1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,759 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 2 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:32,299 Gentle Commentary 3 00:00:32,299 --> 00:00:35,299 on the book *Profile Cards 4 00:00:35,299 --> 00:00:38,299 of 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 --> 00:00:46,329 Surah az-Zumar. 8 00:00:46,329 --> 00:00:50,829 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 00:00:50,829 --> 00:00:53,329 We continue with our gentle commentary 10 00:00:53,329 --> 00:00:57,549 on the profile cards, and we have reached Surah az-Zumar. 11 00:00:57,549 --> 00:01:00,549 The first point of reflection concerns the reasons for the revelation of this surah. 12 00:01:00,549 --> 00:01:03,649 It is stated in the book 13 00:01:03,649 --> 00:01:05,650 that the surah has two reasons for revelation, 14 00:01:05,650 --> 00:01:07,650 which portray an aspect of the Prophetic mission. 15 00:01:07,650 --> 00:01:11,650 The first of the two reasons was already mentioned 16 00:01:11,650 --> 00:01:13,650 in Surah Yusuf, 17 00:01:13,650 --> 00:01:15,650 and I would like to recite this reason 18 00:01:15,650 --> 00:01:17,650 in this first point of reflection 19 00:01:17,650 --> 00:01:22,030 and benefit from it in the second point, if Allah wills. 20 00:01:22,030 --> 00:01:24,030 Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas said— 21 00:01:24,030 --> 00:01:29,030 and it is well known that he was among the Companions who embraced Islam early— 22 00:01:29,030 --> 00:01:31,030 may Allah be pleased with him, said: 23 00:01:31,030 --> 00:01:36,030 "The Qur'an was revealed to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 24 00:01:36,030 --> 00:01:39,030 and he recited it to them for a period of time. 25 00:01:39,030 --> 00:01:41,030 So they said, 'O Messenger of Allah, 26 00:01:41,030 --> 00:01:43,030 if only you would narrate stories to us!' 27 00:01:43,030 --> 00:01:46,260 So Allah, Mighty and Majestic, revealed: 28 00:01:46,260 --> 00:01:48,260 ◁Alif, Lam, Ra.▷ 29 00:01:48,260 --> 00:01:51,260 ◁These are the verses of the clear Book.▷" 30 00:01:51,260 --> 00:01:53,420 He recited up to the verse: 31 00:01:53,420 --> 00:01:56,420 “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) 32 00:01:56,420 --> 00:01:58,480 ◁...the best of stories...▷ 33 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:00,480 He continued: "Then he recited it to them for a period of time, 34 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:02,480 and they said, 'O Messenger of Allah, 35 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,480 if only you would relate discourses to us!' 36 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:06,480 So Allah, Mighty and Majestic, revealed: 37 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:10,479 “Allah hath (now) revealed the fairest of statements, a Scripture consistent, (wherein promises of reward are) paired (with threats of punishment), whereat doth creep the flesh of those who fear their Lord, so that their flesh and their hearts soften to Allah's reminder. Such is Allah's guidance, wherewith He guideth whom He will. And him whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.” (39:23) 38 00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:12,479 ◁...a consistent Book...▷" 39 00:02:12,479 --> 00:02:14,580 to the end of the verse, 40 00:02:14,580 --> 00:02:19,469 wherein they are directed to the Qur'an. 41 00:02:19,469 --> 00:02:21,469 I wanted to pause at this hadith 42 00:02:21,469 --> 00:02:23,789 because I had stopped 43 00:02:23,789 --> 00:02:25,789 for a few days 44 00:02:25,789 --> 00:02:27,789 from recording the gentle commentary due to other preoccupations. 