What is the secret of the number 7 and its multiples in the Holy Qur’aan and Sunnah?

 

What is the secret of the number 7 in the Qur’aan and hadeeth?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Undoubtedly the Qur’aan is
miraculous, and there are many facets to its miraculous nature, such as
linguistic, legislative, and so on. Its challenge to mankind and the jinn to
produce something similar to 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 do with
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 report his 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 sent the 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. 

For more information please
see the answer to question no. 69741. 

And Allaah knows best.