; seeing that they had been summoned aforetime to bow in adoration, while they were whole, (and had refused).

Arabic: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=68&translator=30 

Translation: Saheeh International 

https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=68&translator=29 

Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali 

https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=68&translator=2

Hadith briefly explaining this ayat: 

عن أبي سعيد الخدري -رضي الله عنه- مرفوعاً: «يكشِف ربُّنا عن ساقِه، فيسجدُ له كلُّ مؤمنٍ ومؤمنةٍ، فيبقى كلُّ مَن كان يسجدُ في الدنيا رياءً وسُمْعةً، فيذهبُ ليسجدَ، فيعودَ ظهرُه طبقًا واحدًا».   
[صحيح.] - [متفق عليه.] 
المزيــد ... 

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Our Lord will reveal His Shin, and then all believers, men and women, will prostrate themselves before Him, but there will remain those who used to prostrate in the worldly life for showing off and gaining good reputation. Such people will try to prostrate (in that situation) but their backs will be as stiff as if it is one bone (a single vertebra)."   
[Sahih/Authentic] - [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Explanation

The Lord, Glorified and Exalted, will reveal His noble Shin on the Day of Judgment, and every believer, male and female, will prostrate to Him. As for the hypocrites who used to prostrate to Allah in the worldly life so as to be seen by people, they will not be able to prostrate because their backs will be made of one vertebra or one straight bone. They will not be able to bend nor prostrate, because they did not really prostrate to Allah in the worldly life, rather they only prostrated to their worldly purposes. It is not permissible to interpret Allah's Shin as hardship, distress and so on. Rather it is obligatory to affirm this attribute for Allah, the Almighty, without asking 'how', and without drawing resemblance or similitude, and without stripping it of its true meaning. 

https://hadeethenc.com/en/browse/hadith/8291

………… 

Translation of Detailed Hadith about that Day: 

