1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,759 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:32,299 Gentle Commentary 3 00:00:32,299 --> 00:00:35,299 on the book "Identification Cards" 4 00:00:35,299 --> 00:00:38,299 for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an, 5 00:00:38,299 --> 00:00:42,299 by Dr. Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Aziz Ibn Umar Nasif, 6 00:00:42,299 --> 00:00:44,299 may Allah preserve him. 7 00:00:44,299 --> 00:00:46,299 Surah al-Shu'ara' (The Poets). 8 00:00:46,299 --> 00:00:48,299 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, 9 00:00:48,299 --> 00:00:50,299 and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah. 10 00:00:50,299 --> 00:00:52,299 We continue with our gentle commentary, 11 00:00:52,299 --> 00:00:54,299 and with Surah al-Shu'ara'. 12 00:00:55,060 --> 00:00:57,060 There are three points of reflection. 13 00:00:57,060 --> 00:00:59,149 The first point concerns the name of the Surah. 14 00:00:59,149 --> 00:01:01,149 Naturally, its well-known name is "al-Shu'ara'" (The Poets), 15 00:01:01,149 --> 00:01:03,149 and it is also mentioned as "al-Zullah" (The Shadow). 16 00:01:03,149 --> 00:01:05,150 However, we will focus on "al-Shu'ara'", 17 00:01:05,150 --> 00:01:07,250 because some scholars, 18 00:01:07,250 --> 00:01:09,250 or one researcher in particular— 19 00:01:09,250 --> 00:01:11,250 whom I have mentioned to you before— 20 00:01:11,250 --> 00:01:13,250 who looked at all the Surahs in their entirety 21 00:01:13,250 --> 00:01:15,250 from the perspective of their names, 22 00:01:15,250 --> 00:01:17,250 examined them collectively, 23 00:01:17,250 --> 00:01:19,250 and found that "al-Shu'ara'" (The Poets) and "al-Qasas" (The Stories) 24 00:01:19,250 --> 00:01:21,250 cover 25 00:01:21,250 --> 00:01:23,439 what we call the field of literature. 26 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,200 He pointed out that poets 27 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,200 and storytelling 28 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,200 are the pillars of literature. 29 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,200 There are many literary forms and genres, 30 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,200 but these two are the pillars 31 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:35,739 of literature. 32 00:01:35,739 --> 00:01:37,739 When the Qur'an was revealed, 33 00:01:37,739 --> 00:01:39,739 poetry held a high status, 34 00:01:39,739 --> 00:01:41,739 and it still holds a status today, 35 00:01:41,739 --> 00:01:43,780 though it has diminished, while the importance 36 00:01:43,780 --> 00:01:45,780 of storytelling and fiction has increased. 37 00:01:45,780 --> 00:01:47,840 And the best of stories are in this Qur'an. 38 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:49,840 We must not forget 39 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:51,840 that when the Companions said 40 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:53,840 to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 41 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:55,840 "Tell us stories," Allah revealed: 42 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:57,840 “We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless.” (12:3) 43 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,290 The stories of the Qur'an deserve much attention. 44 00:02:00,290 --> 00:02:02,290 But the point is that naming 45 00:02:02,290 --> 00:02:04,290 these two Surahs, 46 00:02:04,290 --> 00:02:06,290 al-Shu'ara' and al-Qasas, alludes 47 00:02:06,290 --> 00:02:08,289 to two great 48 00:02:08,289 --> 00:02:10,319 pillars 49 00:02:10,319 --> 00:02:12,319 of literature. And literature 50 00:02:12,319 --> 00:02:14,319 has an influence on media; 51 00:02:14,319 --> 00:02:16,319 it has an influence on people's minds. 