WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.759 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:30.300 --> 00:00:32.299 The Graceful Commentary 00:00:32.299 --> 00:00:35.299 on the book "Identification Cards 00:00:35.299 --> 00:00:38.299 for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an" 00:00:38.299 --> 00:00:42.299 by Dr. Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Umar Nasif, 00:00:42.299 --> 00:00:44.490 may Allah preserve him. 00:00:44.490 --> 00:00:45.990 Surah al-Baqarah. 00:00:45.990 --> 00:00:47.990 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:47.990 --> 00:00:49.990 Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, 00:00:49.990 --> 00:00:52.990 and may peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, 00:00:52.990 --> 00:00:55.490 and upon his family and Companions all together. 00:00:55.490 --> 00:00:57.810 This 00:00:57.810 --> 00:00:59.810 is the second recording 00:00:59.810 --> 00:01:02.380 concerning Surah al-Baqarah 00:01:02.380 --> 00:01:04.379 from the Graceful Commentary 00:01:04.379 --> 00:01:06.379 on the book 00:01:06.379 --> 00:01:08.579 "Identification Cards." 00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:10.579 It contains three main points, as usual, 00:01:10.579 --> 00:01:12.579 but the first point is extremely important 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:14.579 due to a major defect in the printed book, 00:01:14.579 --> 00:01:16.579 which occurred in the printing 00:01:16.579 --> 00:01:18.579 and through alterations 00:01:18.579 --> 00:01:20.579 made by the publisher. 00:01:20.579 --> 00:01:23.060 We have "the period in which the surah was revealed," 00:01:23.060 --> 00:01:25.090 which refers to 00:01:25.090 --> 00:01:27.090 the Makkan and Madinan classification, 00:01:27.090 --> 00:01:29.219 and we also have 00:01:29.219 --> 00:01:31.340 "the chronological order of the surah's revelation." 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:33.340 If you examine Surah al-Baqarah, 00:01:33.340 --> 00:01:35.340 you will find that "the period in which 00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:37.340 the surah was revealed" does not appear as a heading; 00:01:37.340 --> 00:01:39.340 instead, there is 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:41.340 "its order of revelation" and "its dating." 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:43.340 In fact, its dating and its order of revelation 00:01:43.340 --> 00:01:45.599 are one and the same thing, 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:47.599 or rather both fall under a single category, 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:49.599 as I will clarify shortly. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:51.920 Because of this, there is a major defect here: 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:53.920 if you turn to Surah al-Baqarah 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:56.299 and look 00:01:56.299 --> 00:01:58.459 under the heading "its order of revelation," 00:01:58.459 --> 00:02:00.500 some text has been written, 00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:03.010 and under the heading 00:02:03.010 --> 00:02:05.010 "its dating," other text has been written. 00:02:05.010 --> 00:02:07.010 The reality is that the heading "its dating," 00:02:07.010 --> 00:02:09.009 across almost the entire book— 00:02:09.009 --> 00:02:11.229 though I have not checked every single page, 00:02:11.229 --> 00:02:13.229 it appears throughout the book that "its dating" 00:02:13.229 --> 00:02:15.229 is an error, and in its place should be written: 00:02:15.229 --> 00:02:17.229 "the period in which it was revealed." 00:02:17.229 --> 00:02:19.229 Thus, this surah is Madinan 00:02:19.229 --> 00:02:21.229 by consensus, without any authentic exception. 00:02:21.229 --> 00:02:23.229 This pertains to the period 00:02:23.229 --> 00:02:25.460 in which it was revealed, 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:27.460 and for this point I relied 00:02:27.460 --> 00:02:29.460 on the two scholarly 00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:31.460 theses 00:02:31.460 --> 00:02:33.780 mentioned 00:02:33.780 --> 00:02:35.780 in the book on page ten; 00:02:35.780 --> 00:02:37.780 likewise, both 00:02:37.780 --> 00:02:39.780 are referenced in footnote number three 00:02:39.780 --> 00:02:41.780 in the attached file which 00:02:41.780 --> 00:02:43.780 I shared in the first lesson, 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:45.780 and perhaps I will post it here once again, 00:02:45.780 --> 00:02:47.780 which contains the introductory portals and their scholarly sources. 