1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,700 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 2 00:00:03,399 --> 00:00:37,479 "The Gentle Commentary on the Identification Cards for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an," 3 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:43,380 by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nasif, may Allah preserve him. 4 00:00:44,659 --> 00:00:46,320 Surah Yunus. 5 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,659 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 6 00:00:48,659 --> 00:00:51,359 All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. 7 00:00:51,359 --> 00:00:54,600 We are continuing with the gentle commentary on the identification cards, 8 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,439 and this segment is dedicated to Surah Yunus. 9 00:00:58,439 --> 00:01:01,280 With it, Allah willing, I will make three pauses. 10 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,280 The first pause concerns the opening of the Surah. 11 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:09,040 Regarding the openings, it was stated in the introduction that the primary reference for them is *al-Itqan*. 12 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,459 Indeed, the primary reference for them is the book *al-Itqan*, because it mentioned— 13 00:01:13,459 --> 00:01:15,519 citing those who came before him— 14 00:01:15,519 --> 00:01:18,620 that the openings of the Surahs are of ten types. 15 00:01:19,379 --> 00:01:24,540 In truth, this was not merely a primary reference; rather, the total reliance was upon this book 16 00:01:24,540 --> 00:01:28,439 and upon this classification. 17 00:01:28,439 --> 00:01:33,719 Here, I pause at what was written concerning Surah Yunus: 18 00:01:33,719 --> 00:01:36,920 that it opens with the disjoined letters in general, 19 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,519 and specifically, it opens with *Alif-Lam-Ra*. 20 00:01:40,519 --> 00:01:44,129 Now, words were omitted here, 21 00:01:44,129 --> 00:01:47,129 namely that other Surahs share with it 22 00:01:47,129 --> 00:01:50,359 this opening of *Alif-Lam-Ra*, 23 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:55,120 which are Surahs Hud, Yusuf, Ibrahim, 24 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,120 and al-Hijr. 25 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:02,400 Some scholars also append to them—as will come in the hadith— 26 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,400 Surah ar-Ra'd, because it is mentioned in the hadith: "Recite three 27 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,400 of those beginning with *Alif-Lam-Ra*." This hadith 28 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,629 is cited in the book under the virtues of Surah Yunus. 29 00:02:12,629 --> 00:02:15,629 The benefit gained from this is that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 30 00:02:15,629 --> 00:02:21,009 directed us toward learning the Surahs with similar openings together. 31 00:02:21,770 --> 00:02:24,770 Therefore, it would be fitting here, as in every place in the book— 32 00:02:24,770 --> 00:02:27,800 and this is what I preferred— 33 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,800 to clarify that this Surah shares its opening with such-and-such Surah. 34 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,900 This is better than such brevity, 35 00:02:34,900 --> 00:02:37,900 though a reader could certainly research and find out. 36 00:02:37,900 --> 00:02:42,159 Of course, whoever has not memorized the Surahs might not know or recall 37 00:02:42,159 --> 00:02:45,539 the Surahs that begin with *Alif-Lam-Ra*. 38 00:02:45,539 --> 00:02:48,830 Thus, it is preferable to state them explicitly. 39 00:02:49,590 --> 00:02:52,590 As I noted, the Prophet, peace be upon him, guided us to learn them together; 40 00:02:52,590 --> 00:02:55,590 he mentioned that regarding those beginning with *Alif-Lam-Ra*, and he mentioned it regarding 41 00:02:55,590 --> 00:02:59,129 those that begin with *Ha-Mim*, 42 00:02:59,129 --> 00:03:02,199 and he mentioned *al-Musabbihat*. 43 00:03:02,199 --> 00:03:05,199 This does not preclude the same being true for others; 44 00:03:05,199 --> 00:03:08,199 rather, it indicates 45 00:03:08,199 --> 00:03:11,199 that Surahs opening with a similar beginning 46 00:03:11,199 --> 00:03:14,199 have an interrelationship, and it is beneficial 47 00:03:14,199 --> 00:03:17,259 to study a group of them together, 48 00:03:18,310 --> 00:03:21,370 as in the phrase: "three of those beginning with *Alif-Lam-Ra*." 49 00:03:21,370 --> 00:03:24,370 This is something to be kept in mind across the remaining Surahs of the Qur'an. 50 00:03:24,370 --> 00:03:27,370 Whenever you find "O you who have believed" 51 00:03:27,370 --> 00:03:30,469 at the beginning of two Surahs, then look and reflect 52 00:03:30,469 --> 00:03:33,469 upon what connects them, and the complementarity 53 00:03:33,469 --> 00:03:36,469 that occurs between them, and so forth. 54 00:03:36,469 --> 00:03:39,849 The second issue 55 00:03:39,849 --> 00:03:42,919 in Surah Yunus: you will find 56 00:03:42,919 --> 00:03:46,199 in the order of the Surah's revelation—which I suggested 57 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,960 should include a note on the date of revelation— 58 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:52,960 that its chronological order is placed in the fifties, 59 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,960 which, according to the well-known view as we agreed, 60 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,960 means it was revealed after al-Isra' and before Hud. 61 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,960 Then they said: "In it, there is address directed to the polytheists 62 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,960 which may suggest..." It is this phrase that I wish to pause upon. 63 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,960 Why this hesitation? Why did I not say, 64 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,960 "And in it is that which proves a late revelation"? 