1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,600 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:32,140 A gentle commentary 3 00:00:32,140 --> 00:00:35,140 on the book *Bitaqat al-Ta'rif* 4 00:00:35,140 --> 00:00:38,140 *bi-Suwar al-Mushaf al-Sharif* 5 00:00:38,140 --> 00:00:42,140 by Dr. Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Umar Nasif, 6 00:00:42,140 --> 00:00:44,200 may Allah preserve him. 7 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,200 Surah al-Fath. 8 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:50,200 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. 9 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,200 We continue with our gentle commentary 10 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,200 on the introductory overview cards, 11 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:58,100 and we have arrived at Surah al-Fath. 12 00:00:58,100 --> 00:01:02,100 If we consider the historical timing of this Surah's revelation, 13 00:01:02,100 --> 00:01:08,189 we find that it has been determined with extreme precision. 14 00:01:08,189 --> 00:01:13,189 That is because Surah al-Fath was revealed entirely, all at once, 15 00:01:13,189 --> 00:01:16,189 during the return of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 16 00:01:16,189 --> 00:01:21,219 and his Companions from Mecca in the year of al-Hudaybiyyah— 17 00:01:21,219 --> 00:01:26,319 that is, upon their return from al-Hudaybiyyah towards Medina, as they did not enter Mecca. 18 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:32,420 Such precise dating is not always available to a researcher or reader for every Surah, 19 00:01:32,420 --> 00:01:36,480 yet it greatly assists in mentally visualizing the historical event. 20 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,540 In other words, when you recall in detail what took place at al-Hudaybiyyah, 21 00:01:40,540 --> 00:01:44,579 it helps you achieve a far more accurate understanding of the Surah 22 00:01:44,579 --> 00:01:48,579 than if the specific details of that event were absent from your mind. 23 00:01:48,579 --> 00:01:54,379 This also yields benefits in several areas, including the study of verbal similarities (al-mutashabih al-lafzi), 24 00:01:54,379 --> 00:01:57,379 namely, verses that appear similar yet contain subtle differences. 25 00:01:57,379 --> 00:01:59,379 For instance, in Surah al-Ahzab we find: 26 00:01:59,379 --> 00:02:06,379 "O Prophet! Indeed, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, a warner, a caller to Allah by His permission, and an illuminating lamp." 27 00:02:06,379 --> 00:02:07,379 Whereas here, 28 00:02:07,379 --> 00:02:09,379 it begins: "Indeed, We have sent you..." 29 00:02:09,379 --> 00:02:10,379 without the vocative call: 30 00:02:10,379 --> 00:02:20,979 "Indeed, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, so that you may believe in Allah and His Messenger, honor and respect him, and glorify Him morning and evening." 31 00:02:20,979 --> 00:02:22,979 The difference between these two verses 32 00:02:22,979 --> 00:02:25,979 is among the things that can be better understood 33 00:02:25,979 --> 00:02:28,080 and rationalized 34 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,080 through this very 35 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,080 precise historical dating 36 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:33,080 of these 37 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:34,080 verses 38 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:35,080 and of the entire Surah. 39 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:37,080 As for the second point of reflection, 40 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,430 it concerns the reasons for the Surah's revelation. 41 00:02:39,430 --> 00:02:42,430 He mentioned that it has four causes of revelation, the first of which... 42 00:02:42,430 --> 00:02:43,430 "The first of which" 43 00:02:43,430 --> 00:02:46,430 refers to the first reason cited 44 00:02:46,430 --> 00:02:47,430 for it 45 00:02:47,430 --> 00:02:49,430 in the adopted reference book. 46 00:02:49,430 --> 00:02:50,430 For that reason, 47 00:02:50,430 --> 00:02:52,430 had he phrased it as "one of them," 48 00:02:52,430 --> 00:02:53,430 it would have also been clear, 49 00:02:53,430 --> 00:02:54,430 and perhaps even more appropriate. 50 00:02:54,430 --> 00:02:56,560 There is one transmission 51 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,560 indicating that the entire Surah was revealed all at once, 52 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:00,560 while there are other narrations of occasion 53 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:01,560 that do not actually contradict its revelation all at once, 54 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:03,560 because they pertain 55 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:05,560 to closely occurring events. 