 1) Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: We said, "O Allah's Apostle! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?" He said, "Do you have any difficulty in seeing the sun and the moon when the sky is clear?" We said, "No." He said, "So you will have no difficulty in seeing your Lord on that Day as you have no difficulty in seeing the sun and the moon (in a clear sky)." The Prophet then said, "Somebody will then announce, 'Let every nation follow what they used to worship.' So the companions of the cross will go with their cross, and the idolators (will go) with their idols, and the companions of every god (false deities) (will go) with their god, till there remain those who used to worship Allah, both the obedient ones and the mischievous ones, and some of the people of the Scripture. Then Hell will be presented to them as if it were a mirage. Then it will be said to the Jews, "What did you use to worship?' They will reply, 'We used to worship Ezra, the son of Allah.' It will be said to them, 'You are liars, for Allah has neither a wife nor a son. What do you want (now)?' They will reply, 'We want You to provide us with water.' Then it will be said to them 'Drink,' and they will fall down in Hell (instead). Then it will be said to the Christians, 'What did you use to worship?' They will reply, 'We used to worship Messiah, the son of Allah.' It will be said, 'You are liars, for Allah has neither a wife nor a son. What: do you want (now)?' They will say, 'We want You to provide us with water.' It will be said to them, 'Drink,' and they will fall down in Hell (instead). When there remain only those who used to worship Allah (Alone), both the obedient ones and the mischievous ones, it will be said to them, 'What keeps you here when all the people have gone?' They will say, 'We parted with them (in the world) when we were in greater need of them than we are today, we heard the call of one proclaiming, 'Let every nation follow what they used to worship,' and now we are waiting for our Lord.' Then the Almighty will come to them in a shape other than the one which they saw the first time, and He will say, 'I am your Lord,' and they will say, 'You are not our Lord.' And none will speak: to Him then but the Prophets, and then it will be said to them, 'Do you know any sign by which you can recognize Him?' They will say. 'The shin,' and so Allah will then uncover His shin whereupon every believer will prostrate before Him and there will remain those who used to prostrate before Him just for showing off and for gaining good reputation. These people will try to prostrate but their backs will be rigid like one piece of a wood (and they will not be able to prostrate). Then the bridge will be laid across Hell." We, the companions of the Prophet said, "O Allah's Apostle! What is the bridge?' He said, "It is a slippery (bridge) on which there are clamps and (Hooks like) a thorny seed that is wide at one side and narrow at the other and has thorns with bent ends. Such a thorny seed is found in Najd and is called As-Sa'dan. Some of the believers will cross the bridge as quickly as the wink of an eye, some others as quick as lightning, a strong wind, fast horses or she-camels. So some will be safe without any harm; some will be safe after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down into Hell (Fire). The last person will cross by being dragged (over the bridge)." The Prophet said, "You (Muslims) cannot be more pressing in claiming from me a right that has been clearly proved to be yours than the believers in interceding with Almighty for their (Muslim) brothers on that Day, when they see themselves safe. They will say, 'O Allah! (Save) our brothers (for they) used to pray with us, fast with us and also do good deeds with us.' Allah will say, 'Go and take out (of Hell) anyone in whose heart you find faith equal to the weight of one (gold) Dinar.' Allah will forbid the Fire to burn the faces of those sinners. They will go to them and find some of them in Hell (Fire) up to their feet, and some up to the middle of their legs. So they will take out those whom they will recognize and then they will return, and Allah will say (to them), 'Go and take out (of Hell) anyone in whose heart you find faith equal to the weight of one half Dinar.' They will take out whomever they will recognize and return, and then Allah will say, 'Go and take out (of Hell) anyone in whose heart you find faith equal to the weight of an atom (or a smallest ant), and so they will take out all those whom they will recognize." Abu Sa'id said: If you do not believe me then read the Holy Verse:-- 'Surely! Allah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom (or a smallest ant) but if there is any good (done) He doubles it.' (4.40) The Prophet added, "Then the prophets and Angels and the believers will intercede, and (last of all) the Almighty (Allah) will say, 'Now remains My Intercession. He will then hold a handful of the Fire from which He will take out some people whose bodies have been burnt, and they will be thrown into a river at the entrance of Paradise, called the water of life. They will grow on its banks, as a seed carried by the torrent grows. You have noticed how it grows beside a rock or beside a tree, and how the side facing the sun is usually green while the side facing the shade is white. Those people will come out (of the River of Life) like pearls, and they will have (golden) necklaces, and then they will enter Paradise whereupon the people of Paradise will say, 'These are the people emancipated by the Beneficent. He has admitted them into Paradise without them having done any good deeds and without sending forth any good (for themselves).' Then it will be said to them, 'For you is what you have seen and its equivalent as well.'"  (Book #93, Hadith #532s)

https://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=Shin&search_word=exact&translator=1&records_display=10 

The Mirage in Surah al-Noor 

39

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍۭ بِقِيعَةٍۢ يَحْسَبُهُ ٱلظَّمْـَٔانُ مَآءً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَهُۥ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْـًۭٔا وَوَجَدَ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ فَوَفَّىٰهُ حِسَابَهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali 

39. But the Unbelievers,- their deeds are like a mirage in sandy deserts, which the man parched with thirst mistakes for water; until when he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing: But he finds Allah (ever) with him, and Allah will pay him his account: and Allah is swift in taking account.

Arabic: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=24&translator=30 

Translation: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=24&translator=2 

Last updated on: December 19, 2021 

… 

Our Record in Our Neck

Abstract 

Surah al-Isra clearly mentions that all humans have their fate tied to their neck. The Bible also mentions the neck and the lowering of the horns in humility and submission. There exists a bone in the neck which is not joined directly with the rest of the skeleton, but is held in place by muscles. It is involved in many key functions. It also contains two pairs of horns. 

Full Text 

وَكُلَّ إِنسَانٍ أَلْزَمْنَاهُ طَائِرَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كِتَابًا يَلْقَاهُ مَنشُورًا

اقْرَأْ كِتَابَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا 

And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open. 

[It will be said], "Read your record. Sufficient is your nafs against you this Day as accountant." 