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:49.780 As for the question of the order of revelation 00:02:49.780 --> 00:02:51.780 and the dating of revelation, the order of revelation—which 00:02:51.780 --> 00:02:53.780 I previously commented on in an earlier clip— 00:02:53.780 --> 00:02:56.539 alongside the dating of revelation, 00:02:56.539 --> 00:02:58.539 signifies chronological placement. 00:02:58.539 --> 00:03:00.539 This order— 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:02.539 namely, that this surah is the eighty-sixth, 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:04.539 for instance, in the case of Surah al-Baqarah— 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:06.539 helps in determining the dating of its revelation, 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:08.539 though it alone is not sufficient; 00:03:08.539 --> 00:03:10.539 rather, alongside it, the occasions of revelation 00:03:10.539 --> 00:03:12.539 and other factors lead to establishing the dating of revelation. 00:03:12.539 --> 00:03:14.639 Regarding the dating of revelation, if you observe 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:16.639 in Surah al-Baqarah, 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:18.639 as I mentioned, the heading "its dating" 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:20.639 should become "its revelation period," 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:22.639 and what is there should be moved to "its order of revelation." 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:24.699 Its order of revelation and its dating 00:03:24.699 --> 00:03:26.699 belong together, and the heading 00:03:26.699 --> 00:03:28.699 I chose for it in the book is "its dating," 00:03:28.699 --> 00:03:30.900 which encompasses its order of revelation; 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:32.740 hence, it is the first surah revealed in 00:03:32.740 --> 00:03:34.740 Madinah, and so forth. 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:46.740 This discussion relates, 00:03:46.740 --> 00:03:48.830 as we have explained in detail, 00:03:48.830 --> 00:03:50.830 to what may require listening to this 00:03:50.830 --> 00:03:56.110 clip several times to verify the information and master it. Whoever has a question may 00:03:56.110 --> 00:04:01.900 ask it. So this is the first point, and it is vital for understanding the entire book. 00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:06.419 Thus, dating and the order of revelation fall under a single heading, whereas the period 00:04:06.419 --> 00:04:12.979 in which the surah was revealed stands on its own. This period is always mentioned in 00:04:12.979 --> 00:04:18.779 the book—for whoever possesses the complete book—in the detailed commentary at 00:04:18.779 --> 00:04:25.370 the top of the page along with the surah's number, verse count, and juz'. The second point 00:04:25.370 --> 00:04:30.279 pertains to the second passage of the surah, or let us say, the second section of the surah. 00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:35.519 We spoke about the first section, the change of the Qiblah, and so forth. The second section contains 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:39.360 a detailed exposition of legal rulings, after hearts were prepared for them in the first 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:44.420 section. In it, themes from the end of the first section are reiterated: at the end 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:48.420 of the first section, those who conceal what Allah revealed were mentioned, and here likewise 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:52.139 they are mentioned at the beginning of this section, followed by the detailed rulings. This second section 00:04:52.139 --> 00:04:56.579 extends from verse 168 to verse 207, 00:04:56.579 --> 00:04:59.420 beginning with His saying, Exalted is He: "O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful 00:04:59.420 --> 00:05:05.230 and good." This section addresses numerous rulings, the most prominent of which are 00:05:05.230 --> 00:05:10.129 Hajj and fasting. One will notice the difference between the rulings contained herein 00:05:10.129 --> 00:05:15.970 and those in the third section in tomorrow's recording, if 00:05:15.970 --> 00:05:22.220 Allah wills. This passage extends up to the verse: "O you 00:05:22.220 --> 00:05:27.430 who have believed, enter into Islam completely." It concludes with the verses of Hajj, and then 00:05:27.430 --> 00:05:31.069 “And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah; and Allah hath compassion on (His) bondmen.” (2:207) 00:05:31.069 --> 00:05:34.870 we move to the third point, which is closely linked to the second 00:05:34.870 --> 00:05:39.220 point. We notice that when the Qur'an speaks of these 00:05:39.220 --> 00:05:44.300 acts of worship, it differs from the way jurists speak about them. 00:05:44.860 --> 00:05:52.810 Therefore, one ought to complete one's conception of acts of worship 00:05:52.810 --> 00:05:57.660 through learning both the Qur'an and the Sunnah. The Sunnah focuses on the outward 00:05:57.660 --> 00:06:01.500 aspects of worship: "Pray as you have seen me pray," and 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:05.620 similarly, "Take from me your pilgrimage rites," among other legal injunctions. 00:06:05.620 --> 00:06:10.579 In the Qur'an, however, there are indications of other inner dimensions that must 00:06:10.579 --> 00:06:14.779 be observed in fasting, Hajj, and other rituals. I shall provide 00:06:14.779 --> 00:06:19.220 an example, and then try reading these verses, for they 00:06:19.220 --> 00:06:27.930 unveil to you the inward dimension. That is to say, when you study fiqh, 00:06:27.930 --> 00:06:31.329 it largely relies for detailed rulings upon 00:06:31.329 --> 00:06:35.069 the Prophetic hadiths, and this is an immense good; yet it is only 00:06:35.069 --> 00:06:39.670 a part of the reality of that worship. The Qur'an contains 00:06:39.670 --> 00:06:42.269 pointers to those rulings, but it also contains pointers to 00:06:42.269 --> 00:06:46.420 something else. As I said, an example clarifies the matter. 00:06:46.420 --> 00:06:49.220 The Exalted said: "And remember Allah during [specific] numbered days," in 00:06:49.220 --> 00:06:52.290 the verses of Hajj in Surah al-Baqarah, "then whoever hastens in 00:06:52.290 --> 00:06:54.449 “Remember Allah through the appointed days. Then whoso hasteneth (his departure) by two days, it is no sin for him, and whoso delayeth, it is no sin for him; that is for him who wardeth off (evil). Be careful of your duty to Allah, and know that unto Him ye will be gathered.” (2:203) 00:06:54.449 --> 00:06:57.490 “Remember Allah through the appointed days. Then whoso hasteneth (his departure) by two days, it is no sin for him, and whoso delayeth, it is no sin for him; that is for him who wardeth off (evil). Be careful of your duty to Allah, and know that unto Him ye will be gathered.” (2:203) 00:06:57.490 --> 00:07:01.290 to Him you will be gathered." This is a well-known fiqh ruling, 00:07:01.290 --> 00:07:05.769 detailed in the Sunnah and discussed by the jurists: should a person 00:07:05.769 --> 00:07:10.290 hasten or delay his departure during the days of Tashriq? Yet 00:07:10.290 --> 00:07:13.529 the conclusion of the verse—"And fear Allah and know that 00:07:13.529 --> 00:07:18.290 to Him you will be gathered"—is a profound sign; indeed, it holds multiple indications, of which I will mention only one: 00:07:18.290 --> 00:07:23.810 that the dispersal of people during Hajj and their departure 00:07:23.810 --> 00:07:28.610 from Mina, as with all the pilgrimage rites, serves as a reminder of the Resurrection. 00:07:28.610 --> 00:07:32.769 The pilgrim ought to remember, through that gathering, the immense Day of 00:07:32.769 --> 00:07:37.689 Gathering when Allah will assemble all creation. By 00:07:37.689 --> 00:07:42.449 this analogy, judge these few verses concerning Hajj, and those 00:07:42.449 --> 00:07:45.410 verses preceding them on fasting, and what 00:07:45.410 --> 00:07:49.129 lies between them: you will find abundant indications of spiritual meanings 00:07:49.129 --> 00:07:51.970 upon which the exegetes dwelt at great length. 00:07:51.970 --> 00:07:56.009 Whoever wishes to truly learn their religion requires, alongside fiqh— 00:07:56.009 --> 00:07:59.449 which is critically important—this spiritual dimension 00:07:59.449 --> 00:08:05.310 that gives worship an entirely distinct flavor. Let us not forget, 00:08:05.310 --> 00:08:08.870 in conclusion: "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting 00:08:08.870 --> 00:08:10.949 as it was decreed upon those before you that you may 00:08:10.949 --> 00:08:15.029 become righteous." Notice how the words "that you may become righteous" orient fasting 00:08:15.029 --> 00:08:19.069 toward a completely different horizon, drawing attention to a crucial dimension of fasting: 00:08:19.069 --> 00:08:22.269 namely, God-consciousness (taqwa), the seat of which is the heart. I will suffice with 00:08:22.269 --> 00:08:24.269 this much. May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon 00:08:24.269 --> 00:08:28.189 his family and all his Companions. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.