WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.160 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:05.169 --> 00:00:08.050 A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari. 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:12.740 Abridged by Dr. Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:15.869 Surah al-Nahl. 00:00:18.539 --> 00:00:22.539 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:22.539 --> 00:00:28.929 “Allah hath said: Choose not two gods. There is only One Allah. So of Me, Me only, be in awe.” (16:51) 00:00:28.929 --> 00:00:37.469 He is but one God, so fear Him alone. 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:43.880 Allah says to His servants: "O people, do not take for Me any partner." 00:00:43.880 --> 00:00:46.079 Do not worship two deities. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:50.280 There is only one God, and I am He. 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:53.960 So fear Him alone, and dread My punishment. 00:00:55.320 --> 00:01:01.479 “Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth, and religion is His for ever. Will ye then fear any other than Allah?” (16:52) 00:01:01.479 --> 00:01:05.560 Is it other than Allah that you fear? 00:01:06.370 --> 00:01:10.049 To Allah belongs the dominion of all that is in the heavens and the earth. 00:01:10.329 --> 00:01:14.609 To Him belongs obedience and sincere devotion, always, firmly, and obligatorily. 00:01:15.129 --> 00:01:18.090 O people, do you fear anyone other than Allah? 00:01:18.370 --> 00:01:21.969 Are you afraid that He might strip you of the blessings He has bestowed upon you? 00:01:22.290 --> 00:01:26.730 By your sincere worship of your Lord and your exclusive obedience to Him. 00:01:27.090 --> 00:01:29.090 You have no one else who can benefit you. 00:01:44.680 --> 00:01:49.250 Whatever health and well-being you possess, O people, 00:01:49.569 --> 00:01:52.290 it is Allah who has bestowed it upon you, and no one else. 00:01:52.730 --> 00:01:56.450 Then, when illness and disease afflict your bodies, 00:01:56.849 --> 00:02:00.609 you cry out to Allah in supplication and seek His aid, 00:02:00.969 --> 00:02:02.969 that He might remove it from you. 00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:12.240 “And afterward, when He hath rid you of the misfortune, behold! a set of you attribute partners to their Lord,” (16:54) 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:19.840 “And afterward, when He hath rid you of the misfortune, behold! a set of you attribute partners to their Lord,” (16:54) 00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:23.960 Then, when your Lord restores your health, 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:28.080 and removes the illness and hardship that afflicted you, 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:33.439 a group among you begins to associate partners with Allah in their worship. 00:02:33.960 --> 00:02:37.719 They worship idols and offer sacrifices to them, 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:43.520 giving thanks to someone other than the One who granted them relief from the harm they were in. 00:02:51.870 --> 00:02:57.599 They deny Allah His grace in what He granted them by removing their distress. 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:03.280 So enjoy yourselves in this worldly life until your appointed time comes. 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:07.199 For you will surely return to your Lord. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:10.960 And you will regret it when regret will no longer avail you. 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:20.169 “And they assign a portion of that which We have given them unto what they know not. By Allah! but ye will indeed be asked concerning (all) that ye used to invent.” (16:56) 00:03:20.409 --> 00:03:27.210 By Allah, you will surely be questioned about what you used to fabricate. 00:03:28.810 --> 00:03:34.349 These polytheists assign to that which they know not—which can neither harm nor benefit them— 00:03:34.990 --> 00:03:38.590 a portion and share of the wealth We have provided them. 00:03:39.069 --> 00:03:40.590 This is an act of polytheism on their part. 00:03:41.069 --> 00:03:42.990 By Allah, O polytheists, 00:03:43.469 --> 00:03:48.750 Allah will surely question you on the Day of Resurrection about what you used to fabricate in the world. 00:03:48.750 --> 00:03:52.909 Then He will surely punish you for your fabrications against Him. 00:03:53.550 --> 00:04:01.800 “And they assign unto Allah daughters - Be He Glorified! - and unto themselves what they desire;” (16:57) 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:06.919 “When if one of them receiveth tidings of the birth of a female, his face remaineth darkened, and he is wroth inwardly.” (16:58) 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:10.520 His face remains darkened. 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:13.960 His face remains darkened. 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:17.240 His face remains darkened. 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:20.360 And he is filled with suppressed grief. