WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.279 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. The story of Maryam, daughter of ‘Imran, peace be upon her. 00:00:10.279 --> 00:00:19.660 "And let your eye be comforted," O Maryam. 00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:24.339 After Maryam, peace be upon her, gave birth to ‘Isa, peace be upon him, 00:00:24.339 --> 00:00:27.739 she began to be overcome by increasing anxieties. 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:30.539 That is why she said at the time of birth, 00:00:30.539 --> 00:00:36.740 “And the pangs of childbirth drove her unto the trunk of the palm-tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died ere this and had become a thing of naught, forgotten!” (19:23) 00:00:36.740 --> 00:00:38.420 these anxieties 00:00:38.420 --> 00:00:42.100 were centered on how she would face her people. 00:00:42.100 --> 00:00:44.340 What would she say to them? 00:00:44.340 --> 00:00:47.140 And what would they think of her? 00:00:47.140 --> 00:00:49.380 This confrontation 00:00:49.380 --> 00:00:51.859 required psychological composure 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:55.899 so that she would know what to say and how to act. 00:00:56.340 --> 00:00:59.060 It also required psychological strength 00:00:59.060 --> 00:01:01.299 to absorb their suspicions about her, 00:01:01.299 --> 00:01:04.019 whatever those suspicions might be, 00:01:04.019 --> 00:01:08.099 and it was not expected that they would be favorable thoughts. 00:01:08.099 --> 00:01:13.219 She needed to absorb the hurtful words that might be directed at her. 00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:16.659 Therefore, Maryam, peace be upon her, had to be 00:01:16.659 --> 00:01:20.390 at peace when facing her people. 00:01:20.390 --> 00:01:22.590 For Maryam, peace be upon her, 00:01:22.590 --> 00:01:26.189 was in need of two things to calm herself 00:01:26.189 --> 00:01:29.700 and maintain her composure in the face of her people. 00:01:29.700 --> 00:01:31.019 The first: 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:34.480 physical rest after childbirth. 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:37.079 For if the body is exhausted, 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:40.280 it is difficult for it to think and focus. 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:45.000 A woman after childbirth needs what will strengthen her body 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:47.359 so that her health may return, 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:52.439 and she may have the strength to think and focus on what she says and does. 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:54.599 Therefore, it was said to her: 00:01:54.599 --> 00:02:01.120 “And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee, thou wilt cause ripe dates to fall upon thee.” (19:25) 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:05.180 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:08.340 Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:10.659 He, the Almighty, says: 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:14.419 "Eat of the dates that fall upon you," 00:02:14.419 --> 00:02:19.219 "and drink from the water of the stream that your Lord has placed beneath you." 00:02:19.219 --> 00:02:22.419 Do not fear hunger or thirst. 00:02:22.419 --> 00:02:24.539 "And let your eye be comforted." 00:02:24.539 --> 00:02:31.340 He says: Be at ease, rejoice in the birth of your son, and do not grieve. 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:36.020 The word "eye" is in the accusative case because it is the entity described as being comforted. 00:02:36.020 --> 00:02:38.219 The meaning of the statement is: 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:41.419 May your eye be comforted by your child. 00:02:41.419 --> 00:02:44.259 Abu Zahra, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:02:44.259 --> 00:02:47.539 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:02:47.539 --> 00:02:49.860 "Eat of the fresh, ripe dates," 00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:52.500 "and drink from the flowing stream." 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:58.460 "And let your eye be comforted" by the pure boy Allah the Almighty has gifted you. 00:02:58.460 --> 00:03:01.180 The comfort of the eye is its stillness. 