1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:31,820 The concise commentary 3 00:00:31,820 --> 00:00:34,820 on the book "Introductory Cards 4 00:00:34,820 --> 00:00:37,820 to the Surahs of the Noble Mus-haf" 5 00:00:37,820 --> 00:00:41,820 by Dr. Muhammad ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Umar Nasif, 6 00:00:41,820 --> 00:00:43,820 may Allah preserve him. 7 00:00:43,820 --> 00:00:45,859 Surah al-Infitar. 8 00:00:45,859 --> 00:00:47,859 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 9 00:00:47,859 --> 00:00:50,859 Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. 10 00:00:50,859 --> 00:00:53,920 We continue with our concise commentary on the introductory cards, 11 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:55,920 and we have arrived at Surah al-Infitar. 12 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,920 I have three reflections regarding it. 13 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,920 The first reflection concerns what has been narrated regarding its virtues, 14 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,920 which is the exact same virtue mentioned for Surah at-Takwir: 15 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,920 "Whoever would be pleased to look at the Day of Resurrection as if seeing it with his own eyes..." 16 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,950 This invites us to compare the two surahs 17 00:01:12,950 --> 00:01:16,950 and reflect more deeply on their differences and points of agreement. 18 00:01:16,950 --> 00:01:19,950 They share common elements, the most apparent of which is: 19 00:01:19,950 --> 00:01:21,950 "When" (idha), 20 00:01:21,950 --> 00:01:23,950 which denotes absolute certainty of occurrence. 21 00:01:23,950 --> 00:01:25,950 Another point of agreement between them is: 22 00:01:25,950 --> 00:01:27,950 "A soul will know..." 23 00:01:27,950 --> 00:01:29,950 Among the contrasting elements between them is: 24 00:01:29,950 --> 00:01:31,950 "A soul will know what it has put forth and kept back" here, 25 00:01:31,950 --> 00:01:33,950 and "what it has brought" there in at-Takwir. 26 00:01:33,950 --> 00:01:35,950 All of this calls for careful comparison 27 00:01:35,950 --> 00:01:37,950 and contemplation. 28 00:01:37,950 --> 00:01:39,950 As for the second reflection, 29 00:01:39,950 --> 00:01:42,109 it pertains to the chronological order of the surah's revelation. 30 00:01:42,109 --> 00:01:45,109 In reality, we do not possess any definitive evidence, 31 00:01:45,109 --> 00:01:47,109 as far as I know, 32 00:01:47,109 --> 00:01:49,109 regarding the precise time of this surah's revelation, 33 00:01:49,109 --> 00:01:51,109 except 34 00:01:51,109 --> 00:01:53,109 the report used merely for corroboration, 35 00:01:53,109 --> 00:01:55,109 though not with certainty, 36 00:01:55,109 --> 00:01:57,109 which is the narration of Jabir ibn Zayd, 37 00:01:57,109 --> 00:01:58,109 may Allah have mercy on him, 38 00:01:58,109 --> 00:02:00,109 in which he placed it as the eighty-first surah, 39 00:02:00,109 --> 00:02:02,109 whereas at-Takwir, which preceded it, 40 00:02:02,109 --> 00:02:04,109 was revealed early, as we noted, 41 00:02:04,109 --> 00:02:06,109 being the sixth. 42 00:02:06,109 --> 00:02:08,110 One can infer a subtle point from this: 43 00:02:08,110 --> 00:02:10,110 that this admonition 44 00:02:10,110 --> 00:02:12,110 is needed by Muslims at the beginning of the da'wah— 45 00:02:12,110 --> 00:02:14,110 like that surah— 46 00:02:14,110 --> 00:02:16,110 and is also needed by Muslims 47 00:02:16,110 --> 00:02:18,110 in the middle phase of the da'wah, 48 00:02:18,110 --> 00:02:20,110 toward the end of the Meccan period, 49 00:02:20,110 --> 00:02:22,110 which is midway in relation to the total span 50 00:02:22,110 --> 00:02:24,110 of his life, peace and blessings be upon him, 51 00:02:24,110 --> 00:02:26,110 and the descent of revelation upon him. 52 00:02:26,110 --> 00:02:28,110 Thus, admonition is not exclusively for 53 00:02:28,110 --> 00:02:30,110 new Muslims, 54 00:02:30,110 --> 00:02:32,110 nor is the reminder of the Hereafter reserved only 55 00:02:32,110 --> 00:02:34,110 for the recently practicing; 56 00:02:34,110 --> 00:02:36,110 rather, it is something we constantly need to remember. 57 00:02:36,110 --> 00:02:38,110 So one surah came in the early Meccan period 58 00:02:38,110 --> 00:02:40,110 and another surah came in the late Meccan period, 59 00:02:40,110 --> 00:02:42,110 and we will also come across some surahs 60 00:02:42,110 --> 00:02:44,110 from the Medinan period 61 00:02:44,110 --> 00:02:46,340 that address this same theme. 62 00:02:46,340 --> 00:02:48,340 For it is a matter from which 63 00:02:48,340 --> 00:02:50,340 no need can ever be detached 64 00:02:50,340 --> 00:02:52,340 by any Muslim. 65 00:02:52,340 --> 00:02:54,340 A third and final reflection 66 00:02:54,340 --> 00:02:56,340 concerns the main theme of the surah: he stated, 67 00:02:56,340 --> 00:02:58,340 "Urging to work for the Day of Judgment." 68 00:02:58,340 --> 00:03:00,340 Notice, my brothers, 69 00:03:00,340 --> 00:03:02,340 that our remembrance of the Day of Resurrection 70 00:03:02,340 --> 00:03:04,340 is not an invitation to mere fear; 71 00:03:04,340 --> 00:03:06,340 fear is only a means to action. 72 00:03:06,340 --> 00:03:08,340 The reality is that remembering 73 00:03:08,340 --> 00:03:10,340 the Hereafter 74 00:03:10,340 --> 00:03:12,340 and actively visualizing Paradise and Hellfire 75 00:03:12,340 --> 00:03:14,340 should serve 76 00:03:14,340 --> 00:03:16,340 to fuel a positive, 77 00:03:16,340 --> 00:03:18,340 proactive drive toward righteous deeds 78 00:03:18,340 --> 00:03:20,400 for the Day of Judgment. 79 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,400 If you realize that when 80 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:24,400 these cataclysmic events occur, 81 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:26,400 a soul will know what it has put forth and kept back, 82 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,400 then put forth goodness right now 83 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,400 and be eager for it, so that you may rejoice 84 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,400 on that Day: 85 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,400 "Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure." O Allah, 86 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,500 make us among them. 87 00:03:36,500 --> 00:03:38,500 I will suffice with this, and send peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, 88 00:03:38,500 --> 00:03:40,500 and upon his family and Companions, 89 00:03:40,500 --> 00:03:42,500 and whoever follows his guidance. 90 00:03:42,500 --> 00:03:44,500 Praise be to Allah, first and last, 91 00:03:44,500 --> 00:03:46,500 outwardly and inwardly.