1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,600 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:32,140 "The Subtle Commentary 3 00:00:32,140 --> 00:00:35,140 on the Book of Profile Cards 4 00:00:35,140 --> 00:00:38,140 for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an" 5 00:00:38,140 --> 00:00:42,140 by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nasif, 6 00:00:42,140 --> 00:00:44,170 may Allah preserve him. 7 00:00:44,170 --> 00:00:46,170 Surah al-Ma'arij. 8 00:00:46,170 --> 00:00:51,390 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. 9 00:00:51,390 --> 00:00:54,390 We are still with "The Subtle Commentary on the Profile Cards." 10 00:00:54,390 --> 00:00:57,520 We have reached Surah al-Ma'arij, 11 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,810 and I have three reflections on it. 12 00:01:00,810 --> 00:01:02,810 The first reflection concerns its names. 13 00:01:02,810 --> 00:01:05,810 It was mentioned in the card that among its names is "al-Waqi'." 14 00:01:05,810 --> 00:01:09,939 The author said: "Because it occurs in its opening." 15 00:01:09,939 --> 00:01:12,939 Of course, what is meant is that the word *waqi'* 16 00:01:12,939 --> 00:01:14,939 occurs in its opening. 17 00:01:14,939 --> 00:01:18,939 Therefore, had it been stated: "Because the word *waqi'* occurs in its opening," 18 00:01:18,939 --> 00:01:20,939 it might have been clearer. 19 00:01:20,939 --> 00:01:23,219 Here is a beneficial insight 20 00:01:23,219 --> 00:01:25,450 from the Tafsir of Ibn 'Ashur, 21 00:01:25,450 --> 00:01:28,019 which is among the works of Tafsir that pay the greatest 22 00:01:28,019 --> 00:01:30,019 attention 23 00:01:30,019 --> 00:01:32,150 to the names of the surahs. 24 00:01:32,150 --> 00:01:34,150 In it, there are numerous pointers that might 25 00:01:34,150 --> 00:01:36,599 not be found 26 00:01:36,599 --> 00:01:38,599 in this manner in any other book, 27 00:01:38,599 --> 00:01:41,079 specifically in the introductions he provides before beginning 28 00:01:41,079 --> 00:01:43,079 the exegesis of any surah. 29 00:01:43,079 --> 00:01:45,140 He said: "These three names, 30 00:01:45,140 --> 00:01:47,750 which are: 31 00:01:47,750 --> 00:01:49,750 *al-Ma'arij*, *Sa'ala*, and *al-Waqi'*—" 32 00:01:49,750 --> 00:01:52,040 and he may also add to them 33 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:54,680 *Sa'ala Sa'il*. 34 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:56,680 Al-Tahir mentioned *Sa'ala Sa'il*, 35 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,060 *al-Ma'arij*, and *al-Waqi'*. 36 00:01:59,060 --> 00:02:01,060 He said: "These three names 37 00:02:01,060 --> 00:02:03,060 are adapted from words 38 00:02:03,060 --> 00:02:05,060 that occur at its beginning." This is 39 00:02:05,060 --> 00:02:07,060 obvious, but 40 00:02:07,060 --> 00:02:09,060 I am only quoting what I quoted in order to mention what follows it. 41 00:02:09,060 --> 00:02:11,060 He said: "And the most specific of them 42 00:02:11,060 --> 00:02:13,319 to it—" 43 00:02:13,319 --> 00:02:15,319 because the most specific of these three names 44 00:02:15,319 --> 00:02:17,319 to this surah is the phrase 45 00:02:17,319 --> 00:02:19,479 *Sa'ala Sa'il*, 46 00:02:19,479 --> 00:02:21,479 "because nothing like it occurs elsewhere; 47 00:02:21,479 --> 00:02:23,479 however, 48 00:02:23,479 --> 00:02:25,479 the dominant designation given to it became 49 00:02:25,479 --> 00:02:27,479 *Surat al-Ma'arij*, 50 00:02:27,479 --> 00:02:29,860 because it is lighter." 51 00:02:29,860 --> 00:02:31,860 Al-Tahir Ibn 'Ashur always offers subtle 52 00:02:31,860 --> 00:02:33,860 explanations. 53 00:02:33,860 --> 00:02:36,090 He says that *Sa'ala Sa'il* 54 00:02:36,090 --> 00:02:38,090 is the most distinctive phrase for this surah, 55 00:02:38,090 --> 00:02:40,340 because it is not found in any other surah, 56 00:02:40,340 --> 00:02:42,340 so it was the most deserving to be its name. 57 00:02:42,340 --> 00:02:44,340 Yet, the dominant designation given to it became 58 00:02:44,340 --> 00:02:46,340 *Surat al-Ma'arij*, which is the common name we use today. 59 00:02:46,340 --> 00:02:48,340 He said: "Because it is lighter," 60 00:02:48,340 --> 00:02:50,340 meaning lighter in pronunciation. 61 00:02:50,340 --> 00:02:52,340 One of the reasons a particular name becomes widespread 62 00:02:52,340 --> 00:02:54,340 is that it is lighter to pronounce. 63 00:02:54,340 --> 00:02:56,340 This is a subtle observation 64 00:02:56,340 --> 00:02:58,340 from Imam 65 00:02:58,340 --> 00:03:00,340 al-Tahir Ibn 'Ashur. 66 00:03:00,340 --> 00:03:02,340 The second reflection concerns its theme. 