00:03:01.180 --> 00:03:04.020 When a person is in distress and fear, 00:03:04.020 --> 00:03:06.900 their eye wanders and does not settle. 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:11.020 Thus, we use the comfort of the eye as a metaphor for stillness and tranquility. 00:03:11.020 --> 00:03:14.659 The comfort of the eye signals the comfort of the soul. 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:16.780 The command to comfort the eye, 00:03:16.780 --> 00:03:19.939 even if it is not under the control of the will, 00:03:19.939 --> 00:03:24.379 is a command to calm the soul and banish frightening thoughts, 00:03:24.379 --> 00:03:26.900 and not to expect evil, 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:29.180 because Allah is with her. 00:03:29.180 --> 00:03:34.860 Miracles occurred as evidence that He, glory be to Him, was with her. 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:37.060 And whoever has Allah with them, 00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:42.659 must be at peace, with a comforted eye and soul. 00:03:42.659 --> 00:03:47.139 So He guided her to three things to achieve the first requirement, 00:03:47.139 --> 00:03:49.300 which is bodily rest. 00:03:49.340 --> 00:03:50.580 They are: 00:03:50.580 --> 00:03:51.860 First: 00:03:51.860 --> 00:03:57.349 Eating the dates that fall from the palm tree after she shakes it. 00:03:57.349 --> 00:04:00.830 Some scholars have derived from this verse 00:04:00.830 --> 00:04:03.509 that the best food for a woman who has just given birth 00:04:03.509 --> 00:04:04.990 is dates. 00:04:04.990 --> 00:04:06.110 They said: 00:04:06.110 --> 00:04:09.909 If there were anything better for a woman in postpartum than dates, 00:04:09.909 --> 00:04:14.710 Allah would have fed it to Maryam at the time of her delivery of ‘Isa. 00:04:14.710 --> 00:04:17.870 Al-Tahir Ibn ‘Ashur, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:04:17.910 --> 00:04:19.189 "Rutab" (fresh dates) 00:04:19.189 --> 00:04:21.870 are dates that have not yet fully dried. 00:04:21.870 --> 00:04:23.189 "Jani" (freshly gathered) 00:04:23.189 --> 00:04:25.709 is a form meaning "that which is gathered." 00:04:25.709 --> 00:04:27.230 Meaning, recently plucked. 00:04:27.230 --> 00:04:30.470 It is a metaphor for the immediacy of its falling, 00:04:30.470 --> 00:04:32.389 meaning its freshness. 00:04:32.389 --> 00:04:35.990 It was not from dates stored beforehand, 00:04:35.990 --> 00:04:39.790 because the closer dates are to their palm tree, 00:04:39.790 --> 00:04:42.410 the better their taste. 00:04:42.410 --> 00:04:43.689 Second: 00:04:43.689 --> 00:04:46.370 Drinking from the flowing water. 00:04:46.370 --> 00:04:47.569 And "ma'in" (flowing/clear) 00:04:47.569 --> 00:04:50.790 means pure, abundant water. 00:04:50.790 --> 00:04:52.149 Third: 00:04:52.149 --> 00:04:55.389 Joy and happiness with the newborn. 00:04:55.389 --> 00:04:57.870 Al-Sa‘di, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:04:57.870 --> 00:05:02.709 This is her reassurance regarding safety from the pain of childbirth 00:05:02.709 --> 00:05:06.360 and the attainment of pleasant food and drink. 00:05:06.360 --> 00:05:11.160 The second thing Maryam needed to calm herself 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:16.180 was the speech and argument with which she would face her people. 00:05:16.180 --> 00:05:23.500 Maryam’s soul, peace be upon her, might have been preoccupied with thinking about what she would say to her people. 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:29.620 So the guidance came to her, contrary to what was circulating in her mind and occupying her thoughts. 00:05:29.620 --> 00:05:33.939 The guidance came for her to be silent and not speak, 00:05:33.939 --> 00:05:38.579 but rather to worship Allah by refraining from speaking to humans. 00:05:38.579 --> 00:05:40.220 It was said to her: 00:05:40.220 --> 00:05:44.019 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:47.980 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:05:47.980 --> 00:05:52.060 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:55.259 Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:56.620 He says: 00:05:56.620 --> 00:06:03.819 If you see anyone from the children of Adam who speaks to you or asks you about your affair or the affair of your son, 00:06:03.819 --> 00:06:06.100 and the reason for your birth, 00:06:06.100 --> 00:06:10.379 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:06:10.379 --> 00:06:11.779 he says: 00:06:11.779 --> 00:06:20.459 Then say: "I have vowed a fast to the Most Merciful, so I will not speak today to any human." 