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:25.920 They attribute to Him—who created them and bestowed blessings upon them—daughters. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:30.639 Allah has declared Himself exalted above what they attribute to Him of daughters. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:34.879 And they assign to themselves sons, whom they desire. 00:04:35.709 --> 00:04:39.389 And when one of them is given the tidings of the birth of a female, 00:04:39.870 --> 00:04:43.149 his face remains darkened with resentment toward it. 00:04:43.550 --> 00:04:44.990 He suppresses his grief, 00:04:45.310 --> 00:04:48.029 and is filled with sorrow at her birth. 00:04:49.550 --> 00:04:56.509 “He hideth himself from the folk because of the evil of that whereof he hath had tidings, (asking himself): Shall he keep it in contempt, or bury it beneath the dust. Verily evil is their judgment.” (16:59) 00:04:56.829 --> 00:05:02.990 “He hideth himself from the folk because of the evil of that whereof he hath had tidings, (asking himself): Shall he keep it in contempt, or bury it beneath the dust. Verily evil is their judgment.” (16:59) 00:05:03.389 --> 00:05:08.350 “He hideth himself from the folk because of the evil of that whereof he hath had tidings, (asking himself): Shall he keep it in contempt, or bury it beneath the dust. Verily evil is their judgment.” (16:59) 00:05:09.579 --> 00:05:13.740 This person who received the news of a daughter hides himself from the people, 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:17.740 disappearing from their sight out of the shame he feels. 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:21.579 He wavers between keeping her in humiliation, 00:05:22.060 --> 00:05:24.540 or burying her alive in the dust. 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:29.100 How evil is the judgment that these polytheists make! 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:33.579 This is because they assign to Allah what they would not accept for themselves. 00:05:33.819 --> 00:05:39.500 And they assign to that which can neither benefit nor harm them a share of what Allah has provided them. 00:05:39.899 --> 00:05:43.339 And they worship others than the One who created them and bestowed blessings upon them. 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:01.879 For those who do not believe in the Hereafter, 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:03.879 is the worst of examples. 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:07.079 And to Allah belongs the highest and most perfect example. 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:13.240 Allah is the Almighty, whose might makes it impossible for these polytheists to escape His punishment. 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:15.480 He is the Wise in His governance. 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:19.079 No flaw or error enters into His decree. 00:06:34.589 --> 00:06:42.910 He grants them respite, but He grants it only until an appointed term. 00:06:43.629 --> 00:06:49.389 And when their term comes, they cannot delay it by a single hour, 00:06:49.790 --> 00:06:53.069 nor can they advance it. 00:06:54.810 --> 00:06:58.410 If Allah were to take the disobedient among the children of Adam to task for their sins, 00:06:58.970 --> 00:07:02.649 He would not leave upon the earth any living creature. 00:07:03.209 --> 00:07:09.449 But by His forbearance, He grants these wrongdoers respite until the time He has appointed for them. 00:07:10.009 --> 00:07:13.290 And when the time appointed for their destruction arrives, 00:07:13.769 --> 00:07:17.610 they cannot delay their destruction by a single hour, nor are they granted respite. 00:07:17.930 --> 00:07:19.689 Nor can they advance it. 00:07:20.089 --> 00:07:22.569 Until they have fulfilled their appointed terms. 00:07:24.410 --> 00:07:28.649 “And they assign unto Allah that which they (themselves) dislike, and their tongues expound the lie that the better portion will be theirs. Assuredly theirs will be the Fire, and they will be abandoned.” (16:62) 00:07:28.889 --> 00:07:34.810 “And they assign unto Allah that which they (themselves) dislike, and their tongues expound the lie that the better portion will be theirs. Assuredly theirs will be the Fire, and they will be abandoned.” (16:62) 00:07:35.209 --> 00:07:43.850 “And they assign unto Allah that which they (themselves) dislike, and their tongues expound the lie that the better portion will be theirs. Assuredly theirs will be the Fire, and they will be abandoned.” (16:62) 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:48.779 They attribute to Allah what they dislike for themselves, 00:07:49.100 --> 00:07:50.220 which is daughters. 00:07:50.779 --> 00:07:54.459 And their tongues lie, claiming that they have sons. 00:07:54.939 --> 00:08:01.500 It is a certain, binding truth that for these people who attribute daughters to Allah, there is the Fire on the Day of Resurrection. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:05.100 And they will be left behind in the Fire, 00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:07.019 forgotten therein. 