45 00:02:27,789 --> 00:02:29,789 And I wanted to say 46 00:02:29,789 --> 00:02:31,789 that a person should never 47 00:02:31,789 --> 00:02:34,789 cease clinging to the Qur'an, 48 00:02:34,789 --> 00:02:36,789 nor cease reciting the Qur'an, 49 00:02:36,789 --> 00:02:38,789 nor cease returning to the Qur'an. 50 00:02:38,789 --> 00:02:41,789 The point is not merely to go through this book, 51 00:02:41,789 --> 00:02:44,860 or through an exhaustive work of Tafsir, 52 00:02:44,860 --> 00:02:46,860 and consider the matter finished. 53 00:02:46,860 --> 00:02:48,860 Neither upon this brief book 54 00:02:48,860 --> 00:02:50,860 nor upon the lengthiest work of Tafsir 55 00:02:50,860 --> 00:02:52,860 should your reliance be, 56 00:02:52,860 --> 00:02:54,860 such that you stop 57 00:02:54,860 --> 00:02:56,860 seeking to comprehend 58 00:02:56,860 --> 00:02:58,860 the Book of Allah, 59 00:02:58,860 --> 00:03:01,340 gaining knowledge of the Book of Allah, 60 00:03:01,340 --> 00:03:03,340 and pondering the Book of Allah. 61 00:03:03,340 --> 00:03:06,340 For it is truly a lifelong endeavor, 62 00:03:06,340 --> 00:03:08,340 without a doubt. 63 00:03:08,340 --> 00:03:10,340 In fact, I believe 64 00:03:10,340 --> 00:03:12,340 that after every 65 00:03:12,340 --> 00:03:14,340 commentary on a surah, 66 00:03:14,340 --> 00:03:16,340 it is highly recommended 67 00:03:16,340 --> 00:03:18,340 to at least recite the surah 68 00:03:18,340 --> 00:03:20,340 once or twice, 69 00:03:20,340 --> 00:03:22,340 and reciting it more is even better. 70 00:03:22,340 --> 00:03:24,340 Spend a few days with it, 71 00:03:24,340 --> 00:03:25,340 contemplating it, 72 00:03:25,340 --> 00:03:27,340 so that between you and it there develops 73 00:03:27,340 --> 00:03:29,340 a heartfelt bond 74 00:03:29,340 --> 00:03:30,340 and an affection 75 00:03:30,340 --> 00:03:32,340 that compels you to recite it 76 00:03:32,340 --> 00:03:34,430 and makes you sense its immense value. 77 00:03:34,430 --> 00:03:36,430 That is what is required. 78 00:03:36,430 --> 00:03:38,430 Otherwise, 79 00:03:38,430 --> 00:03:40,430 once Allah brings 80 00:03:40,430 --> 00:03:42,500 this gentle commentary to completion, 81 00:03:42,500 --> 00:03:44,500 one should not imagine 82 00:03:44,500 --> 00:03:46,500 that spending seven minutes on each 83 00:03:46,500 --> 00:03:48,500 surah, or five minutes, 84 00:03:48,500 --> 00:03:50,500 which can all be listened to in a single day 85 00:03:50,500 --> 00:03:51,500 if gathered together, 86 00:03:51,500 --> 00:03:53,500 or listened to in a day or two, 87 00:03:53,500 --> 00:03:55,500 means one simply says, "Praise be to Allah"— 88 00:03:55,500 --> 00:03:57,750 of course one says, "Praise be to Allah," 89 00:03:57,750 --> 00:03:58,750 and it is indeed a blessing— 90 00:03:58,750 --> 00:03:59,750 but one must not settle for that, 91 00:03:59,750 --> 00:04:00,750 nor say, "Praise be to Allah, 92 00:04:00,750 --> 00:04:02,750 we have done enough and learned the surahs of the Qur'an." 93 00:04:02,750 --> 00:04:04,750 Rather, it is merely the opening of a door, 94 00:04:04,750 --> 00:04:06,750 which I ask Allah to make blessed, 95 00:04:06,750 --> 00:04:08,750 good, and a source of light. 96 00:04:08,750 --> 00:04:09,750 However, 97 00:04:09,750 --> 00:04:11,750 know that the closer 98 00:04:11,750 --> 00:04:13,750 you draw to the Qur'an, 99 00:04:13,750 --> 00:04:15,750 the more you will benefit from it, 100 00:04:15,750 --> 00:04:17,750 and that nothing can substitute for you 101 00:04:17,750 --> 00:04:19,750 in place of the Qur'an, 102 00:04:19,750 --> 00:04:21,980 whereas the Qur'an suffices you above all else. 103 00:04:21,980 --> 00:04:23,980 This is the first point of reflection. 104 00:04:23,980 --> 00:04:25,980 And from this reason for revelation, we arrive 105 00:04:25,980 --> 00:04:27,980 at the second point of reflection, for you find 106 00:04:27,980 --> 00:04:29,980 that there is mentioned 107 00:04:29,980 --> 00:04:31,980 in this narration 108 00:04:31,980 --> 00:04:34,170 a verse from Surah Yusuf 109 00:04:34,170 --> 00:04:36,550 and a verse from Surah az-Zumar. 