00:06:20.459 --> 00:06:23.220 Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:06:23.220 --> 00:06:24.579 And His saying: 00:06:24.579 --> 00:06:28.339 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:06:28.339 --> 00:06:31.100 Meaning, whoever you see, 00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:35.220 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:06:35.220 --> 00:06:38.779 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:06:38.779 --> 00:06:40.899 The intent of this statement 00:06:40.899 --> 00:06:43.420 and pointing to it, 00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:46.540 is not that the intent is verbal speech, 00:06:46.540 --> 00:06:48.139 so as not to contradict [the vow of silence]. 00:06:48.139 --> 00:06:51.579 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:06:51.579 --> 00:06:54.420 Anas Ibn Malik said regarding His saying: 00:06:54.420 --> 00:06:57.819 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:06:57.819 --> 00:06:58.779 He said: 00:06:58.779 --> 00:07:00.220 "A fast" (samtan). 00:07:00.220 --> 00:07:03.500 Likewise said Ibn ‘Abbas and al-Dahhak. 00:07:03.500 --> 00:07:05.699 And in a narration from Anas: 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:07.819 "A fast and silence." 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:11.220 Likewise said Qatadah and others. 00:07:11.220 --> 00:07:12.620 The meaning is 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:15.980 that when they fasted in their law, 00:07:15.980 --> 00:07:19.180 food and speech were forbidden to them. 00:07:19.180 --> 00:07:22.019 Al-Suddi, Qatadah, 00:07:22.019 --> 00:07:24.790 and ‘Abd al-Rahman Ibn Zayd affirmed this. 00:07:24.790 --> 00:07:26.790 Abu Ishaq said, 00:07:26.790 --> 00:07:28.870 on the authority of Harithah, who said: 00:07:28.870 --> 00:07:31.029 I was with Ibn Mas‘ud, 00:07:31.029 --> 00:07:32.829 and two men came. 00:07:32.829 --> 00:07:36.709 One of them greeted him and the other did not. 00:07:36.709 --> 00:07:37.829 He said: 00:07:37.829 --> 00:07:39.389 "What is the matter with you?" 00:07:39.389 --> 00:07:41.029 His companions said: 00:07:41.029 --> 00:07:44.509 "He swore not to speak to people today." 00:07:44.509 --> 00:07:47.029 ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud said: 00:07:47.029 --> 00:07:50.230 "Speak to the people and greet them," 00:07:50.230 --> 00:07:51.709 "for that is a woman." 00:07:51.709 --> 00:07:54.269 She knew that no one would believe her 00:07:54.269 --> 00:07:57.189 that she had conceived without a husband, 00:07:57.189 --> 00:08:00.509 meaning Maryam, peace be upon her, 00:08:00.509 --> 00:08:03.949 so that it would be an excuse for her if she were asked. 00:08:03.949 --> 00:08:07.449 Narrated by Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir. 00:08:07.449 --> 00:08:10.290 Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:08:10.290 --> 00:08:12.209 She was only commanded to do that 00:08:12.209 --> 00:08:15.149 so that she would not be asked about her son. 00:08:15.149 --> 00:08:17.990 Al-Sa‘di, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:08:17.990 --> 00:08:20.990 As for the people's speech, 00:08:20.990 --> 00:08:24.949 she was commanded that if she saw any human, 00:08:24.949 --> 00:08:27.709 she should say by way of gesture: 00:08:27.709 --> 00:08:31.110 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:08:31.110 --> 00:08:32.909 meaning silence. 00:08:32.909 --> 00:08:36.269 “So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.” (19:26) 00:08:36.309 --> 00:08:39.350 Meaning, do not address them with speech, 00:08:39.350 --> 00:08:43.070 so that you may find rest from their words and talk. 00:08:43.070 --> 00:08:44.870 It was known among them 00:08:44.870 --> 00:08:48.419 that silence was among the prescribed acts of worship. 00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:50.620 She was not commanded to address them 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:53.100 to deny that [accusation] from herself, 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:55.899 because people would not believe her, 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:58.100 nor would there be any benefit in it. 00:08:58.100 --> 00:08:59.700 And so that her exoneration 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:01.899 by the speech of ‘Isa in the cradle 00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:05.100 would be the greatest witness to her innocence. 