WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.600 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:02.600 --> 00:00:37.539 *The Graceful Commentary on the Identification Cards for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an*, 00:00:37.539 --> 00:00:43.539 by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nassif, may Allah preserve him. 00:00:43.539 --> 00:00:46.570 Surah al-Mumtahanah. 00:00:46.570 --> 00:00:50.570 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, 00:00:50.570 --> 00:00:53.570 and peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, 00:00:53.570 --> 00:00:56.630 and upon all his family and companions. 00:00:56.630 --> 00:01:00.630 We continue with our graceful commentary on the identification cards, 00:01:00.630 --> 00:01:04.629 and we have arrived at Surah al-Mumtahanah, regarding which I have three reflections. 00:01:04.629 --> 00:01:09.629 The first reflection concerns the opening of this magnificent surah, 00:01:09.629 --> 00:01:14.629 for its beginning resembles both Surah al-Ma'idah and Surah al-Hujurat, 00:01:14.629 --> 00:01:18.109 as all of them begin with: "O you who have believed." 00:01:18.109 --> 00:01:23.109 I wish to focus more closely on al-Hujurat and al-Mumtahanah, 00:01:23.109 --> 00:01:28.109 considering that both are relatively short when compared to al-Ma'idah, 00:01:28.109 --> 00:01:31.109 so their central themes are much more closely aligned, 00:01:31.109 --> 00:01:34.109 and this is particularly evident in Surah al-Mumtahanah. 00:01:34.109 --> 00:01:36.180 Both surahs begin with the call to faith, 00:01:36.180 --> 00:01:43.209 yet Surah al-Hujurat seems to regulate internal relationships 00:01:43.209 --> 00:01:46.209 among the believers, even in instances of fighting between them: 00:01:46.209 --> 00:01:48.209 "And if two factions among the believers should fight..." 00:01:48.209 --> 00:01:51.209 And prior to that, it addresses the believers' relationship with their Lord, 00:01:51.209 --> 00:01:54.459 then with their Prophet, and then among themselves; 00:01:54.459 --> 00:01:58.459 thus, it rectifies internal affairs, so to speak. 00:01:58.459 --> 00:02:06.620 As for Surah al-Mumtahanah, it addresses external affairs and the stance toward the disbelievers. 00:02:06.620 --> 00:02:10.620 In both surahs, the opening address was: "O you who have believed." 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:18.169 It is indeed faith that motivates a person both internally and externally; 00:02:18.169 --> 00:02:24.169 it drives one in their relationship with their Lord, with their Prophet, with their fellow brethren, with their enemies, 00:02:24.169 --> 00:02:27.169 and with those who differ from them in creed. 00:02:27.169 --> 00:02:32.169 In all of this, what motivates the Muslim is faith, 00:02:32.169 --> 00:02:35.169 and this is a reality that should never escape our minds; 00:02:35.169 --> 00:02:44.169 rather, we derive our decisions from the faith that Allah has placed in our hearts 00:02:44.169 --> 00:02:48.169 and which He has called us to substantiate through righteous deeds. 00:02:48.169 --> 00:02:53.650 The second reflection concerns the mention of women in the surah, 00:02:53.650 --> 00:03:01.840 as this mention of women underscores the principle of contextual correlation (munasabah) between verses. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:06.840 For some students of knowledge find it problematic and ask: "Why do you assert that there is correlation between the verses? 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:08.840 Why can they not simply address disparate topics?" 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:10.939 Observe now Surah an-Nisa'— 00:03:10.939 --> 00:03:13.939 Surah an-Nisa', I mean Surah al-Mumtahanah. 00:03:13.939 --> 00:03:19.969 It mentions women, yet if you examine the rulings pertaining to women in this surah— 00:03:19.969 --> 00:03:24.030 namely the emigrating women and their pledge of allegiance to the Messenger of Allah— 00:03:24.030 --> 00:03:29.030 you will find these rulings to be entirely fitting with the overall theme of this surah. 00:03:29.030 --> 00:03:36.349 And if you find rulings concerning women in another surah, you will find them harmonizing with that particular surah, and so on. 00:03:36.349 --> 00:03:39.349 Thus, whenever a single theme recurs across different surahs, 00:03:39.349 --> 00:03:44.349 you will find that in each surah it aligns seamlessly with the surah's central objective, 00:03:44.349 --> 00:03:48.349 which confirms that each surah possesses an overarching context and correlation among its verses. 00:03:48.349 --> 00:03:56.349 This is readily apparent, but this instance serves to reinforce this reality: 00:03:56.349 --> 00:03:59.349 namely, the reality that there is profound coherence among the verses. 00:03:59.349 --> 00:04:03.349 As for the third and final reflection, it concerns a crucial matter: 00:04:03.349 --> 00:04:11.349 when you see controversy and dispute intensifying among people regarding an issue, 00:04:11.349 --> 00:04:13.349 you must turn to the Qur'an. 00:04:13.349 --> 00:04:18.420 When you see people differing over a matter, some pulling east and others pulling west, 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:23.579 do not think for a moment that the Qur'an has overlooked this issue: 00:04:23.579 --> 00:04:26.829 "And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things." 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:35.120 So when you see people disputing over the issue of interacting with disbelievers 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:43.540 and the proper stance toward them, you need only read Surah al-Mumtahanah, 00:04:43.540 --> 00:04:51.860 and you will see moderation, clarity, and the matter presented as it truly is. 00:04:51.860 --> 00:04:56.860 And if anything proves difficult for you to grasp, read the words of the exegetes of the early centuries, 00:04:56.860 --> 00:05:00.860 and the statements of the Companions and the Tabi'un, and consult the Tafsir of at-Tabari; 00:05:00.860 --> 00:05:08.860 for it neither exceeds proper bounds nor falls short, but rather adheres strictly to the pure Sunnah. 00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:11.860 I ask Allah to grant us all success in doing that which He loves and is pleased with. 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:15.860 And may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions. 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:17.860 And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.