110 00:04:36,550 --> 00:04:38,550 We can therefore add, 111 00:04:38,550 --> 00:04:40,550 regarding the chronology of the surah's revelation, 112 00:04:40,550 --> 00:04:42,970 that a portion 113 00:04:42,970 --> 00:04:44,970 of Surah az-Zumar— 114 00:04:44,970 --> 00:04:46,970 some of its verses—was revealed 115 00:04:46,970 --> 00:04:48,970 after the beginning of Surah Yusuf, 116 00:04:48,970 --> 00:04:50,970 “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) 117 00:04:50,970 --> 00:04:52,970 as the opening of Yusuf was revealed 118 00:04:52,970 --> 00:04:55,160 prior to these verses from 119 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,160 Surah az-Zumar. 120 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:59,160 This is beneficial 121 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,160 in determining the order of revelation, though we cannot 122 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,160 state that the entirety of Surah 123 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,160 az-Zumar was revealed before 124 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,160 the entirety of Surah Yusuf. 125 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,160 Rather, what we deduce 126 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,160 is only that which has reached us 127 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,160 clearly in the narration. 128 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,319 As for the third 129 00:05:15,319 --> 00:05:17,319 and final point of reflection, 130 00:05:17,319 --> 00:05:19,319 if you examine the central theme of Surah az-Zumar, 131 00:05:19,319 --> 00:05:21,639 you will find that, 132 00:05:21,639 --> 00:05:23,769 alongside 133 00:05:23,769 --> 00:05:25,769 the surah's call to tawhid— 134 00:05:25,769 --> 00:05:27,769 which is evident in: ◁The revelation 135 00:05:27,769 --> 00:05:29,769 of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. 136 00:05:29,769 --> 00:05:31,769 Indeed, We have revealed to you the Book in truth, 137 00:05:31,769 --> 00:05:33,769 so worship Allah, sincere to Him in religion▷— 138 00:05:33,769 --> 00:05:35,800 “Surely pure religion is for Allah only. And those who choose protecting friends beside Him (say): We worship them only that they may bring us near unto Allah. Lo! Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Lo! Allah guideth not him who is a liar, an ingrate.” (39:3) 139 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,800 the establishment of creed in Surah 140 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:39,800 az-Zumar, the greatest foundation of which 141 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:41,800 is the tawhid of Allah, Glorified 142 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:43,860 and Exalted, 143 00:05:43,860 --> 00:05:45,860 contains another prominent theme. 144 00:05:45,860 --> 00:05:47,860 This theme corresponds to the surah's name on one hand, 145 00:05:47,860 --> 00:05:49,860 and is equally essential for whoever wishes 146 00:05:49,860 --> 00:05:51,860 to realize pure tawhid: 147 00:05:51,860 --> 00:05:53,860 it is the contrast between the believers 148 00:05:53,860 --> 00:05:55,860 and the disbelievers in their worldly state 149 00:05:55,860 --> 00:05:58,410 and in their ultimate destiny. 150 00:05:58,410 --> 00:06:00,410 This explicit emphasis 151 00:06:00,410 --> 00:06:02,410 on their worldly state is crucial. 