WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.500 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:02.500 --> 00:00:37.539 Gentle Commentary on the Book "Identification Cards for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an" 00:00:37.539 --> 00:00:43.539 by Dr. Muhammad ibn Abdul Aziz ibn Umar Nasif, may Allah preserve him. 00:00:43.539 --> 00:00:45.570 Surah At-Tur. 00:00:45.570 --> 00:00:50.570 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. 00:00:50.570 --> 00:00:55.570 We continue with our gentle commentary on the identification cards, focusing today on Surah At-Tur. 00:00:55.570 --> 00:00:58.570 I have three reflective points to make regarding it. 00:00:58.570 --> 00:01:05.629 The first point concerns what was mentioned regarding the order of its revelation; he stated: 00:01:05.629 --> 00:01:16.730 "Its style is powerful." Naturally, having a powerful style suggests a relatively late period of revelation. 00:01:16.730 --> 00:01:22.730 For generally, surahs intensify in power, debate with the disbelievers, and severe warnings 00:01:22.730 --> 00:01:28.730 predominantly in what is conceived to be a relatively late stage of the Meccan period. 00:01:28.730 --> 00:01:34.920 What corroborates the strength of its style is its profound impact upon those who heard it. 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:39.180 In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is reported on the authority of Jubayr ibn Mut'im— 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:44.430 who was a disbeliever at the time of this incident he relates, and only embraced Islam later, 00:01:44.430 --> 00:01:50.459 years afterward—who said: "I heard the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, reciting Surat At-Tur in the Maghrib prayer." 00:01:50.459 --> 00:01:58.459 This took place, as scholars have clarified, when he went to ransom the captives of Badr; 00:01:58.459 --> 00:02:01.459 he came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, in Medina while still a disbeliever. 00:02:01.459 --> 00:02:09.460 He said: "He was reciting Surat At-Tur in Maghrib, and when he reached this verse: 'Were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]?' 00:02:09.460 --> 00:02:19.460 'Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, they have no firm belief. Or do they possess the treasuries of your Lord? Or are they the controllers?' 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:22.750 my heart almost took flight." 00:02:22.750 --> 00:02:31.039 The hadith is recorded in both Sahihs. If you wish to examine further reports demonstrating the impact of this 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:37.039 this surah and its power upon those who heard it, then consult 00:02:38.099 --> 00:02:45.139 Tafsir Ibn Kathir at the beginning of the surah as well as in his commentary on some of its verses. 00:02:45.139 --> 00:02:50.139 Consult also the book Masā'id an-Nazar by al-Biqa'i, 00:02:50.139 --> 00:02:59.389 for he cited several reports illustrating the tremendous impact of this surah upon whoever recited it or heard it. 00:02:59.389 --> 00:03:07.490 Among its verses is the saying of the Exalted: "Burn therein! Then endure it patiently or do not endure it; it is all the same to you. You are only being recompensed for what you used to do." 00:03:07.490 --> 00:03:13.680 And before it: "Is this magic, or do you not see? Burn therein! Then endure it patiently or do not endure it." 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:16.000 These are immensely powerful verses. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:19.099 The second point concerns the central theme of the surah. 00:03:19.099 --> 00:03:28.099 The reality is that the themes of the surahs, especially in the Mufassal section, have not been sufficiently reviewed, 00:03:28.099 --> 00:03:33.189 and they require further refinement; among these is what was stated regarding this surah. 00:03:33.189 --> 00:03:39.219 It was stated regarding its theme: "Many verses of the surah pertain to warning the disbelievers and giving glad tidings to the believers." 00:03:39.219 --> 00:03:46.259 Yet if you reflect slightly—or indeed, even without reflection—you will realize that this is common across the surahs of the Qur'an: 00:03:46.259 --> 00:03:49.259 warning the disbelievers and giving glad tidings to the believers. 00:03:49.259 --> 00:03:54.259 Thus, it is not suitable to designate this as the distinguishing theme of the surah. 00:03:54.259 --> 00:03:59.259 Rather, what is mentioned after that is what truly distinguishes the surah, 00:03:59.259 --> 00:04:02.259 because there are elements shared across multiple surahs, 00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:07.259 and there are elements unique to a surah, and it is the latter that ought to form the discussion of a surah's theme. 00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:14.259 He noted: "along with the rational discourse that occupies approximately the last third of the surah." 00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:17.259 This rational discourse is precisely what distinguishes the surah. 00:04:17.259 --> 00:04:21.259 In fact, you hardly find another surah featuring a debate structured in this specific manner, 00:04:21.259 --> 00:04:26.259 where the interrogative "Am" (or) and "Bal" (nay) are repeated so frequently as in this surah. 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:34.480 Here we ought to pause and reflect upon these rational arguments, 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:37.480 and how profoundly they affected that man while he was still a disbeliever: 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:41.480 "Were they created by nothing, or were they the creators?" along with what precedes and follows it. 00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:47.480 This rational discourse is the most prominent and distinguishing feature of the surah. 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:53.480 Therefore, its central theme is perhaps establishing the proof against them while persistently reminding them. 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:56.480 This brings us to the third point. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:03.480 The third point concerns the words of the Exalted: "Therefore remind: by the grace of your Lord, you are neither a soothsayer nor a madman." 00:05:03.480 --> 00:05:12.829 This verse comes after the reminders at the beginning of the surah, the threats, the warnings, and the promises— 00:05:12.829 --> 00:05:16.860 the punishment and the reward—whereupon He said: "Therefore remind." 00:05:16.860 --> 00:05:20.860 Continue to remind, for he is the master of all who remind, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:27.860 It is as though this verse serves as the core pivot of the surah and its ultimate purpose: 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:33.990 to persistently remind while dispelling misconceptions and establishing the definitive proofs. 00:05:33.990 --> 00:05:41.149 What precedes it is reminder, and what follows it is the substantiation of proofs and the elimination of doubts. 00:05:41.149 --> 00:05:44.149 This verse deserves a lengthy pause for reflection. 00:05:44.149 --> 00:05:47.149 My master at-Tahir ibn Ashur said concerning it: 00:05:47.149 --> 00:05:50.149 "And this noble phrase has encompassed..." 00:05:50.149 --> 00:05:54.149 meaning: "Therefore remind: by the grace of your Lord, you are neither a soothsayer nor a madman," 00:05:54.149 --> 00:05:58.149 "...qualities befitting the veneration of the one to whom it was addressed." 00:05:58.149 --> 00:06:03.180 Then he elaborated—concisely yet richly—expounding profound meanings 00:06:03.180 --> 00:06:10.180 through succinct words that cannot be adequately reproduced here or elaborated upon at length. 00:06:10.180 --> 00:06:17.180 It requires contemplation, deep understanding, study, and perhaps collective examination. 00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:19.180 I highly recommend referring to it. 00:06:19.180 --> 00:06:26.180 It serves as definitive proof of the importance of studying the Arabic language sciences in general, 00:06:26.180 --> 00:06:28.180 and the science of rhetoric (balaghah) in particular; 00:06:28.180 --> 00:06:37.220 for it is an indispensable aid in grasping the meanings of the Magnificent Qur'an, 00:06:37.220 --> 00:06:40.279 discerning its subtle secrets and fine nuances, 00:06:40.279 --> 00:06:44.279 and identifying the overarching objectives of its surahs, 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:46.279 among many other benefits that would take too long to recount. 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:48.279 I shall suffice with this much. 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:50.279 And may Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and Companions. 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:52.279 And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.