52 00:02:16,319 --> 00:02:18,419 We all know what 53 00:02:18,419 --> 00:02:20,419 the state of fiction 54 00:02:20,419 --> 00:02:22,419 and storytelling has become in terms of influence, 55 00:02:22,419 --> 00:02:24,419 even films and the like; 56 00:02:24,419 --> 00:02:26,419 they are originally stories 57 00:02:26,419 --> 00:02:28,669 that were turned into films, 58 00:02:28,669 --> 00:02:30,669 and thus they influenced 59 00:02:30,669 --> 00:02:32,669 entire generations 60 00:02:32,669 --> 00:02:34,669 at times. 61 00:02:34,669 --> 00:02:36,699 This is the first point of reflection. 62 00:02:36,699 --> 00:02:38,699 As for the second point, 63 00:02:38,699 --> 00:02:40,699 it concerns what is mentioned 64 00:02:40,699 --> 00:02:42,699 at the end of the history of revelation, 65 00:02:42,699 --> 00:02:44,699 regarding the chronological order of the Surah's revelation. 66 00:02:44,699 --> 00:02:46,699 It is said that this revelation is attributed 67 00:02:46,699 --> 00:02:48,699 to the time of the public proclamation of the message 68 00:02:48,699 --> 00:02:50,699 during the Meccan period. 69 00:02:50,699 --> 00:02:52,699 It is established in the Sahih that the saying of the Almighty: 70 00:02:52,699 --> 00:02:54,699 "And warn your closest kindred," 71 00:02:54,699 --> 00:02:56,699 when it was revealed to the Prophet, peace be upon him, 72 00:02:56,699 --> 00:02:58,699 he gathered the people, 73 00:02:58,699 --> 00:03:00,930 spoke to them, and called them to Allah. 74 00:03:00,930 --> 00:03:02,930 So this revelation is attributed to the time 75 00:03:02,930 --> 00:03:04,930 of the public proclamation of the message in the Meccan period. 76 00:03:04,930 --> 00:03:06,930 This time was chronicled by 77 00:03:06,930 --> 00:03:08,930 Ibn Ishaq, 78 00:03:08,930 --> 00:03:10,930 and it is in the Seerah of Ibn Hisham, of course, 79 00:03:10,930 --> 00:03:12,930 that this was after three 80 00:03:12,930 --> 00:03:14,930 years of 81 00:03:14,930 --> 00:03:16,930 the call. There is 82 00:03:16,930 --> 00:03:18,930 research and discussion regarding this, 83 00:03:18,930 --> 00:03:20,930 and some have remained silent on the exact timing, 84 00:03:20,930 --> 00:03:22,930 but the well-known view 85 00:03:22,930 --> 00:03:24,930 is that it was three years 86 00:03:24,930 --> 00:03:27,090 from the beginning of the mission. 87 00:03:27,090 --> 00:03:29,090 During that time, the call was secret, 88 00:03:29,090 --> 00:03:31,090 then it became, with this verse, 89 00:03:31,090 --> 00:03:33,090 public. 90 00:03:33,090 --> 00:03:35,090 The third and final point of reflection 91 00:03:35,090 --> 00:03:37,090 concerns 92 00:03:37,090 --> 00:03:39,090 a passage in the Surah 93 00:03:39,090 --> 00:03:41,090 that relates to the science of "Munasabat" (thematic coherence), 94 00:03:41,090 --> 00:03:43,090 which some dear brothers ask about, 95 00:03:43,090 --> 00:03:45,090 saying: "Is there affectation in it, 96 00:03:45,090 --> 00:03:47,469 and how does one learn it?" 97 00:03:47,469 --> 00:03:49,469 I know Dr. Muhammad Umar Bazmul 98 00:03:49,469 --> 00:03:51,469 teaches the science of Munasabat; 99 00:03:51,469 --> 00:03:53,469 it is useful for establishing a foundation in this field, 100 00:03:53,469 --> 00:03:55,469 but the practitioner 101 00:03:55,469 --> 00:03:57,469 finds it broader than that. 102 00:03:57,469 --> 00:03:59,469 However, in terms of theory, it is good. 103 00:03:59,469 --> 00:04:01,469 Then I say, notice 104 00:04:01,469 --> 00:04:03,949 at the conclusion of the Surah's sections, 105 00:04:03,949 --> 00:04:05,949 there is an informative opening, 106 00:04:05,949 --> 00:04:07,949 which is His saying: "And indeed, it 107 00:04:07,949 --> 00:04:09,949 is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds." 108 00:04:09,949 --> 00:04:12,050 This verse 109 00:04:12,050 --> 00:04:14,050 refers back, 110 00:04:14,050 --> 00:04:16,050 as Imam al-Tabari explained, 111 00:04:16,050 --> 00:04:18,050 to the beginning of the Surah. 