67 00:03:02,340 --> 00:03:04,340 In fact, the stated theme 68 00:03:04,340 --> 00:03:06,340 requires modification. 69 00:03:06,340 --> 00:03:08,340 It is more accurate 70 00:03:08,340 --> 00:03:10,439 to say that its theme is: 71 00:03:10,439 --> 00:03:12,439 expressing astonishment at the hastiness 72 00:03:12,439 --> 00:03:14,539 of man, and clarifying 73 00:03:14,539 --> 00:03:16,539 the remedy for 74 00:03:16,539 --> 00:03:18,699 that hastiness 75 00:03:18,699 --> 00:03:20,819 in facing the Day of Resurrection. 76 00:03:20,819 --> 00:03:22,819 The reality is that 77 00:03:22,819 --> 00:03:24,819 the two themes—the theme of hastiness 78 00:03:24,819 --> 00:03:26,819 and the theme of the Resurrection—are deeply interwoven 79 00:03:26,819 --> 00:03:28,819 in the surah, 80 00:03:28,819 --> 00:03:30,819 in a manner that can only be found 81 00:03:30,819 --> 00:03:32,819 in the Magnificent Qur'an. 82 00:03:32,819 --> 00:03:34,979 I move from this 83 00:03:34,979 --> 00:03:36,979 to the third reflection. 84 00:03:36,979 --> 00:03:38,979 Of course, the remedy is clearly evident in 85 00:03:38,979 --> 00:03:40,979 the characteristics mentioned: 86 00:03:40,979 --> 00:03:42,979 "Except the observers of prayer..." through the rest of those qualities. 87 00:03:42,979 --> 00:03:44,979 The third reflection 88 00:03:44,979 --> 00:03:46,979 is that these names— 89 00:03:46,979 --> 00:03:48,979 and *al-Ma'arij* (the Ways of Ascent) is what I will focus on— 90 00:03:48,979 --> 00:03:50,979 are part of the remedy. 91 00:03:50,979 --> 00:03:52,979 If we say that the surah speaks 92 00:03:52,979 --> 00:03:54,979 about hastiness and its remedy, 93 00:03:54,979 --> 00:03:56,979 what does that have to do with the name *al-Ma'arij*? 94 00:03:56,979 --> 00:03:58,979 *Al-Ma'arij* is part of the remedy. 95 00:03:58,979 --> 00:04:00,979 Whoever knows the Owner of the Ways of Ascent, 96 00:04:00,979 --> 00:04:02,979 Glorified and Exalted is He, 97 00:04:02,979 --> 00:04:04,979 and that the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him 98 00:04:04,979 --> 00:04:06,979 in a Day 99 00:04:06,979 --> 00:04:08,979 the measure of which is 100 00:04:08,979 --> 00:04:10,979 fifty thousand years— 101 00:04:10,979 --> 00:04:12,979 whoever conceptualizes this reality, 102 00:04:12,979 --> 00:04:14,979 his hastiness will vanish. 103 00:04:14,979 --> 00:04:16,980 "Indeed, they see it as distant, but We see it 104 00:04:16,980 --> 00:04:19,180 as near." All of this, 105 00:04:19,180 --> 00:04:21,180 along with recognizing 106 00:04:21,180 --> 00:04:23,180 the true value of the time we live in, 107 00:04:23,180 --> 00:04:25,399 and that there is no 108 00:04:25,399 --> 00:04:27,399 comparison between it and the decree 109 00:04:27,399 --> 00:04:29,399 with our Lord, Glorified and Exalted is He, 110 00:04:29,399 --> 00:04:31,399 causes man to refrain 111 00:04:31,399 --> 00:04:33,430 from haste. 112 00:04:33,430 --> 00:04:35,430 Thus, the name of the surah 113 00:04:35,430 --> 00:04:37,430 points to the greatness of Allah, 114 00:04:37,430 --> 00:04:39,430 which calls us to deliberate 115 00:04:39,430 --> 00:04:41,430 and reflect. 116 00:04:41,430 --> 00:04:43,430 Regarding *al-Ma'arij*, 117 00:04:43,430 --> 00:04:45,430 the exegetes have differed on its meaning. 118 00:04:45,430 --> 00:04:47,430 “From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways” (70:3) 119 00:04:47,430 --> 00:04:49,430 They said its meaning is the Owner of High Ranks, 120 00:04:49,430 --> 00:04:51,430 Stations, Virtues, 121 00:04:51,430 --> 00:04:53,430 and Blessings. 122 00:04:53,430 --> 00:04:55,430 I mentioned this as an explanation 123 00:04:55,430 --> 00:04:57,430 of the word's meaning; 124 00:04:57,430 --> 00:04:59,430 otherwise, His saying: "The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him" 125 00:04:59,430 --> 00:05:01,430 is what contains the explicit reminder 126 00:05:01,430 --> 00:05:03,430 that the affair 127 00:05:03,430 --> 00:05:05,430 ought not 128 00:05:05,430 --> 00:05:07,430 to be based 129 00:05:07,430 --> 00:05:09,430 upon haste. 130 00:05:09,430 --> 00:05:11,430 "The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a Day 131 00:05:11,430 --> 00:05:13,560 the measure of which is 132 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:15,689 fifty thousand years." 133 00:05:15,689 --> 00:05:17,689 We ask Allah to grant us 134 00:05:17,689 --> 00:05:19,689 proper deliberation and patience. 135 00:05:19,689 --> 00:05:21,689 And may Allah send blessings upon our Prophet 136 00:05:21,689 --> 00:05:23,689 Muhammad, and upon his family and companions 137 00:05:23,689 --> 00:05:25,689 altogether. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.