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:15.279 By Allah, We have sent messengers to nations before you. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:23.360 “By Allah, We verily sent messengers unto the nations before thee, but the devil made their deeds fairseeming unto them. So he is their patron this day, and theirs will be a painful doom.” (16:63) 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:29.920 So He is their Protector today. 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:34.080 And for them is a painful punishment. 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.120 By Allah, O Muhammad, 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:40.799 We have sent messengers before you to their nations, 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:43.600 with the same message with which We sent you to your nation: 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:47.759 the call to the oneness of Allah and the renunciation of false deities. 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:52.639 But Satan made their disbelief in Allah appear fair to them. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:56.240 So Satan is their ally today in this world, 00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:58.080 and what an evil ally he is. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:03.600 And for them is a painful punishment in the Hereafter when they arrive before their Lord. 00:09:05.179 --> 00:09:18.379 “And We have revealed the Scripture unto thee only that thou mayst explain unto them that wherein they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.” (16:64) 00:09:18.620 --> 00:09:33.840 We have not sent down the Book to you, O Muhammad, except to clarify for them that over which they have differed regarding the religion of Allah. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:38.080 So that you may inform them of what is correct and distinguish truth from falsehood, 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:40.320 and as a clarification against misguidance, 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:43.440 and as a mercy for a people who believe in it. 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:47.039 They accept what it contains of commands. 00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:59.419 “Allah sendeth down water from the sky and therewith reviveth the earth after her death. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for a folk who hear.” (16:65) 00:09:59.419 --> 00:10:07.340 “Allah sendeth down water from the sky and therewith reviveth the earth after her death. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for a folk who hear.” (16:65) 00:10:08.970 --> 00:10:11.289 Your God, to whom belongs all worship, 00:10:11.289 --> 00:10:13.769 sent down rain from the sky. 00:10:14.169 --> 00:10:20.330 And with it, He brought to life the dead earth that had no crops or vegetation, 00:10:20.330 --> 00:10:23.850 after it was dead and contained nothing. 00:10:23.850 --> 00:10:27.210 Indeed, in Our giving life to the earth after its death, 00:10:27.210 --> 00:10:31.370 is a clear sign for a people who hear this speech, 00:10:31.370 --> 00:10:34.169 and reflect upon it and understand it, 00:10:34.169 --> 00:10:37.610 and obey Allah in what He has guided them to. 00:10:37.610 --> 00:10:43.470 And indeed, for you in the grazing livestock is a lesson. 00:10:43.710 --> 00:10:48.029 We give you to drink from what is in their bellies, 00:10:48.029 --> 00:10:52.669 from between waste and blood, milk, 00:10:52.669 --> 00:11:00.429 pure milk, palatable to those who drink it. 00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:08.759 Indeed, for you, O people, there is a lesson in the livestock from which We give you to drink the milk in their bellies. 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:12.279 We extract it for you from between waste and blood. 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:17.159 It is purified from the contamination of blood and waste, so it does not mix with them. 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:20.440 It is easy for the drinker to swallow, so he does not choke on it, 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:25.960 as one might choke on some of the food he eats. 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:30.919 “And of the fruits of the date-palm, and grapes, whence ye derive strong drink and (also) good nourishment. Lo! therein is indeed a portent for people who have sense.” (16:67) 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:36.120 “And of the fruits of the date-palm, and grapes, whence ye derive strong drink and (also) good nourishment. Lo! therein is indeed a portent for people who have sense.” (16:67) 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:43.639 “And of the fruits of the date-palm, and grapes, whence ye derive strong drink and (also) good nourishment. Lo! therein is indeed a portent for people who have sense.” (16:67) 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:51.129 And you also have, O people, a lesson in what We give you to drink from the fruits of the date palms and grapevines. 