112 00:04:18,050 --> 00:04:20,050 For He mentioned the Book at the beginning of the Surah, 113 00:04:20,050 --> 00:04:22,050 then said after it, 114 00:04:22,050 --> 00:04:24,050 narrating all the stories. 115 00:04:24,050 --> 00:04:26,050 “And lo! it is a revelation of the Lord of the Worlds,” (26:192) 116 00:04:26,050 --> 00:04:28,050 Then the speech returned to the "Clear Book" 117 00:04:28,050 --> 00:04:30,050 mentioned at the beginning of the Surah. 118 00:04:30,050 --> 00:04:32,050 This confirms the importance of 119 00:04:32,050 --> 00:04:34,050 reading the entire Surah so that 120 00:04:34,050 --> 00:04:36,050 a person may take from its lights as much as 121 00:04:36,050 --> 00:04:38,879 possible. 122 00:04:38,879 --> 00:04:40,879 He said: "And the proof that the Qur'an is the truth, 123 00:04:40,879 --> 00:04:42,879 and the refutation of the doubts of the disbelievers." 124 00:04:42,879 --> 00:04:44,879 Among these is their counting the Qur'an as poetry— 125 00:04:44,879 --> 00:04:46,879 this leads to the reason for mentioning poetry. 126 00:04:46,879 --> 00:04:48,879 The Surah does not speak about poetry, 127 00:04:48,879 --> 00:04:50,879 yet at the end of the Surah, there is proof that the Qur'an 128 00:04:50,879 --> 00:04:52,879 is the truth. So what brought about the mention of 129 00:04:52,879 --> 00:04:54,879 poetry here? A seeker might ask this question. 130 00:04:54,879 --> 00:04:56,879 The Surah mentions the stories of the Prophets, 131 00:04:56,879 --> 00:04:58,879 so why were the poets mentioned at the end 132 00:04:58,879 --> 00:05:00,879 of this Surah? 133 00:05:00,879 --> 00:05:03,329 This is a question that crosses the mind. 134 00:05:03,329 --> 00:05:05,329 I point out that the refutation 135 00:05:05,329 --> 00:05:07,329 of the doubts of the disbelievers regarding what 136 00:05:07,329 --> 00:05:09,329 they describe the Prophet, peace be upon him, with, 137 00:05:09,329 --> 00:05:11,329 and the Qur'an that was revealed to him, was at the end 138 00:05:11,329 --> 00:05:13,329 of the Surah. Among the doubts was that [it was poetry], 139 00:05:13,329 --> 00:05:15,329 so the mention of the poets came 140 00:05:15,329 --> 00:05:17,329 for this reason. 141 00:05:17,329 --> 00:05:19,329 And notice that He said: 142 00:05:19,329 --> 00:05:21,329 "The poets—the deviators follow them." 143 00:05:21,329 --> 00:05:23,360 As for the followers of the Prophet, peace be upon him, 144 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:25,360 they were not deviators; this contains praise 145 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:27,360 for the Companions, that they 146 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:29,360 are not among the deviators. 147 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,360 Rather, it is the deviators who follow the poets. 148 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,680 But here I wanted to 149 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:35,680 point out a subtle, 150 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:37,680 delicate issue that 151 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,680 al-Tahir Ibn Ashur relied upon 152 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:41,680 in explaining the relationship here. 153 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:43,680 It is an issue that goes back to what 154 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,680 scholars call—and it is important in the science of Munasabat— 155 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:47,680 what is called in the science of rhetoric 156 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:49,680 "the connector" (al-jami'), which has types. 