WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.759 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:02.759 --> 00:00:32.149 The Graceful Commentary 00:00:32.149 --> 00:00:35.229 upon the book *Introductory Profiles 00:00:35.229 --> 00:00:37.750 of the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an* 00:00:37.750 --> 00:00:42.189 by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nasif, 00:00:42.189 --> 00:00:43.950 may Allah preserve him. 00:00:43.950 --> 00:00:46.140 Surah al-Baqarah. 00:00:46.140 --> 00:00:49.060 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, 00:00:49.060 --> 00:00:52.049 and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. 00:00:52.049 --> 00:00:54.450 Today's lesson in the graceful commentary 00:00:54.649 --> 00:00:57.090 upon the book introducing the surahs of the Noble Qur'an 00:00:57.090 --> 00:00:58.810 focuses on Surah al-Baqarah, 00:00:58.810 --> 00:01:00.729 the longest surah in the Qur'an. 00:01:00.729 --> 00:01:02.729 Because of this, I will dedicate to it 00:01:02.729 --> 00:01:04.980 two or three segments. 00:01:04.980 --> 00:01:06.420 In this particular segment, 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:07.780 I shall confine myself 00:01:07.780 --> 00:01:09.829 to three reflective pauses. 00:01:09.829 --> 00:01:11.590 The first pause concerns the occasions of revelation (asbab al-nuzul). 00:01:11.590 --> 00:01:13.379 I mentioned here 00:01:13.379 --> 00:01:14.620 that Surah al-Baqarah has 00:01:14.620 --> 00:01:17.939 sixty-eight occasions of revelation, 00:01:17.939 --> 00:01:20.180 whereas I mentioned regarding al-Fatihah 00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:21.819 that no occasion of revelation was recorded for it. 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:23.620 One of the esteemed scholars raised an objection 00:01:23.659 --> 00:01:26.769 whom I met after the book was printed, 00:01:26.769 --> 00:01:29.879 asking, "What was the methodology adopted here?" 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:32.040 The truth is that I did indicate 00:01:32.040 --> 00:01:32.799 the methodology, 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:35.959 yet the matter perhaps required further elaboration. 00:01:35.959 --> 00:01:37.400 So I say: 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:40.400 I relied upon a single book regarding the occasions of revelation, 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:43.959 which is *Al-Sahih min Asbab al-Nuzul* 00:01:43.959 --> 00:01:45.760 by 'Isam al-Humaydan. 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:46.719 Such is the title of the book: 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:49.400 *Al-Sahih min Asbab al-Nuzul* 00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:51.629 by 'Isam al-Humaydan. 00:01:51.629 --> 00:01:54.859 The methodology was to cite his tally, 00:01:54.859 --> 00:01:56.859 and then I might offer a critique, 00:01:56.859 --> 00:01:58.739 noting that a narration is mursal, 00:01:58.739 --> 00:01:59.780 weak, 00:01:59.780 --> 00:02:01.579 or the like. 00:02:01.579 --> 00:02:04.079 This critique was mostly drawn from the book 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:06.680 *Al-Muharrar fi Asbab al-Nuzul* 00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:09.879 by Dr. Khalid al-Muzayni. 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:11.159 Furthermore, you may find an analytical comment; 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:14.840 for instance, here I mentioned sixty-eight occasions in al-Baqarah, 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:19.319 and then clarified that some pertain to the opening of the surah, 00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:22.199 while others pertain to other themes— 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:25.800 offering a kind of thematic overview of the occasions of revelation. 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:28.139 This was an analytical effort on my part, 00:02:28.139 --> 00:02:30.659 aimed at enlightening the reader 00:02:30.659 --> 00:02:34.979 about the significant events associated with the surah, 00:02:34.979 --> 00:02:38.139 which in turn grants insight—or rather aids— 00:02:38.139 --> 00:02:41.710 in understanding the chronology of revelation as well. 00:02:41.710 --> 00:02:46.430 I ought to have followed this uniform methodology 00:02:46.430 --> 00:02:48.389 throughout the entire book; however, the reality 00:02:48.389 --> 00:02:52.189 is that the book was published without my maintaining this consistently, 00:02:52.189 --> 00:02:55.310 except in the earliest surahs and a few others. 