00:09:05.100 --> 00:09:08.700 For a woman to bring forth a child without a husband, 00:09:08.700 --> 00:09:11.700 and claim that it is from no one, 00:09:11.700 --> 00:09:13.820 is one of the greatest claims, 00:09:13.820 --> 00:09:16.820 which, even if a number of witnesses were brought, 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:19.019 would not be believed. 00:09:19.019 --> 00:09:21.139 So the proof of this miracle 00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:23.860 was made something of its own kind, 00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:28.379 which is the speech of ‘Isa while he was very young. 00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:32.580 In this matter that happened to Maryam, peace be upon her, 00:09:32.580 --> 00:09:34.500 is a lesson for everyone who strives 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:38.419 to solve social or family problems, 00:09:38.419 --> 00:09:42.500 in benefiting from these practical steps. 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:46.059 The person with the problem often has their thinking 00:09:46.059 --> 00:09:49.860 under the control of the negative consequences of the problem, 00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:52.620 and it may be difficult for them to see the solution. 00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:56.889 So they need someone to enlighten them on the path. 00:09:56.889 --> 00:09:59.330 Therefore, the one striving for reform 00:09:59.330 --> 00:10:03.929 must first take them out of the pessimistic view of their problem 00:10:03.929 --> 00:10:08.210 to the vastness of Allah’s mercy to His servants and His kindness to them, 00:10:08.210 --> 00:10:12.009 by enlightening them on aspects of Allah the Almighty’s kindness to them 00:10:12.009 --> 00:10:15.690 and His blessings upon them in the problem itself. 00:10:15.690 --> 00:10:18.490 Then, connect them directly to Allah 00:10:18.490 --> 00:10:21.169 by teaching them the great supplication 00:10:21.169 --> 00:10:23.730 for the removal of worry and grief, 00:10:23.730 --> 00:10:28.210 so that Allah may remove from them the worry and grief that has afflicted them, 00:10:28.210 --> 00:10:31.809 and make it easy for them to look at the reality of their problem 00:10:31.850 --> 00:10:35.870 which has filled their chest with worry and grief. 00:10:35.870 --> 00:10:39.190 For on the authority of Ibn Mas‘ud, may Allah be pleased with him, he said: 00:10:39.190 --> 00:10:42.950 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:10:42.950 --> 00:10:44.909 "No servant has ever said, 00:10:44.909 --> 00:10:48.289 when afflicted by worry or grief: 00:10:48.289 --> 00:10:52.529 'O Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant, 00:10:52.529 --> 00:10:54.409 my forelock is in Your hand, 00:10:54.409 --> 00:10:56.610 Your command over me is ever executed, 00:10:56.610 --> 00:10:59.269 and Your decree over me is just. 00:10:59.269 --> 00:11:01.429 I ask You by every name that is Yours, 00:11:01.470 --> 00:11:03.710 with which You have named Yourself, 00:11:03.710 --> 00:11:06.309 or revealed in Your Book, 00:11:06.309 --> 00:11:09.590 or taught to any of Your creation, 00:11:09.590 --> 00:11:13.509 or kept hidden in the knowledge of the unseen with You, 00:11:13.509 --> 00:11:16.590 that You make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, 00:11:16.590 --> 00:11:18.269 the light of my vision, 00:11:18.269 --> 00:11:20.070 and the clearing of my sorrow, 00:11:20.070 --> 00:11:22.149 and the removal of my anxiety. 00:11:22.149 --> 00:11:27.899 Allah will surely remove his anxiety and replace his sorrow with joy. 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:29.940 They asked, "O Messenger of Allah, 00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:33.700 should we learn these words?" 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:35.980 He replied, "Yes, 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:40.169 it is fitting for anyone who hears them to learn them." 00:11:40.169 --> 00:11:42.659 Narrated by Ibn Hibban. 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:45.139 A person facing a problem who is overwhelmed by anxiety 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:49.019 often turns away from food and loses their appetite 00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:54.340 due to the intensity of the thoughts and the sorrow dominating their soul regarding the problem. 