157 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:51,680 The intended meaning here is the connector 158 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:53,680 that refers to people's customs 159 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,680 and habits. In the custom of 160 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:57,680 the Arabs to whom 161 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:59,680 the Qur'an was revealed, they used to 162 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:01,680 think that a poet had a devil 163 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,680 who dictated poetry to him. 164 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:05,680 Al-Tahir Ibn Ashur says this, 165 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:07,680 and adds: "So it was appropriate," meaning 166 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:09,680 he compared their falsification of the Qur'an— 167 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:11,680 saying it is poetry—and their saying about the Prophet, 168 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:13,680 peace be upon him, that he is a poet, 169 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:15,680 with their saying that it is the speech of a soothsayer, 170 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:17,680 just as he compared them 171 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:19,680 in the verse of al-Haqqah. 172 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:21,680 “It is not poet's speech - little is it that ye believe!” (69:41) 173 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:23,680 “Nor diviner's speech - little is it that ye remember!” (69:42) 174 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,899 You remember, then, 175 00:06:25,899 --> 00:06:27,899 I want to arrive at the fact that 176 00:06:27,899 --> 00:06:29,899 the connector that rhetoricians call 177 00:06:29,899 --> 00:06:31,899 "imaginary"—which is very important 178 00:06:31,899 --> 00:06:33,899 in the science of Munasabat— 179 00:06:33,899 --> 00:06:35,899 refers to knowing the conditions of those to whom 180 00:06:35,899 --> 00:06:37,899 the Qur'an was revealed, namely the Arabs. 181 00:06:37,899 --> 00:06:39,899 I knew the Arabs and I knew their view of poetry, 182 00:06:39,899 --> 00:06:41,899 and of soothsaying, and of devils. 183 00:06:41,899 --> 00:06:43,899 I knew the relationship that 184 00:06:43,899 --> 00:06:45,899 brought these verses 185 00:06:45,899 --> 00:06:47,899 to this place. 186 00:06:47,899 --> 00:06:49,899 I hope that this 187 00:06:49,899 --> 00:06:51,899 insight is clear. 188 00:06:51,899 --> 00:06:53,899 You may review the words of my master 189 00:06:53,899 --> 00:06:55,899 Ibn Ashur in his Tafsir 190 00:06:55,899 --> 00:06:57,899 at this passage, for he was brilliant. 191 00:06:57,899 --> 00:06:59,899 And al-Biqa'i was brilliant before him 192 00:06:59,899 --> 00:07:01,899 in explaining the description of the poets 193 00:07:01,899 --> 00:07:03,899 who are saved from this condemnation: 194 00:07:03,899 --> 00:07:05,899 "Except those who believe 195 00:07:05,899 --> 00:07:07,899 and do righteous deeds, 196 00:07:07,899 --> 00:07:09,899 and remember Allah 197 00:07:09,899 --> 00:07:11,899 often, 198 00:07:11,899 --> 00:07:13,899 and defend themselves 199 00:07:13,899 --> 00:07:15,899 after they were wronged. 200 00:07:15,899 --> 00:07:17,899 And those who have 201 00:07:17,899 --> 00:07:19,899 wronged 202 00:07:19,899 --> 00:07:21,899 will come to know 203 00:07:21,899 --> 00:07:23,899 May their hearts be turned [toward the truth]. 204 00:07:23,899 --> 00:07:27,600 I ask Allah 205 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:29,600 to grant me and you success in attaining what He loves and is pleased with. 206 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,600 I ask Allah [to send blessings] upon our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, 207 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,600 and upon all his family and his Companions. 208 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:35,600 And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.