65 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,960 "Which may suggest"—this indicates 66 00:04:14,719 --> 00:04:17,720 that the matter is an inference, not based upon an explicit, unambiguous proof. 67 00:04:19,949 --> 00:04:23,139 For the issue of dating revelation 68 00:04:23,139 --> 00:04:26,139 requires historical reports 69 00:04:26,139 --> 00:04:29,519 that point to it. 70 00:04:29,519 --> 00:04:32,519 Thus, if you find that the reports indicate that Surah 71 00:04:32,519 --> 00:04:35,519 al-Anfal was revealed regarding the Battle of Badr, 72 00:04:35,519 --> 00:04:38,720 and you find the discourse in the Surah 73 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,720 speaking about the Battle of Badr, I know that it was revealed close 74 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,910 to the Battle of Badr. 75 00:04:45,670 --> 00:04:48,670 In Meccan Surahs, however, I generally do not find such historical reports; 76 00:04:48,670 --> 00:04:51,670 rather, I infer it from the discourse itself. 77 00:04:51,670 --> 00:04:54,699 The discourse shows severity toward the disbelievers 78 00:04:54,699 --> 00:04:58,240 and an extended disputation with them. 79 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,240 This firmness is apparent in the stories 80 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,240 that are mentioned, which are only recounted 81 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:08,269 so that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, might take solace, 82 00:05:08,269 --> 00:05:11,430 so that the Prophet, peace be upon him, might emulate 83 00:05:11,430 --> 00:05:14,430 the prophets before them. 84 00:05:15,189 --> 00:05:18,189 They are reminded of Allah's signs: "Upon Allah I have relied, 85 00:05:18,189 --> 00:05:21,189 so resolve upon your plan and call upon your associates, and let not 86 00:05:21,189 --> 00:05:24,319 your plan be an obscurity to you"—in this there is immense power. 87 00:05:24,319 --> 00:05:27,319 Numerous are the verses I am referring to. 88 00:05:27,319 --> 00:05:30,509 The second aspect is the prolonged engagement in debate 89 00:05:30,509 --> 00:05:33,509 with the disbelievers, which suggests that it was not an early 90 00:05:33,509 --> 00:05:36,920 revelation. This, then, is the reason for 91 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,920 the phrasing: "which may suggest a later revelation." 92 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,920 One cannot assert late revelation definitively, but rather it may 93 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,680 suggest that; and by this I mean 94 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,680 that the matter is plausible. 95 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:52,680 I also mean to draw attention toward studying this 96 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,680 and delving deeply into it, so that a reflecting, 97 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,680 contemplating researcher might find that which corroborates 98 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,680 this proposition or refutes it. 99 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,360 The third and final pause concerns the thematic sections 100 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:08,389 of the Surah. As you can see, 101 00:06:08,389 --> 00:06:11,839 the Surah was divided into two sections and a conclusion: 102 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,600 a section establishing the proof against those who doubt the Qur'an, 103 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,600 and a section speaking about the Qur'an itself. 104 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,600 Here, I would like to recall the well-known maxim: 105 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,850 "Emptying comes before adorning." 106 00:06:24,850 --> 00:06:27,850 Establishing the proof against those who doubt the Qur'an 107 00:06:27,850 --> 00:06:30,949 acts as an emptying and a removal of doubts, 108 00:06:30,949 --> 00:06:34,170 followed by the adorning through the mention of the Qur'an. 109 00:06:34,170 --> 00:06:37,170 In it, there is a verse that warrants a long pause: 110 00:06:37,170 --> 00:06:40,170 “O mankind! There hath come unto you an exhortation from your Lord, a balm for that which is in the breasts, a guidance and a mercy for believers.” (10:57) 111 00:06:40,930 --> 00:06:43,930 "and a healing for what is in the breasts, 112 00:06:43,930 --> 00:06:47,029 and guidance and mercy for the believers." 113 00:06:47,029 --> 00:06:50,029 We also find that the Surah's conclusion returns to what preceded, 114 00:06:50,029 --> 00:06:53,029 reiterating the negation of doubt, 115 00:06:53,029 --> 00:06:56,029 emphasizing the imperative of seeking guidance through the Qur'an, 116 00:06:56,029 --> 00:06:59,319 and granting steadfastness to the Master of the Messengers, 117 00:06:59,319 --> 00:07:02,319 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 118 00:07:02,319 --> 00:07:05,319 What has been mentioned suffices regarding this magnificent Surah. 119 00:07:05,319 --> 00:07:08,319 I ask Allah for myself and for you [all goodness]. 120 00:07:08,319 --> 00:07:10,079 All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.