56 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:06,560 Thus, it is not far-fetched 57 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:08,560 that multiple incidents occurred 58 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:09,560 over a few consecutive days 59 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:10,560 or in close succession, 60 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:12,560 and then the verses 61 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:13,560 were revealed 62 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:14,560 addressing all 63 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:16,560 of those combined events together. 64 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:17,560 This is what becomes evident 65 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:19,560 when reconciling 66 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:20,560 between these various reports 67 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:22,560 and the report stating that 68 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:23,560 the Surah 69 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:24,560 was revealed all at once. 70 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:25,560 There are reports 71 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,750 addressing specific verses, 72 00:03:27,750 --> 00:03:28,750 while there is a report addressing 73 00:03:28,750 --> 00:03:30,750 the revelation of the entire Surah. 74 00:03:30,750 --> 00:03:31,750 Harmonizing between them 75 00:03:31,750 --> 00:03:33,750 is entirely possible, as I have noted. 76 00:03:33,750 --> 00:03:35,750 The third and final point of reflection 77 00:03:35,750 --> 00:03:36,979 is 78 00:03:36,979 --> 00:03:38,979 regarding the overarching theme of the Surah, 79 00:03:38,979 --> 00:03:40,979 namely that among its primary themes 80 00:03:40,979 --> 00:03:42,979 are the characteristics of the believers 81 00:03:42,979 --> 00:03:45,009 who are truly deserving of victory. 82 00:03:45,009 --> 00:03:47,009 This is a recurring Qur'anic methodology, 83 00:03:47,009 --> 00:03:49,009 not unique to this Surah alone. 84 00:03:49,009 --> 00:03:51,009 Rather, it is customary 85 00:03:51,009 --> 00:03:53,009 that any Surah dealing 86 00:03:53,009 --> 00:03:55,009 with combat and victory 87 00:03:55,009 --> 00:03:57,009 delineates the qualities 88 00:03:57,009 --> 00:03:59,009 of the believers who are entitled to that victory, 89 00:03:59,009 --> 00:04:01,009 or who have been divinely promised that victory. 90 00:04:01,009 --> 00:04:03,099 We notice here 91 00:04:03,099 --> 00:04:04,099 that this 92 00:04:04,099 --> 00:04:05,099 objective, 93 00:04:05,099 --> 00:04:06,099 or this 94 00:04:06,099 --> 00:04:08,099 thematic component, 95 00:04:08,099 --> 00:04:10,099 is explicitly stated at the end 96 00:04:10,099 --> 00:04:11,099 of the Surah. 97 00:04:11,099 --> 00:04:13,099 You therefore find it in the concluding section 98 00:04:13,099 --> 00:04:14,099 of the Surah, 99 00:04:14,099 --> 00:04:16,100 where they mention the characteristics of those who uphold it—meaning those who champion 100 00:04:16,100 --> 00:04:18,100 this religion. 101 00:04:18,100 --> 00:04:19,100 This is exemplified in the words of the Exalted: 102 00:04:19,100 --> 00:04:21,389 "...and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, 103 00:04:21,389 --> 00:04:23,649 “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves. Thou (O Muhammad) seest them bowing and falling prostrate (in worship), seeking bounty from Allah and (His) acceptance. The mark of them is on their foreheads from the traces of prostration. Such is their likeness in the Torah and their likeness in the Gospel - like as sown corn that sendeth forth its shoot and strengtheneth it and riseth firm upon its stalk, delighting the sowers - that He may enrage the disbelievers with (the sight of) them. Allah hath promised, unto such of them as believe and do good works, forgiveness and immense reward.” (48:29) 104 00:04:23,649 --> 00:04:25,649 merciful among themselves. 105 00:04:25,649 --> 00:04:27,649 You see them bowing and prostrating..." 106 00:04:27,649 --> 00:04:29,649 Notice these two profound characteristics: 107 00:04:29,649 --> 00:04:31,649 "forceful against the disbelievers, 108 00:04:31,649 --> 00:04:32,649 merciful among themselves." 109 00:04:32,649 --> 00:04:34,649 Whenever we drift away 110 00:04:34,649 --> 00:04:36,649 from these two qualities, 111 00:04:36,649 --> 00:04:38,810 we inevitably drift away 112 00:04:38,810 --> 00:04:40,839 from attaining victory. 113 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:41,839 And Allah knows best. 114 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:42,839 May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet 115 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:45,259 Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. 116 00:04:45,259 --> 00:04:47,259 All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. 117 00:04:47,259 --> 00:04:49,259 All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.