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In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

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"The Subtle Commentary

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on the Book of Profile Cards

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for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an"

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by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nasif,

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may Allah preserve him.

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Surah al-Ma'arij.

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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.

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We are still with "The Subtle Commentary on the Profile Cards."

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We have reached Surah al-Ma'arij,

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and I have three reflections on it.

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The first reflection concerns its names.

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It was mentioned in the card that among its names is "al-Waqi'."

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The author said: "Because it occurs in its opening."

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Of course, what is meant is that the word *waqi'*

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occurs in its opening.

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Therefore, had it been stated: "Because the word *waqi'* occurs in its opening,"

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it might have been clearer.

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Here is a beneficial insight

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from the Tafsir of Ibn 'Ashur,

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which is among the works of Tafsir that pay the greatest

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attention

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to the names of the surahs.

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In it, there are numerous pointers that might

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not be found

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in this manner in any other book,

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specifically in the introductions he provides before beginning

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the exegesis of any surah.

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He said: "These three names,

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which are:

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*al-Ma'arij*, *Sa'ala*, and *al-Waqi'*—"

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and he may also add to them

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*Sa'ala Sa'il*.

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Al-Tahir mentioned *Sa'ala Sa'il*,

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*al-Ma'arij*, and *al-Waqi'*.

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He said: "These three names

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are adapted from words

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that occur at its beginning." This is

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obvious, but

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I am only quoting what I quoted in order to mention what follows it.

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He said: "And the most specific of them

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to it—"

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because the most specific of these three names

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to this surah is the phrase

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*Sa'ala Sa'il*,

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"because nothing like it occurs elsewhere;

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however,

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the dominant designation given to it became

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*Surat al-Ma'arij*,

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because it is lighter."

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Al-Tahir Ibn 'Ashur always offers subtle

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explanations.

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He says that *Sa'ala Sa'il*

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is the most distinctive phrase for this surah,

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because it is not found in any other surah,

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so it was the most deserving to be its name.

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Yet, the dominant designation given to it became

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*Surat al-Ma'arij*, which is the common name we use today.

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He said: "Because it is lighter,"

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meaning lighter in pronunciation.

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One of the reasons a particular name becomes widespread

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is that it is lighter to pronounce.

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This is a subtle observation

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from Imam

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al-Tahir Ibn 'Ashur.

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The second reflection concerns its theme.

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In fact, the stated theme

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requires modification.

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It is more accurate

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to say that its theme is:

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expressing astonishment at the hastiness

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of man, and clarifying

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the remedy for

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that hastiness

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in facing the Day of Resurrection.

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The reality is that

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the two themes—the theme of hastiness

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and the theme of the Resurrection—are deeply interwoven

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in the surah,

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in a manner that can only be found

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in the Magnificent Qur'an.

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I move from this

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to the third reflection.

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Of course, the remedy is clearly evident in

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the characteristics mentioned:

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"Except the observers of prayer..." through the rest of those qualities.

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The third reflection

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is that these names—

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and *al-Ma'arij* (the Ways of Ascent) is what I will focus on—

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are part of the remedy.

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If we say that the surah speaks

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about hastiness and its remedy,

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what does that have to do with the name *al-Ma'arij*?

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*Al-Ma'arij* is part of the remedy.

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Whoever knows the Owner of the Ways of Ascent,

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Glorified and Exalted is He,

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and that the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him

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in a Day

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the measure of which is

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fifty thousand years—

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whoever conceptualizes this reality,

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his hastiness will vanish.

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"Indeed, they see it as distant, but We see it

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as near." All of this,

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along with recognizing

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the true value of the time we live in,

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and that there is no

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comparison between it and the decree

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with our Lord, Glorified and Exalted is He,

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causes man to refrain

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from haste.

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Thus, the name of the surah

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points to the greatness of Allah,

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which calls us to deliberate

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and reflect.

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Regarding *al-Ma'arij*,

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the exegetes have differed on its meaning.

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“From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways” (70:3)

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They said its meaning is the Owner of High Ranks,

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Stations, Virtues,

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and Blessings.

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I mentioned this as an explanation

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of the word's meaning;

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otherwise, His saying: "The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him"

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is what contains the explicit reminder

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that the affair

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ought not

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to be based

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upon haste.

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"The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a Day

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the measure of which is

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fifty thousand years."

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We ask Allah to grant us

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proper deliberation and patience.

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And may Allah send blessings upon our Prophet

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Muhammad, and upon his family and companions

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altogether. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.