00:11:51.129 --> 00:11:53.769 From which you take intoxicants, 00:11:53.769 --> 00:11:56.809 and also everything that is lawful to drink, 00:11:56.809 --> 00:12:00.490 such as lawful juice, vinegar, and fresh dates. 00:12:00.490 --> 00:12:03.769 And you take from them dates and raisins. 00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:09.500 Indeed, in what We have described to you of Our blessings that We have bestowed upon you, O people, 00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:12.220 of livestock, date palms, and grapevines, 00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:19.679 is a clear sign for a people who understand the arguments of Allah and take heed from them. 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:27.679 “And thy Lord inspired the bee, saying: Choose thou habitations in the hills and in the trees and in that which they thatch;” (16:68) 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:36.960 “And thy Lord inspired the bee, saying: Choose thou habitations in the hills and in the trees and in that which they thatch;” (16:68) 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:45.120 “Then eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of thy Lord, made smooth (for thee). There cometh forth from their bellies a drink divers of hues, wherein is healing for mankind. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect.” (16:69) 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:52.320 There emerges from their bellies a drink of varying colors, 00:12:52.480 --> 00:13:00.399 of varying colors, in which there is healing for the people. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:08.519 Indeed, in that is a sign for a people who reflect. 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:13.480 And your Lord inspired the bee, O Muhammad, as a revelation to it. 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:17.320 “And thy Lord inspired the bee, saying: Choose thou habitations in the hills and in the trees and in that which they thatch;” (16:68) 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:21.879 And from what they build of hives, which they have raised up with construction. 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:29.080 "Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord, made easy for you." 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:32.919 No place it traverses is difficult for it. 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:37.240 There emerges from the bellies of the bees honey of varying colors, 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:42.519 for there is white, red, and other colors among it. 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:45.480 In honey, there is healing for the people. 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:50.600 Indeed, in Allah's extracting from the bellies of these bees that drink of varying colors, 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:56.519 is a clear sign and proof of the One who subjected the bees and guided them, 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:59.960 and extracted from their bellies healing for the people. 00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:03.799 He is the One, like unto whom there is nothing. 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:07.240 And it is not fitting that He should have a partner. 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:11.450 And divinity is not valid except for Him. 00:14:11.450 --> 00:14:16.649 “And Allah createth you, then causeth you to die, and among you is he who is brought back to the most abject stage of life, so that he knoweth nothing after (having had) knowledge. Lo! Allah is Knower, Powerful.” (16:70) 00:14:16.649 --> 00:14:23.690 And among you is he who is returned to the most decrepit age. 00:14:23.690 --> 00:14:31.370 “And Allah createth you, then causeth you to die, and among you is he who is brought back to the most abject stage of life, so that he knoweth nothing after (having had) knowledge. Lo! Allah is Knower, Powerful.” (16:70) 00:14:31.370 --> 00:14:38.860 “And Allah createth you, then causeth you to die, and among you is he who is brought back to the most abject stage of life, so that he knoweth nothing after (having had) knowledge. Lo! Allah is Knower, Powerful.” (16:70) 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:43.179 Allah created you, O people, and then He will take your souls. 00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:47.100 And among you is he who grows old and reaches the most decrepit age, 00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:51.340 so that he returns to being ignorant as he was in his childhood, 00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:56.730 and so that he knows nothing after the knowledge he once possessed in his youth. 00:14:56.730 --> 00:14:59.450 Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing; He does not forget, 00:14:59.450 --> 00:15:03.929 nor does His knowledge change; He is All-Powerful over whatever He wills. 00:15:03.929 --> 00:15:09.289 He is not ignorant of anything, and nothing He wills is beyond His power. 