WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.580 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:02.740 --> 00:00:31.579 The commentary series titled "Al-Ta'liq al-Latif 00:00:31.579 --> 00:00:35.079 'ala Kitab Bitaqat al-Ta'rif 00:00:35.079 --> 00:00:38.060 bi-Suwar al-Mushaf al-Sharif" 00:00:38.060 --> 00:00:40.840 by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:43.280 Ibn 'Umar Nasif. 00:00:44.200 --> 00:00:45.679 Surah al-Ahqaf. 00:00:46.390 --> 00:00:48.530 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:48.530 --> 00:00:49.950 Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings 00:00:49.950 --> 00:00:51.770 be upon the Messenger of Allah. 00:00:51.770 --> 00:00:53.210 We continue with our gentle commentary 00:00:53.210 --> 00:00:55.509 on the introductory profile cards of the Qur'an. 00:00:55.509 --> 00:00:57.509 We have reached Surah al-Ahqaf, 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:00.640 and concerning it, I have three points of reflection. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:02.640 The first point 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:04.640 relates to the second reason 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:06.640 for revelation referred to in his statement: 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:08.640 "The second requires 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:10.640 compiling and critically reconciling the narrations 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:12.640 alongside the verses of Surah al-Jinn." 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:15.280 A reason for revelation was reported concerning 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:17.439 the words of Allah the Exalted: 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:19.439 "And [mention] when We directed to you a group of the jinn..." 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:21.659 And Surah al-Jinn 00:01:21.659 --> 00:01:23.659 likewise 00:01:23.659 --> 00:01:25.659 has an occasion of revelation; between the two occasions 00:01:25.659 --> 00:01:27.659 are both similarities and differences. 00:01:27.659 --> 00:01:29.980 Hence, it requires— 00:01:29.980 --> 00:01:31.980 as I pointed out—a dedicated, 00:01:31.980 --> 00:01:34.019 specific study 00:01:34.019 --> 00:01:36.019 that examines 00:01:36.019 --> 00:01:38.019 the meeting of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 00:01:38.019 --> 00:01:40.019 with the jinn, or—excuse me— 00:01:40.019 --> 00:01:42.019 the jinn's listening to the Prophet (peace be upon him), 00:01:42.019 --> 00:01:44.019 and its connection to both of these surahs. 00:01:44.019 --> 00:01:46.049 This is also 00:01:46.049 --> 00:01:48.049 beneficial for 00:01:48.049 --> 00:01:50.049 determining the chronology of revelation, as I noted 00:01:50.049 --> 00:01:52.299 in the discussion on the dating 00:01:52.299 --> 00:01:55.069 of the surah's revelation. 00:01:55.069 --> 00:01:57.069 The second point concerns the context and placement 00:01:57.069 --> 00:01:59.140 of the narrative of the jinn 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:01.359 within this surah. 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:03.359 It will become evident that 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:05.359 the surah primarily addresses the disbelievers, 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:07.359 threatening and warning them in the first place. 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:09.360 Yet the jinn 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:11.360 are mentioned within it, and therefore you find 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:13.389 regarding the surah's overarching theme 00:02:13.389 --> 00:02:15.389 that among its topics 00:02:15.389 --> 00:02:17.389 is refuting those who turn away, 00:02:17.389 --> 00:02:19.389 warning them, and presenting examples 00:02:19.389 --> 00:02:21.389 of their past counterparts— 00:02:21.389 --> 00:02:23.490 which is what Allah mentioned 00:02:23.490 --> 00:02:25.490 in the story of 'Ad 00:02:25.490 --> 00:02:27.490 with their people 00:02:27.490 --> 00:02:29.550 at al-Ahqaf (the sand dunes)— 00:02:29.550 --> 00:02:31.550 as well as those who differed from them, 00:02:31.550 --> 00:02:33.550 meaning those who took a contrasting path and answered 00:02:33.550 --> 00:02:35.550 the call of faith. 00:02:35.550 --> 00:02:37.710 Thus, the story of the jinn was brought in 00:02:37.710 --> 00:02:39.710 to combine encouragement and warning (targhib and tarhib). 00:02:39.710 --> 00:02:41.710 Just as Allah cautioned them 00:02:41.710 --> 00:02:43.710 through the mention of 'Ad and al-Ahqaf, 00:02:43.710 --> 00:02:45.710 He also encouraged them and drew their attention 00:02:45.710 --> 00:02:47.710 to the path of true guidance 00:02:47.710 --> 00:02:49.710 which the jinn traversed. 00:02:49.710 --> 00:02:51.870 This is a wonderfully subtle 00:02:51.870 --> 00:02:53.870 da'wah methodology, without doubt, 00:02:53.870 --> 00:02:55.870 from which callers to Islam should actively benefit. 00:02:55.870 --> 00:02:57.870 As for the third and final point, 00:02:57.870 --> 00:02:59.870 it is that 00:02:59.870 --> 00:03:01.870 the surah is identifiable 00:03:01.870 --> 00:03:03.870 from its beginning 00:03:03.870 --> 00:03:05.870 and its conclusion as being 00:03:05.870 --> 00:03:07.870 primarily concerned with the disbelievers, 00:03:07.870 --> 00:03:09.870 this being among its most prominent themes. 00:03:09.870 --> 00:03:11.900 As I noted, look at 00:03:11.900 --> 00:03:13.900 its opening: "Ha, Meem. The revelation 00:03:13.900 --> 00:03:15.900 of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:17.900 We did not create the heavens and the earth 00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:19.900 and what is between them except in truth 00:03:19.900 --> 00:03:21.900 and for a specified term. But those who disbelieve, 00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:23.900 from that of which they are warned, are turning away." 00:03:23.900 --> 00:03:25.900 And this brings to mind 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:27.900 Surah Ghafir, Fussilat, 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:29.900 and al-Dukhan, 00:03:29.900 --> 00:03:32.099 and some of this also occurs 00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:34.099 in al-Jathiyah, regarding the stance of the disbelievers 00:03:34.099 --> 00:03:36.099 toward the Qur'an after the praise 00:03:36.099 --> 00:03:38.099 of this Mighty 00:03:38.099 --> 00:03:40.099 Book. And at the end of the surah: 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:42.099 "[This is] a notification. And will any be destroyed 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:44.099 except the defiantly disobedient people?" 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:46.099 Thus, it can be added 00:03:46.099 --> 00:03:48.129 to the central theme of the surah 00:03:48.129 --> 00:03:50.129 that among the clearest indicators of its theme 00:03:50.129 --> 00:03:52.129 are its opening 00:03:52.129 --> 00:03:54.129 and its closing. This is frequent 00:03:54.129 --> 00:03:56.129 in the Qur'an; al-Biqa'i attempted 00:03:56.129 --> 00:03:58.129 to apply this across every single surah of the Qur'an 00:03:58.129 --> 00:04:00.129 and to correlate the end 00:04:00.129 --> 00:04:02.129 of each surah with its beginning. 00:04:02.129 --> 00:04:04.129 I ask Allah for success for everyone. 00:04:04.129 --> 00:04:06.129 May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad 00:04:06.129 --> 00:04:08.129 and upon all his family and Companions. 00:04:08.129 --> 00:04:10.129 And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.