[Al-Quran 17:13-14, Translator: Sahih International (edited to retain word nafs in italics)] 

The Quran repeatedly reminds us that our eternal life will be in accordance with our faith and deeds. The ayaat quoted above from Surah al-Isra clearly mentions that all humans have their fate tied to their neck, recording in detail, and will be produced for us to read on the Day of Resurrection.

Some important points made in these ayaat are: 

• all humans have their fate with them 
• its tied to their necks 
• the root letters of the word for fate shares its root with the word for birds 
• this will be taken out on the Day of Resurrection 
• it will be readable on that Day 
• we will be commanded to read it 
• our Nafs will itself be sufficient to take account of our deeds 

In Surah Qaf, we read:

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ

إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ

مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ

وَجَاءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ

And certainly We created man and We know what whispers to him his nafs, and We (are) nearer to him than (his) habli alwareedi.

When receive the two receivers on the right and on the left seated.

Not he utters any word but with him (is) an observer ready.

And will come (the) stupor (of) death in truth, "That (is) what you were [from it] avoiding."

[Al-Quran 50:16-19, first translation at link (edited to retain arabic words in italics)] 

[Note on habli alwareedi at bottom of this post] 

In Surah al-Waqiah, we read

تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

أَفَبِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ

وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ

فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ

وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ

وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ

فَلَوْلَا إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ

تَرْجِعُونَهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

A Revelation from (the) Lord (of) the worlds.

Then is it to this statement that you (are) indifferent?

And you make your provision that you deny.

Then why not when it reaches the throat,

And you (at) that time look on,

And We (are) nearer to him than you but you (do) not see,

Then why not, if you are not to be recompensed,

Bring it back, if you are truthful.

[Al-Quran 56:80-87]

It seems that this record is removed at the time of death. In Surah al-Hajj, The Quran challenges the unbeliever of trying to cut off to see if it removes what enrages him:

مَن كَانَ يَظُنُّ أَن لَّن يَنصُرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ بِسَبَبٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ لْيَقْطَعْ فَلْيَنظُرْ هَلْ يُذْهِبَنَّ كَيْدُهُ مَا يَغِيظُ

[Al-Quran 22:15] 

Variously translated as: 

[Muhammad Asad] If anyone thinks that God will not succour him in this world and in the life to come, let him reach out unto heaven by any [other] means and [thus try to] make headway: and then let him see whether this scheme of his will indeed do away with the cause of his anguish.

[Abdul Majid Daryabadi] Whosoever hath been imagining that Allah shall not make him victorious in the world and the Hereafter, let him stretch a cord up to the heaven and let him cut it, and let him look if his stratagem can do away that whereat he enrageth.  

[Sahih International] Whoever should think that Allah will not support [Prophet Muhammad] in this world and the Hereafter - let him extend a rope to the ceiling, then cut off [his breath], and let him see: will his effort remove that which enrages [him]?    

The Bible also mentions the neck and the lowering of the horns in humility and submission.

There exists a bone in the neck which is not joined directly with the rest of the skeleton, but is held in place by muscles. It is involved in many key functions. It also contains two pairs of horns. Interestingly, variations in its shape and size are being noted in emerging studies.



Hanging around The Neck
The Bible teaches to bind good around the neck:

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

[Proverbs 3:3, Translation: New American Standard Bible]

My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;  Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.

[Proverbs 6:20-21, Translation: New American Standard Bible]

Of course, the heart does enjoy a central place in the scriptures. We also know that its muscle is shaped like a double helix, as discussed in another post. 



Horns in The Neck 

The Bible refers to the horns in the neck, commanding that humans keep it lowered:

Do not lift up your horn on high, Do not speak with insolent pride.'"