152 00:06:02,410 --> 00:06:04,410 Some people assume, 153 00:06:04,410 --> 00:06:06,410 regarding the difference between the disbeliever and the believer, 154 00:06:06,410 --> 00:06:08,410 that the believer enters Paradise, 155 00:06:08,410 --> 00:06:10,500 and even if he enters the Fire beforehand, 156 00:06:10,500 --> 00:06:12,540 he ultimately enters Paradise 157 00:06:12,540 --> 00:06:14,540 and abides therein eternally, 158 00:06:14,540 --> 00:06:16,540 while the disbeliever abides eternally in the Fire. 159 00:06:16,540 --> 00:06:18,540 This is indeed a distinction, but it concerns their ultimate destiny. 160 00:06:18,540 --> 00:06:20,660 Verses have occurred in the surah, 161 00:06:20,660 --> 00:06:22,660 especially toward its end, 162 00:06:22,660 --> 00:06:24,660 indicating the contrast between the two groups 163 00:06:24,660 --> 00:06:26,660 in their ultimate destiny; however, 164 00:06:26,660 --> 00:06:28,660 between them 165 00:06:28,660 --> 00:06:30,790 lies a profound difference in their worldly state as well. 166 00:06:30,790 --> 00:06:32,790 An example of this is His saying: 167 00:06:32,790 --> 00:06:34,790 ◁Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, 168 00:06:34,790 --> 00:06:36,790 prostrating and standing in prayer, fearing▷ 169 00:06:36,790 --> 00:06:38,790 “Is he who payeth adoration in the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, bewaring of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, (to be accounted equal with a disbeliever)? Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed.” (39:9) 170 00:06:38,790 --> 00:06:40,790 the Hereafter? And His saying, Glorified is He: 171 00:06:40,790 --> 00:06:42,790 ◁So is one whose breast Allah has expanded 172 00:06:42,790 --> 00:06:44,790 to Islam 173 00:06:44,790 --> 00:06:46,790 and he is upon a light 174 00:06:46,790 --> 00:06:48,860 from his Lord?▷ 175 00:06:48,860 --> 00:06:50,860 Thus the surah draws these contrasts. 176 00:06:50,860 --> 00:06:52,860 These contrasts, as I have said, 177 00:06:52,860 --> 00:06:54,860 are exceedingly vital; it is essential for a Muslim 178 00:06:54,860 --> 00:06:56,860 to know who he is, 179 00:06:56,860 --> 00:06:58,860 and to recognize who the non-Muslim is. 180 00:06:58,860 --> 00:07:00,949 Thereupon, 181 00:07:00,949 --> 00:07:02,949 he feels honored by his Islam, 182 00:07:02,949 --> 00:07:04,949 rejoices in his Islam, 183 00:07:04,949 --> 00:07:06,949 and strives to rescue the disbeliever 184 00:07:06,949 --> 00:07:08,949 from the plight he is in. 185 00:07:08,949 --> 00:07:11,139 He could never envy him, 186 00:07:11,139 --> 00:07:13,139 ever, 187 00:07:13,139 --> 00:07:15,139 nor would he say, 188 00:07:15,139 --> 00:07:17,139 as some Muslims say 189 00:07:17,139 --> 00:07:19,139 out of sheer ignorance and heedlessness: 190 00:07:19,139 --> 00:07:21,529 "How fortunate they are, enjoying this worldly life!" 191 00:07:21,529 --> 00:07:23,529 For such a person fails to realize that the true pleasure of this life 192 00:07:23,529 --> 00:07:25,529 and the Hereafter is attained solely 193 00:07:25,529 --> 00:07:27,529 through obedience to Allah, Glorified and Exalted; 194 00:07:27,529 --> 00:07:29,720 true delight lies solely 195 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,720 in obeying Allah, Glorified and Exalted, 196 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,720 and finding tranquility in Him. 197 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:35,720 Indeed, the distinction between the believer and the disbeliever 198 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,720 is a recurring theme 199 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,720 throughout the Qur'an, 200 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:41,720 and it recurs frequently within this surah. 