The Event (Al-Waqi'ah): (13) A Group from the Foremost

Issue 1: The Repetition of the Term 'The Foremost'

It has been mentioned that the statement: {And the foremost, the foremost} (Al-Waqi'ah: 10) is a nominal sentence (a jumla). The predicate was the same as the subject either because their status was evident, or because their affair was obscure to others. So, how did another predicate follow it?

We say: The intended meaning achieved by mentioning a second predicate is for another purpose. It is like when someone says, "Zayd, his situation is not hidden from you," referring to his fame, and then proceeds to discuss a situation that is hidden from the listener, even though he said, "it is not hidden." This is because the first statement serves as an explanation that he is not unknown. Similarly, here, He said: {And the foremost, the foremost} to explain their greatness, and then mentioned the size of their number.

Issue 2: Who are 'The Foremost' (Al-Awwalīn)?

We say: The famous opinion is that they are those who lived before our Prophet (peace be upon him).

Why did He say {A group} (Thullatun)? Thulla means a large assembly. This is because among those who preceded our Prophet—the Messengers and Prophets—if the great companions of those earlier figures were gathered, they would be far more numerous than the foremost ones from the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Based on this, it is said that when this verse was revealed, the Companions felt distressed by their small number. So, the following verses were revealed: {A group from the first ones} (Al-Waqi'ah: 13), {And a group from the latter ones} (Al-Waqi'ah: 40).

This view is extremely weak for several reasons:

1. The number of the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him), both at that time and until the end of time, is very small in comparison to those who passed before. What was the reason for God’s favor upon a large number of the earlier ones? This interpretation is an unjustifiable fabrication.
2. This is like abrogating a report with another report, which is highly improbable.
3. What follows does not resolve this issue. The Thulla from the Awwalīn here refers to the foremost among the first ones. This is apparent because the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) became numerous, and may God Almighty have mercy on them, He pardoned them for things He did not pardon others for, and He granted the Prophet (PBUH) the intercession. Thus, the number of the saved—those of the Right Hand—increased. As for those among the Ummah of Muhammad (PBUH) who did not commit major sins, they are very few; they are the Foremost (As-Sābiqūn).
4. This is a misconception. They should have rejoiced at this verse because when God said: {A group from the first ones}, the first of the Messengers and Prophets are included. Since there is no Prophet after Muhammad (PBUH), placing a small number of his Ummah alongside the Messengers, Prophets, and Saints who were on the same rank is a great favor upon them. Perhaps this alludes to the saying of the Prophet (PBUH): "The scholars of my Ummah are like the Prophets of the Children of Israel."

The Second View: What is meant is: {And the foremost of the emigrants and the helpers} (At-Tawbah: 100). Most of them hold the highest rank, due to the Almighty's saying: {Those among you who spent before the conquest... are not equal} (Al-Hadid: 10), and so on. And {a few from the latter ones} refers to those who followed them later. Under this view, the statement {And you will be three kinds} (Al-Waqi'ah: 7) is an address to those present at the time of revelation, and it does not explain the first ones who preceded our Prophet (PBUH). This is clear, as the address relates only to those present linguistically, while others are included through evidence.

The Third View: {A group from the first ones} refers to those who believed and did righteous deeds themselves. {And a few from the latter ones} refers to those about whom God Almighty said: {And those who followed them} (At-Tur: 21). If the believers and their offspring are among the People of the Right Hand, they are equal in number, because every child who dies while one of their parents is a believer is among the People of the Right Hand. However, if they are among the foremost believers, their children rarely attain the rank of the foremost. Often, the child of a believer is in a better state than the father due to shortcomings or sins in the father that the younger child did not commit. Based on this, {Then the latter ones} refers to the later followers who are the younger generation.