00:02:55.310 --> 00:02:58.789 I ask Allah to assist me in a subsequent edition 00:02:58.789 --> 00:03:02.750 to apply this very same method across all surahs, 00:03:02.750 --> 00:03:05.349 discussing the core themes 00:03:05.349 --> 00:03:06.710 around which those occasions revolved, 00:03:06.710 --> 00:03:10.150 even though this naturally varies from one surah to another. 00:03:10.150 --> 00:03:11.669 And Allah is the One whose help is sought. 00:03:11.669 --> 00:03:14.629 There remains the question: why did I choose this particular book? 00:03:14.629 --> 00:03:16.629 The fact is that this work, 00:03:16.629 --> 00:03:21.069 within the scope of my reading—and books on occasions of revelation are very numerous— 00:03:21.069 --> 00:03:24.680 is among the finest written on this subject, 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:27.000 for two primary reasons, 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.639 or rather for a single reason that branches into two considerations. 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:33.400 Some books were overly lenient, including fabricated narrations 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:34.879 without critical refinement; 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:36.960 they cited the fabricated, the extremely weak, and the weak, 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:39.560 recording every single report that was transmitted concerning occasions of revelation. 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:43.360 On the other hand, some works strictly applied the rigorous standards of hadith scholars 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:46.180 used for hadiths of legal rulings and the like. 00:03:46.180 --> 00:03:47.539 The author took a balanced middle path; 00:03:47.539 --> 00:03:51.180 for the early hadith scholars did not treat hadiths of legal rulings 00:03:51.180 --> 00:03:52.580 —meaning the early authorities— 00:03:52.580 --> 00:03:54.939 in the same manner they treated occasions of revelation, 00:03:54.939 --> 00:03:56.979 reports of Tafsir, and the like. 00:03:56.979 --> 00:04:01.379 The author adopted a praiseworthy middle course according to 00:04:01.379 --> 00:04:03.099 my understanding and assessment, 00:04:03.099 --> 00:04:05.939 positioning himself between those who record any narration indiscriminately 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:09.659 and those who are overly rigid, treating 00:04:09.659 --> 00:04:13.099 occasions of revelation as though they were hadiths on legal rulings. 00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:15.789 For that reason, I selected this book, 00:04:15.789 --> 00:04:17.029 *Al-Sahih min Asbab al-Nuzul*. 00:04:17.029 --> 00:04:20.310 It was printed long ago, so it may not be readily available in bookstores, 00:04:20.350 --> 00:04:22.709 though it might be found online, 00:04:22.709 --> 00:04:25.629 having been published in the year 1420 AH. 00:04:25.629 --> 00:04:27.470 That was the first edition, which is the one in my possession, 00:04:27.470 --> 00:04:30.290 and I do not know whether it was reprinted thereafter. 00:04:30.290 --> 00:04:34.910 The second pause: the importance of devoting oneself to Surah al-Baqarah. 00:04:34.910 --> 00:04:37.949 This is because it is the longest surah in the Qur'an, 00:04:37.949 --> 00:04:40.110 encompasses numerous legal rulings, 00:04:40.110 --> 00:04:43.069 and is called the pinnacle of the Qur'an. 00:04:43.069 --> 00:04:46.350 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, called out— 00:04:46.350 --> 00:04:49.709 when he commanded al-'Abbas to summon the Companions at the Battle of Hunayn— 00:04:49.709 --> 00:04:51.629 "O companions of Surah al-Baqarah!" 00:04:51.629 --> 00:04:57.069 It is also reported that the rallying cry of the Muslims at the Battle of al-Yamamah was: 00:04:57.069 --> 00:04:59.829 "O companions of Surah al-Baqarah!" 00:04:59.829 --> 00:05:03.670 From some of this, Ibn 'Ashur deduced 00:05:03.670 --> 00:05:06.910 that the Companions devoted themselves to this surah with tremendous dedication. 00:05:06.910 --> 00:05:08.430 It has been established through a good chain of transmission 00:05:08.430 --> 00:05:11.139 that Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, 00:05:11.139 --> 00:05:14.459 spent four years learning this surah. 