201 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:43,720 I noted that the surah's name points 202 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:45,720 to this, as it is titled 203 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:47,720 *az-Zumar* (The Throngs). It is true that the throngs are mentioned 204 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:49,720 at the end of the surah: 205 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:51,720 "And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell 206 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:53,720 in groups, and those who feared their Lord will be driven 207 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:55,720 to Paradise in groups"— 208 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,720 that is, in crowds. However, 209 00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:59,720 it was mentioned in the surah amid these contrasts, 210 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,490 some of which I have already noted. 211 00:08:02,490 --> 00:08:04,490 Ibn Kathir hinted at 212 00:08:04,490 --> 00:08:06,490 a particular meaning of "in groups" (zumar). 213 00:08:06,490 --> 00:08:08,490 Regarding the verse, "And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell 214 00:08:08,490 --> 00:08:10,490 in groups," he saw its counterpart 215 00:08:10,490 --> 00:08:12,490 or likeness 216 00:08:12,490 --> 00:08:14,490 in what appears in other verses, such as 217 00:08:14,490 --> 00:08:16,490 the words of Allah the Exalted: "Gather those who wronged 218 00:08:16,490 --> 00:08:18,490 and their kinds," 219 00:08:18,490 --> 00:08:20,490 and His words: "And when the souls 220 00:08:20,490 --> 00:08:22,490 are paired." This was an allusion from him 221 00:08:22,490 --> 00:08:24,490 to these verses, even if he did not cite them explicitly, 222 00:08:24,490 --> 00:08:26,490 meaning that the disbelievers 223 00:08:26,490 --> 00:08:28,519 are gathered in groups. 224 00:08:28,519 --> 00:08:30,519 As for the righteous: "And those who feared 225 00:08:30,519 --> 00:08:32,519 their Lord will be driven"—which is where 226 00:08:32,519 --> 00:08:34,519 Ibn Kathir explained the crowds in this manner— 227 00:08:34,519 --> 00:08:36,519 “And those who keep their duty to their Lord are driven unto the Garden in troops till, when they reach it, and the gates thereof are opened, and the warders thereof say unto them: Peace be unto you! Ye are good, so enter ye (the Garden of delight), to dwell therein;” (39:73) 228 00:08:36,519 --> 00:08:38,519 "to Paradise in groups," 229 00:08:38,519 --> 00:08:40,519 he noted: the exceptionally righteous, 230 00:08:40,519 --> 00:08:42,519 then the devout, or as he phrased it, 231 00:08:42,519 --> 00:08:44,519 may Allah have mercy on him, 232 00:08:44,519 --> 00:08:46,519 categorized according to their deeds— 233 00:08:46,519 --> 00:08:48,519 in groups based on their righteous 234 00:08:48,519 --> 00:08:50,549 deeds, 235 00:08:50,549 --> 00:08:52,549 just as the former are in groups according to 236 00:08:52,549 --> 00:08:54,549 their misguidance. 237 00:08:54,549 --> 00:08:56,549 We ask Allah to make us among those gathered 238 00:08:56,549 --> 00:08:58,549 to Paradise in groups. 239 00:08:58,549 --> 00:09:00,549 “And those who keep their duty to their Lord are driven unto the Garden in troops till, when they reach it, and the gates thereof are opened, and the warders thereof say unto them: Peace be unto you! Ye are good, so enter ye (the Garden of delight), to dwell therein;” (39:73) 240 00:09:00,549 --> 00:09:02,740 "And its keepers will say to them, 241 00:09:02,740 --> 00:09:04,740 'Peace be upon you; 242 00:09:04,740 --> 00:09:06,740 you have done well, so enter it to abide eternally.'" 243 00:09:06,740 --> 00:09:08,740 O Allah, admit us into Paradise 244 00:09:08,740 --> 00:09:10,740 without reckoning or punishment. 245 00:09:10,740 --> 00:09:12,740 And may Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, 246 00:09:12,740 --> 00:09:14,740 and upon all his family and Companions. 247 00:09:14,740 --> 00:09:16,740 All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.