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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

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Concise Commentary

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On the Book *Introductory Cards

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For the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an*

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By Dr. Muhammad ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Umar Naseef,

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May Allah preserve him.

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Surah at-Talaq.

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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

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Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds,

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And peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers,

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And upon his family and all his Companions.

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We are still engaged in our concise commentary on the introductory cards,

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And we have now reached Surah at-Talaq.

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I have three observations regarding it.

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The first observation concerns the name of the surah,

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The most famous of which is *at-Talaq* (Divorce).

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The Qur'an

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Addresses people

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According to their lived reality.

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Today we find

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Calls toward

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Excessive

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Softening of

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The harsh realities of life

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By avoiding even the slightest

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Phrase that might cause pain

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Or offense,

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Even though this can lead to a complete detachment from reality.

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Optimism is desirable,

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But so is realism;

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We should not

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Allow one to overpower the other

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To the point of erasing it entirely.

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Thus, we have Surah at-Talaq,

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Whereas we do not have a surah named for marriage—

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Meaning, for instance, a surah named *az-Zawaj* (Marriage)—

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Yet we have a surah explicitly named *at-Talaq* (Divorce).

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So this matter, painful though it may be,

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Involving separation,

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Conflict, and estrangement,

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Is nonetheless an undeniable reality

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In life that must be properly addressed.

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This leads me to the second observation,

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Which concerns the opening of the surah.

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The surah begins with an address in general terms,

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Yet it opens with a call directed

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To the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) specifically.

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We can add here,

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Regarding the beginning of the surah,

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That Surah al-Ahzab and Surah at-Tahrim share this distinct feature with it;

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These three surahs all begin with:

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"O Prophet..."

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In al-Ahzab and at-Tahrim, it is obvious

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Why they begin by addressing the Prophet (peace be upon him),

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As those surahs discuss

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Him, his household,

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And various other matters,

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Including rulings that specifically pertain to and concern him (peace be upon him)—

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Such as in Surah al-Ahzab.

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As for Surah at-Talaq, however, this reason

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Is not immediately apparent, making its opening particularly striking.

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As I mentioned,

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Divorce reflects practical realism,

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And beginning the surah by addressing the Prophet (peace be upon him) indicates that these

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Are crucial rulings in the life of a Muslim,

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Matters that ought to be

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Diligently attended to.

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One should not feel shy to state their rulings;

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Rather, they were addressed directly to the master

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And leader of the Ummah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him),

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Even though He later said,

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“O Prophet! When ye (men) put away women, put them away for their (legal) period and reckon the period, and keep your duty to Allah, your Lord. Expel them not from their houses nor let them go forth unless they commit open immorality. Such are the limits (imposed by) Allah; and whoso transgresseth Allah's limits, he verily wrongeth his soul. Thou knowest not: it may be that Allah will afterward bring some new thing to pass.” (65:1)

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In addressing the collective body of believers: ◁ "When you divorce women..." ▷.

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Nevertheless, this opening

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Instills in us the gravity of this

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Matter, showing that it is not something to be avoided or shunned,

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Along with the surah's frequent

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Emphasis on God-fearing piety (*taqwa*), as it serves as

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The safety valve and

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Guardian

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For the community of believers.

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There is much more that could be said on this.

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Indeed, the surah contains

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Principles that

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Warrant extensive reflection,

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Which would exceed the scope of this

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Concise commentary.

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As for the third observation,

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It relates to the passages of the surah.

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The author mentions the first passage

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And the second passage,

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Noting that the opening of the final passage is informative,

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While in the conclusion he calls it an opening of divine self-revelation.

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In truth, it is a dual-natured opening—

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Namely, the statement of Allah Almighty.

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All verses that begin

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With the mention of the Majesty's Name (*Allah*),

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Whether appearing without a conjunction

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Or with one ("And Allah..."),

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Serve to introduce Allah to His creation.

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However, introducing Allah inherently entails

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Praising Him,

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For among His actions there is nothing

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Except that which is

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Fully deserving of praise,

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Glorified and Exalted be He.

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This final verse is truly a magnificent verse;

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This dual aspect

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Demands deep reflection,

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Demands long contemplation.

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It is

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Complementary to the statement of Allah Almighty:

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“I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me.” (51:56)

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◁ "And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me." ▷

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That verse clarifies

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The ultimate purpose for which we were created,

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Whereas this verse

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Clarifies a prerequisite knowledge

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Before it: if we truly fulfill it,

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The fruitful result will be

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That we worship Him.

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It is as if the verse in Surah at-Talaq establishes the foundation: ◁ "Allah is the one who created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them..." ▷

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Up to His words:

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◁ "...that you may know that Allah is over all things competent..." ▷

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“Allah it is who hath created seven heavens, and of the earth the like thereof. The commandment cometh down among them slowly, that ye may know that Allah is Able to do all things, and that Allah surroundeth all things in knowledge.” (65:12)

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◁ "...and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge." ▷

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“Allah it is who hath created seven heavens, and of the earth the like thereof. The commandment cometh down among them slowly, that ye may know that Allah is Able to do all things, and that Allah surroundeth all things in knowledge.” (65:12)

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So whoever realizes this fruit

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Will truly worship Allah Almighty and fulfill the purpose of that other verse.

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“I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me.” (51:56)

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I will content myself with this amount.

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May Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.

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And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.