Praise be to Allaah.
Undoubtedly the Qur'aan is miraculous, and there are many facets to
its miraculous nature, such aslinguistic, legislative, and so on. Its
challenge to mankind and the jinn to produce something similarto it
still stands. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say: If the mankind and the jinn were together to produce the like of
this Qur'aan, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they
helped one another"
[al-Isra' 17:88].
Ibn al-Qayyim discussed the number 7 in his book Zaad al-Ma'aad fi
Huda Khayr al-'Ibaad (4/90) when he discussed the hadeeth in
al-Saheehayn: "The one who eats seven dates of al-'Aaliyah in the
morning will not be harmed that day by poison or witchcraft." He said:
As for specifying the number seven, it has to dowith the creation and
sahr'i commands of Allaah.Allaah created seven heavens, seven earths
and seven days, and man's creation is completed in seven stages;
Allaah has prescribed that His slaves should walk around the Ka'bah
seven times (tawaaf) and go back and forth between Safa and Marwah
seven times (saa'i), and stone the jamaraat with seven pebbles each,
and the takbeeraat of Eid are seven in the first rak'ah. The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Instruct your
children to pray when they are seven." When the boy reaches the age of
seven he should be given the choice between his parents according to
one report, and according to another report, his father has more right
to him than his mother; according to a third reporthis mother has more
right to him. When he was sick, the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) ordered that water from seven skins be poured on
him. Allaah sentthe wind against the people of 'Aad for seven days.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked Allaah
to help him by sending upon his people seven (years) like the seven
years of Yoosuf – i.e., seven years of famine. Allaah likened the
reward of one who gives charity to a grain that produces seven ears,
in each of which are one hundred grains. The number of ears of grain
seen by the companion of Yoosuf (in the dream) was seven, the number
of years for which they were cultivated was seven, and (the reward for
charity) is multiplied seven hundred fold or more. Seventy thousand of
this ummah will be admitted to Paradise without being brought to
account.
Then Ibn al-Qayyim commented: Undoubtedly this number has some special
qualities that are not shared by other numbers. … Allaah knows best
about His wisdom, laws and decree in singling out this number. End
quote.
Based on this, the correct view is to refrain from indulging in
discussion of the reason why this number is singled out for mention,
except on the basis of clear, sound evidence.
.
And Allaah knows best.
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