00:15:09.289 --> 00:15:15.850 “And Allah hath favoured some of you above others in provision. Now those who are more favoured will by no means hand over their provision to those (slaves) whom their right hands possess, so that they may be equal with them in respect thereof. Is it then the grace of Allah that they deny?” (16:71) 00:15:15.850 --> 00:15:22.059 So those who have been favored with their provision, 00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:28.299 “And Allah hath favoured some of you above others in provision. Now those who are more favoured will by no means hand over their provision to those (slaves) whom their right hands possess, so that they may be equal with them in respect thereof. Is it then the grace of Allah that they deny?” (16:71) 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:31.899 they are equal in it. 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:37.210 Do they then deny the favor of Allah? 00:15:37.210 --> 00:15:40.889 By Allah, O people, He has favored some of you over others 00:15:40.889 --> 00:15:44.090 in the provision He has granted you in this world. 00:15:44.169 --> 00:15:46.649 So those whom Allah has favored, 00:15:46.649 --> 00:15:51.690 they do not share their wealth and spouses with their slaves, 00:15:51.690 --> 00:15:55.679 so that they might be equal in that with their servants. 00:15:55.679 --> 00:16:02.080 They are not pleased that they and their slaves should be equal in what He has provided them. 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:07.120 Yet they have made My slaves partners in My dominion and authority. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:12.720 Do they then deny the favor of Allah that He has bestowed upon these polytheists, 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:17.519 by associating others from His creation with Him in His authority and dominion? 00:16:43.610 --> 00:16:48.809 And Allah is the One who has made for you, O people, from among yourselves, spouses. 00:16:48.809 --> 00:16:52.909 He created from Adam his wife, Eve. 00:16:52.909 --> 00:16:56.830 “And Allah hath given you wives of your own kind, and hath given you, from your wives, sons and grandsons, and hath made provision of good things for you. Is it then in vanity that they believe and in the grace of Allah that they disbelieve?” (16:72) 00:16:56.830 --> 00:17:02.029 They are those who are quick in serving a man and light in their duties, 00:17:02.029 --> 00:17:06.349 such as our children and our wives who are fit for service, 00:17:06.349 --> 00:17:09.549 and our sons-in-law, who are the husbands of our daughters, 00:17:09.549 --> 00:17:12.750 and our sons-in-law, who are the husbands of our daughters, 00:17:12.750 --> 00:17:15.549 and our servants from among our slaves. 00:17:15.549 --> 00:17:20.750 And Allah has provided you with lawful livelihood, provisions, and sustenance. 00:17:20.750 --> 00:17:25.950 Do they then believe in the falsehood of the prohibitions made by the allies of Satan regarding the *ba'irah* and *sa'ibah* (types of livestock)? 00:17:25.950 --> 00:17:29.150 Do these polytheists believe in Allah? 00:17:29.150 --> 00:17:35.150 And do they deny and reject the lawfulness of what Allah has made lawful for them? 00:17:35.150 --> 00:17:49.609 “And they worship beside Allah that which owneth no provision whatsoever for them from the heavens or the earth, nor have they (whom they worship) any power.” (16:73) 00:17:49.609 --> 00:17:54.809 “So coin not similitudes for Allah. Lo! Allah knoweth; ye know not.” (16:74) 00:17:54.809 --> 00:18:01.609 Indeed, Allah knows, and they are not able. 00:18:02.009 --> 00:18:09.839 “So coin not similitudes for Allah. Lo! Allah knoweth; ye know not.” (16:74) 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:16.839 And these polytheists worship idols that possess no provision for them from the heavens, 00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:19.640 for they are not able to send down rain, 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:23.240 nor do they possess any provision for them from the earth, 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:27.240 for they are not able to bring forth any of its vegetation, 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:29.240 nor are they capable of anything. 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:32.039 So do not set forth examples for Allah. 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:34.839 And do not attribute likenesses to Him. 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:38.039 For there is no example or likeness for Him. 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:40.039 By Allah, O people, 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:45.240 He knows the error of what you set forth and the examples you strike, and what is correct, 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.440 and all other things. 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:52.440 And you do not know the truth of that from its falsehood. 00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:58.970 A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.