00:05:14.459 --> 00:05:16.420 Therefore, a person should eagerly cherish this surah, 00:05:16.420 --> 00:05:19.500 dedicating to it of his time and effort 00:05:19.500 --> 00:05:23.819 a great deal, learning it and acting in accordance with it. 00:05:23.819 --> 00:05:28.509 The third pause concerns the structural sections of the surah. 00:05:28.509 --> 00:05:31.189 The opening of the surah spans twenty verses, 00:05:31.189 --> 00:05:36.069 discussing the righteous, the disbelievers, and the hypocrites. 00:05:36.069 --> 00:05:39.379 Then the first main section begins with the words of the Exalted: 00:05:39.379 --> 00:05:41.790 "O mankind, worship your Lord." 00:05:41.790 --> 00:05:43.829 I wish to speak about this section 00:05:43.829 --> 00:05:46.230 and conclude this reflection of mine with it. 00:05:46.230 --> 00:05:51.220 This section commands the worship of Allah leading to piety (taqwa). 00:05:51.220 --> 00:05:54.120 I will not delve into all that was mentioned in the book; 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:57.519 you may refer back to it and review the detailed commentary. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:01.980 However, I wish to point out that this section, as it were, 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:05.779 prepares the ground from its very beginning for the change of the Qiblah, 00:06:05.779 --> 00:06:10.529 which occurs towards the end of this section, approximately, 00:06:10.529 --> 00:06:13.290 and is linked to it, even though these are relatively few verses. 00:06:13.290 --> 00:06:17.170 Five occasions of revelation are connected with it, as noted 00:06:17.170 --> 00:06:19.889 and recorded among the occasions of revelation for this surah, 00:06:19.930 --> 00:06:22.970 which demonstrates the momentous nature of this event— 00:06:22.970 --> 00:06:24.649 the event of the changing of the Qiblah. 00:06:24.649 --> 00:06:27.649 This is a matter that I believe still warrants further study; 00:06:27.649 --> 00:06:29.730 I have not encountered an in-depth treatment 00:06:29.730 --> 00:06:31.970 discussing the distinctiveness of this Ummah 00:06:31.970 --> 00:06:34.250 and why it was uniquely designated with this Qiblah. 00:06:34.250 --> 00:06:37.730 There may well be subtle indications that I have not come across, 00:06:37.730 --> 00:06:40.610 for everything preceding it serves as a preparation for it. 00:06:40.610 --> 00:06:42.610 Bear in mind from the opening of the surah 00:06:42.610 --> 00:06:46.050 that it will lead you to see that the Qiblah of the Muslims 00:06:46.050 --> 00:06:48.410 is distinct from the Qiblah of others. 00:06:48.449 --> 00:06:51.009 Thereafter, at the conclusion of this section, comes 00:06:51.009 --> 00:06:53.449 the preparation of the Muslims 00:06:53.449 --> 00:06:55.610 through seeking help through patience and prayer, 00:06:55.610 --> 00:06:59.290 so that they may embrace the legal rulings 00:06:59.290 --> 00:07:01.730 that will be presented to them in the second section. 00:07:01.730 --> 00:07:04.009 At the close of this section, there is also 00:07:04.009 --> 00:07:06.490 the warning against concealing what Allah has revealed 00:07:06.490 --> 00:07:08.579 of clear proofs and guidance. 00:07:08.579 --> 00:07:10.620 This is what I wished to state: 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:12.899 reflect upon the matter of the change of the Qiblah; 00:07:12.899 --> 00:07:16.379 prior to it, there is a critique dissuading reliance upon the state of the People of the Book, 00:07:16.420 --> 00:07:19.540 an exposition of the flaws in their conduct 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:22.060 after Allah had favored them above the worlds, 00:07:22.060 --> 00:07:25.339 and an exposition of the leadership (imamah) of Ibrahim, peace be upon him. 00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:27.720 All of this is intimately connected with the Qiblah, 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:32.519 and upon deep reflection, this will become manifest to you, by Allah's leave. 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:36.160 One may also consult the extensive commentary in this regard. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:37.120 I will suffice with this much. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:38.160 May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:39.680 and upon all his family and companions, 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:41.120 and all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.