[Psalm 75:5, Translation: New American Standard Bible]

And all the horns of the wicked He will cut off, But the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

[Psalm 75:10, Translation: New American Standard Bible]

The Hyoid Bone in the Human Neck 

Close up of the Hyoid Bone in the Human Neck
Attribution:

Anatomography [CC BY-SA 2.1 jp]

According to a study published in 2016: 

The hyoid bone plays an important role in the functions of speaking, swallowing, prevention of regurgitation, and airway maintenance [1, 2]. Deviations in its position relative to the mandible or larynx, or in its angle of placement, can have significant ramifications for these important functions [2, 3]. The hyoid bone changes its position relative to the vertebrae during normal growth and development. In infancy, the hyoid bone lies just anteriorly to the second and third cervical vertebrae, and eventually lowers to the level of the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae in adults [3]. Hyoid bone descent occurs concurrently with descent of functionally related structures, namely the larynx and epiglottis [4]. The only bone in the body that is free-floating, the hyoid bone maintains attachment with the mandible, tongue, styloid processes, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, clavicles, and sternum by ligament and muscle attachments [1]. Hyoid bone anatomy and physiology have been well documented due to the diverse nature of the muscle attachment sites as well as the multiple important functions that the hyoid bone supports. However, the precise nature and timing of hyoid bone fusion during the course of development has been less documented. ...  

As can be seen in the animation below, the Hyoid is not connected directly with the rest of the skeleton. 

Location of the Hyoid Bone (red) in the Human Neck
Attribution:
Anatomography [CC BY-SA 2.1 jp]

The following shows how the hyoid bone is tied in place with muscles: 

Hyoid Bone & Muscles in the Neck
Page URL
Attribution: Henry Vandyke Carter [Public domain]

Shape and Size Details

Interestingly, emerging studies are reporting variations in the shape and size of the Hyoid bone. Though the focus of the researches are variations based on gender, height, weight, etc., however, to cite from a 2018 report: 

Given the significance of being able to do this, a relatively complex categorization system has been developed for various known shapes of the hyoid. Remarkably, it has been noted that 60% of hyoid bones still do not fit into one of these commonly described categories  

Note on habli alwareedi

 وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ

And certainly We created man and We know what whispers to him his nafs, and We (are) nearer to him than (his) habli alwareedi.

[Al-Quran 50:16, first translation at link (edited to retain arabic words in italics)] 

The phrase habli alwareedi is generally translated as jugular vein, but as can be seen in page 2936 of Lane's Lexicon (screenshot below), the phrase has been variously understood.  

However, if it is treated as two separate words, and not a phrase, then: 

Habl is generally translated as rope, and among the shades of meaning employed by the root wāw rā dāl (و ر د) are passing over, rose-coloured, came or led, etc. as can be seen in the screenshots below. 

Looking at how the Hyoid Bone is tied in place by the muscles (above) and the colour of the muscles, and/or the proximity of the carotid artery and jugular vein to the Hyoid Bone (below), all three meanings point towards the same bone. 

Veins in the Neck 

Page URL 

Attribution: Henry Vandyke Carter [Public domain] 

Arteries in the Neck
Page URL
Attribution: Henry Vandyke Carter [Public domain] 
By Henry Vandyke Carter - Henry Gray (1918) Anatomy of the Human Body (See "Book" section below)Bartleby.com: Gray's Anatomy, Plate 513, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=559527

 Screenshot from corpus.quran.com  

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com 

 Screenshot from Lane's Lexicon 

Hadith Nabwi ﷺ  

[https://www.abuaminaelias.com/forty-hadith-purification-of-the-heart/] 

Hadith 11

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

عَلَيْكَ بِحُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَطُولِ الصَّمْتِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ مَا عَمِلَ الْخَلائِقُ عَمَلا أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْهُمَا

You must have good character and observe long periods of silence. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, no one can behave with deeds more beloved to Allah than these two.

Source: Shu’ab al-Imān 4591, Grade: Hasan

Hadith 21

‘Amr ibn ‘Absah reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is Islam?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَنْ يُسْلِمَ قَلْبُكَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَنْ يَسْلَمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِكَ وَيَدِكَ

That you surrender your heart to Allah and that Muslims are safe from your tongue and hand.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 17027, Grade: Sahih 

Last updated on: August 13, 2022