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 gracious commentary 00:00:32.299 --> 00:00:35.299 on the book "Identification Cards 00:00:35.299 --> 00:00:37.299 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 --> 00:00:44.359 may Allah preserve him. 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:46.359 Surah Luqman. 00:00:46.359 --> 00:00:48.359 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:48.359 --> 00:00:52.490 Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. 00:00:53.250 --> 00:00:55.250 We continue with our gracious commentary on the identification cards, 00:00:55.250 --> 00:00:57.659 focusing on Surah Luqman. 00:00:57.659 --> 00:00:59.659 I would like to make three brief observations regarding it. 00:00:59.659 --> 00:01:01.759 The first observation concerns the name of the surah. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:05.760 Although its name shares a common feature with other surahs 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:07.760 in being the name of a man, 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:09.760 the crucial difference between it 00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:11.760 and those other surahs 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:13.760 is that this individual's 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:15.760 status as a prophet is disputed, 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:17.760 and the more renowned opinion is that he was not a prophet. 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:19.760 This contrasts with the other men 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:21.859 after whom surahs were named. 00:01:22.620 --> 00:01:24.620 Does this not draw our attention to something 00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:26.620 whose corroboration is found in 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:28.620 the words of Allah the Exalted: "And whoever obeys Allah [and the Messenger—they will be with those] 00:01:28.620 --> 00:01:30.620 “Whoso obeyeth Allah and the messenger, they are with those unto whom Allah hath shown favour, of the prophets and the saints and the martyrs and the righteous. The best of company are they!” (4:69) 00:01:30.620 --> 00:01:32.620 upon whom Allah has bestowed favor: the prophets, 00:01:32.620 --> 00:01:34.620 the steadfast affirmers of truth, 00:01:34.620 --> 00:01:37.099 the martyrs, and the righteous"? 00:01:37.099 --> 00:01:39.290 Prophethood 00:01:39.290 --> 00:01:41.290 cannot be attained through personal exertion, 00:01:41.290 --> 00:01:43.290 whereas the rank of the steadfast affirmers of truth and the degrees below it 00:01:43.290 --> 00:01:45.290 are realms wherein a person expends 00:01:45.290 --> 00:01:47.290 every effort to attain them. 00:01:47.290 --> 00:01:49.349 So I say—and this is a subject 00:01:49.349 --> 00:01:51.349 for mutual study and contemplation: 00:01:51.349 --> 00:01:53.349 Does naming a surah 00:01:53.349 --> 00:01:55.349 after Luqman, who was not a prophet 00:01:55.349 --> 00:01:57.670 according to the more sound view, 00:01:57.670 --> 00:01:59.670 remind us that one may ascend 00:01:59.670 --> 00:02:01.670 to immense spiritual heights, even though 00:02:01.670 --> 00:02:03.670 one cannot reach the station of prophethood? 00:02:03.670 --> 00:02:06.150 The station of prophethood is truly magnificent, 00:02:06.150 --> 00:02:08.150 yet it remains beyond our reach. 00:02:08.150 --> 00:02:10.180 So might this surah 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:12.180 serve as a means 00:02:12.180 --> 00:02:14.180 to bring him closer to our reach, or 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:16.180 should we elevate his status because the righteous 00:02:16.180 --> 00:02:18.500 are companions to the prophets? 00:02:18.500 --> 00:02:20.500 Indeed, Luqman accompanied 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:22.500 in a spiritual sense 00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:24.500 those very prophets by having his name become 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:26.599 the title of a surah in the Qur'an. 00:02:26.599 --> 00:02:28.599 I present this issue purely as 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:30.599 a matter of reflection, rather than 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:32.599 an assertion of definitive certainty. 