00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:58.580 Consequently, their body weakens, and their ability to think weakens as well. 00:11:58.580 --> 00:12:01.220 Therefore, the one striving to provide a solution 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:05.340 must help the person in distress return to their normal state, 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:08.259 so that their soul may calm down and they may eat, 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:13.970 and they can think clearly and engage with the solution being proposed to them. 00:12:13.970 --> 00:12:18.690 The Sunnah has guided us to a type of food 00:12:18.690 --> 00:12:22.779 that is highly beneficial in cases of sorrow. 00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:25.580 It is narrated from ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, 00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:29.379 that whenever a death occurred among her family, 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:31.940 and the women gathered for that purpose, 00:12:31.940 --> 00:12:36.059 then dispersed, except for her family and close relatives, 00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:40.139 she would order a pot of talbinah to be cooked. 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:42.059 Then, tharid (a dish of bread and broth) would be prepared, 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:44.980 and the talbinah would be poured over it. 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:46.539 Then she would say, 00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:48.259 "Eat from it, 00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:53.259 for I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say: 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:56.899 'Talbinah brings comfort to the heart of the sick, 00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:59.340 and it takes away some of the sorrow.'" 00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:01.740 Narrated by al-Bukhari. 00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:04.500 Ibn al-Mulaqqin, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:09.330 "Talbinah is a soup made from flour and bran." 00:13:09.330 --> 00:13:11.210 The meaning of "brings comfort" (mujimmah) is 00:13:11.210 --> 00:13:15.110 that it soothes and relieves the heart of its anxiety. 00:13:15.110 --> 00:13:18.710 Abu al-‘Abbas al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:13:18.710 --> 00:13:22.830 "It means that it strengthens and invigorates it, 00:13:22.870 --> 00:13:26.429 because it is a food that possesses a gentle quality, 00:13:26.429 --> 00:13:28.950 easy for the sick person to consume. 00:13:28.950 --> 00:13:31.070 When the sick person uses it, 00:13:31.070 --> 00:13:34.149 the heat of hunger is dispelled, 00:13:34.149 --> 00:13:39.149 and they receive nutritional strength without any hardship. 00:13:39.149 --> 00:13:43.230 Thus, some of what they were experiencing is relieved, and they become energized, 00:13:43.230 --> 00:13:48.549 and the distress and sorrow they felt due to their illness depart." 00:13:48.549 --> 00:13:53.789 ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, used to prepare it for the family of the deceased 00:13:53.789 --> 00:13:55.549 and add bread to it 00:13:55.549 --> 00:13:59.309 because the sorrow of the family of the deceased distracted them from eating, 00:13:59.309 --> 00:14:03.710 causing the heat of their internal organs to intensify from hunger and grief. 00:14:03.710 --> 00:14:06.549 So, when she fed them the talbinah, 00:14:06.549 --> 00:14:09.590 the intensity of their hunger was broken, 00:14:09.590 --> 00:14:13.340 and some of what they were suffering was alleviated. 00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:17.220 I ask Allah to remove our anxieties and sorrows, 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:20.220 and replace them with joy and happiness, 00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:24.139 and well-being in this world and the Hereafter. 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:27.740 We will continue in a future meeting, if Allah wills. 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:30.580 And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.