00:02:32.599 --> 00:02:34.599 It is merely an attempt on my part 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:36.599 to indicate that 00:02:36.599 --> 00:02:38.599 in the names of surahs, as in other matters, 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:40.599 there is ample room for scholarly reflection and contemplation. 00:02:40.599 --> 00:02:42.729 The second observation 00:02:42.729 --> 00:02:44.789 concerns the dating and chronological context of the surah. 00:02:44.789 --> 00:02:46.789 It has been authentically established 00:02:46.789 --> 00:02:48.789 that parts of this surah were revealed before 00:02:48.789 --> 00:02:50.860 the verse in Surah al-An'am. 00:02:50.860 --> 00:02:52.860 For on the authority of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, 00:02:52.860 --> 00:02:54.860 may Allah be pleased with him: when this verse was revealed, 00:02:54.860 --> 00:02:56.860 “Those who believe and obscure not their belief by wrongdoing, theirs is safety; and they are rightly guided.” (6:82) 00:02:56.860 --> 00:02:59.050 "[...and did not obscure] their faith with wrongdoing," 00:02:59.050 --> 00:03:01.050 it weighed heavily on the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, 00:03:01.050 --> 00:03:03.050 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and they asked: 00:03:03.050 --> 00:03:05.050 "Which of us has not obscured his faith with wrongdoing?" 00:03:05.050 --> 00:03:07.050 Thereupon the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: 00:03:07.050 --> 00:03:09.050 "It is not as you think. 00:03:09.050 --> 00:03:11.050 Have you not heard the words of Luqman 00:03:11.050 --> 00:03:13.050 to his son: 'Indeed, associating partners with Allah is a tremendous wrongdoing'?" 00:03:13.050 --> 00:03:15.110 And this 00:03:15.110 --> 00:03:17.110 makes us realize that 00:03:17.110 --> 00:03:19.110 the chronology of revelation can sometimes be deduced 00:03:19.110 --> 00:03:21.110 from unexpected sources. 00:03:21.110 --> 00:03:23.110 A mere interpretation of one verse by another 00:03:23.110 --> 00:03:25.110 can reveal to us 00:03:25.110 --> 00:03:27.110 that one verse preceded another, just as 00:03:27.110 --> 00:03:29.110 is the case here. I would also mention another example: 00:03:29.110 --> 00:03:31.110 Surah al-Ma'idah 00:03:31.110 --> 00:03:33.110 is widely held to have been revealed quite late, 00:03:33.110 --> 00:03:35.110 yet it contains verses mentioned 00:03:35.110 --> 00:03:37.110 before the Battle of Badr, 00:03:37.110 --> 00:03:39.400 within the discourse of the Companions with the Prophet, 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:41.400 peace be upon him, 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:43.400 “They said: O Moses! We will never enter (the land) while they are in it. So go thou and thy Lord and fight! We will sit here.” (5:24) 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:45.400 which occurred in that account. 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:47.400 Thus, the main point is that 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:49.400 interpreting the Qur'an by the Qur'an, 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:51.400 or rather, interpreting the Qur'an by the Sunnah, 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:53.400 sheds light on aspects of 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:55.530 the chronology of revelation. 00:03:55.530 --> 00:03:57.530 The third and final observation 00:03:57.530 --> 00:03:59.659 is that the central theme of the surah 00:03:59.659 --> 00:04:01.659 is the vital necessity of seeking guidance 00:04:01.659 --> 00:04:03.780 through the Wise Book of Allah. 00:04:03.780 --> 00:04:05.780 We notice that 00:04:05.780 --> 00:04:07.780 it is stated in the surah: 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:09.780 "And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech 00:04:09.780 --> 00:04:12.389 to mislead from the way of Allah..." 00:04:12.389 --> 00:04:14.389 And the vast majority of the salaf (early generations), 00:04:14.389 --> 00:04:16.389 including our masters 00:04:16.389 --> 00:04:18.389 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud 00:04:18.389 --> 00:04:20.389 and 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas, 00:04:20.389 --> 00:04:22.490 may Allah be pleased with them, 00:04:22.490 --> 00:04:24.490 interpreted this verse 00:04:24.490 --> 00:04:26.490 as referring to singing. 00:04:26.490 --> 00:04:28.490 Certain contemporary thinkers have taken issue with this view. 00:04:28.490 --> 00:04:30.550 I do not wish 00:04:30.550 --> 00:04:32.550 to dwell at great length on this, 00:04:32.550 --> 00:04:34.550 but I want to emphasize that this verse aligns impeccably with the context. 00:04:34.550 --> 00:04:36.550 Interpreting the verse as referring to singing 00:04:36.550 --> 00:04:38.550 is exceptionally appropriate to the textual flow. 00:04:38.550 --> 00:04:40.550 For this reason, Ibn Kathir commented 00:04:40.550 --> 00:04:42.550 on these verses, saying regarding "And of the people...": 00:04:42.550 --> 00:04:44.550 He said: 00:04:44.550 --> 00:04:46.550 "When Allah the Exalted mentioned the state of the felicitous— 00:04:46.550 --> 00:04:48.550 who are guided by the Book of Allah 00:04:48.550 --> 00:04:50.550 and derive benefit from listening to it, 00:04:50.550 --> 00:04:52.550 just as Allah the Exalted stated: 00:04:52.550 --> 00:04:54.550 “Allah hath (now) revealed the fairest of statements, a Scripture consistent, (wherein promises of reward are) paired (with threats of punishment), whereat doth creep the flesh of those who fear their Lord, so that their flesh and their hearts soften to Allah's reminder. Such is Allah's guidance, wherewith He guideth whom He will. And him whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.” (39:23) 00:04:54.550 --> 00:04:56.550 '[Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration.] The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver therefrom, 00:04:56.550 --> 00:04:58.550 then their skins and their hearts soften 00:04:58.550 --> 00:05:00.550 to the remembrance of Allah. 00:05:00.550 --> 00:05:02.550 That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills, 00:05:02.550 --> 00:05:04.550 “Allah hath (now) revealed the fairest of statements, a Scripture consistent, (wherein promises of reward are) paired (with threats of punishment), whereat doth creep the flesh of those who fear their Lord, so that their flesh and their hearts soften to Allah's reminder. Such is Allah's guidance, wherewith He guideth whom He will. And him whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.” (39:23) 00:05:04.550 --> 00:05:06.550 and one whom Allah sends astray has no guide'—He coupled it with the mention 00:05:06.550 --> 00:05:08.550 of the state of the wretched, 00:05:08.550 --> 00:05:10.550 who turn away from benefiting 00:05:10.550 --> 00:05:12.550 from listening to the speech of Allah, 00:05:12.550 --> 00:05:14.550 turning instead to listen to 00:05:14.550 --> 00:05:16.550 musical pipes and song 00:05:16.550 --> 00:05:18.550 accompanied by melodies and musical instruments, 00:05:18.550 --> 00:05:21.100 as Ibn Mas'ud stated 00:05:21.100 --> 00:05:23.100 regarding the words of the Exalted: 'And of the people is he who buys 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:25.100 the amusement of speech.' He said: 'By Allah, it is 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:27.100 singing!'—to the end of his narration." 00:05:27.100 --> 00:05:29.100 The point to take note of in this correlation 00:05:29.100 --> 00:05:31.129 is that the surah speaks of the Qur'an, 00:05:31.129 --> 00:05:33.129 and issues a warning 00:05:33.129 --> 00:05:35.129 regarding whoever is preoccupied with anything besides the Qur'an. 00:05:35.129 --> 00:05:37.579 We do not claim that this 00:05:37.579 --> 00:05:39.579 verse is the sole proof 00:05:39.579 --> 00:05:41.579 for the prohibition of singing, 00:05:41.579 --> 00:05:43.579 for the proofs prohibiting singing are numerous. 00:05:43.579 --> 00:05:45.670 Rather, the statements of the salaf (early generations) came 00:05:45.670 --> 00:05:47.670 as if drawing attention 00:05:47.670 --> 00:05:49.670 to the inclusion of 00:05:49.670 --> 00:05:51.670 this particular practice within the general scope of 00:05:51.670 --> 00:05:53.670 the matter; otherwise, the issue of 00:05:53.670 --> 00:05:55.670 the prohibition of singing was already firmly established among them. 00:05:55.670 --> 00:05:57.800 And Allah knows best. 00:05:57.800 --> 00:05:59.800 With this, we bring to a close 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:01.800 these three observations. I ask Allah 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:03.800 to benefit us through the Magnificent Qur'an, 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:05.800 and to make it an argument in our favor 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:07.800 and not an argument against us. 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:09.800 May Allah send blessings upon Muhammad and upon his family and Companions, 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:11.800 and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.