WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.759 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:30.300 --> 00:00:32.299 The gentle commentary 00:00:32.299 --> 00:00:35.299 on the book "Introductory Cards 00:00:35.299 --> 00:00:38.299 to the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an" 00:00:38.299 --> 00:00:42.299 by Dr. Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Umar Nassif, 00:00:42.299 --> 00:00:44.359 may Allah preserve him. 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:46.359 Surah al-Ahzab: 00:00:46.359 --> 00:00:48.359 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:48.359 --> 00:00:50.359 All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:52.359 and may peace and blessings be upon the Seal of 00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:54.359 the Prophets and Messengers, and upon his family. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:57.119 We are still with the gentle commentary 00:00:57.119 --> 00:00:59.119 on the introductory cards, 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:01.119 and with Surah al-Ahzab, I pause with it 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:03.119 for three observations. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:05.120 The first pause 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:07.120 concerns the opening of the Surah, for it 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:09.150 begins with a vocative address in general, 00:01:09.150 --> 00:01:11.150 and specifically, it opens with addressing the Prophet, 00:01:11.150 --> 00:01:13.150 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:01:13.150 --> 00:01:15.150 We have previously mentioned that a Surah 00:01:15.150 --> 00:01:17.150 opened with a vocative address allows 00:01:17.150 --> 00:01:19.150 tracing the vocative calls throughout it 00:01:19.150 --> 00:01:21.150 to help outline its division, 00:01:21.150 --> 00:01:23.150 recognize its sections, 00:01:23.909 --> 00:01:25.909 and indeed grasp its central objective. 00:01:25.909 --> 00:01:27.909 However, here 00:01:27.909 --> 00:01:29.909 I would like to make an addition, because this 00:01:29.909 --> 00:01:31.909 vocative address carries a unique distinction: 00:01:31.909 --> 00:01:33.909 it is among the verses of 00:01:33.909 --> 00:01:35.909 the Surah that opens with a vocative call, 00:01:35.909 --> 00:01:37.909 yet it specifically commences by addressing 00:01:37.909 --> 00:01:39.909 the Prophet, peace be upon him. 00:01:39.909 --> 00:01:41.909 And we know that the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:01:41.909 --> 00:01:43.909 was addressed at the beginning of several Surahs 00:01:43.909 --> 00:01:45.909 with the description of Prophethood. 00:01:45.909 --> 00:01:47.909 Yet no Surah comes addressing him 00:01:47.909 --> 00:01:49.909 at its very beginning, 00:01:49.909 --> 00:01:51.909 in its opening verse, 00:01:52.670 --> 00:01:54.930 with: "O Messenger," 00:01:54.930 --> 00:01:56.930 but rather with: "O Prophet." 00:01:56.930 --> 00:01:58.989 Among them is this magnificent Surah. 00:01:58.989 --> 00:02:01.180 This establishes a general principle: 00:02:01.180 --> 00:02:03.180 whenever a Surah begins 00:02:03.180 --> 00:02:05.180 by addressing the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:07.180 the general rule is 00:02:07.180 --> 00:02:09.180 that this Surah accords 00:02:09.180 --> 00:02:11.180 special care 00:02:11.180 --> 00:02:13.180 to the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:02:13.180 --> 00:02:15.180 and to highlighting his lofty stature. 00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:17.180 For Prophethood differs from Messengership, 00:02:17.180 --> 00:02:19.180 and among their differences 00:02:19.180 --> 00:02:21.180 is that Prophethood, according to some views, 00:02:21.939 --> 00:02:23.939 signifies an immensely elevated rank. 00:02:23.939 --> 00:02:25.939 This is clearly manifest in this Surah. 00:02:25.939 --> 00:02:27.939 Other Surahs also begin in this manner, 00:02:27.939 --> 00:02:29.939 though I do not intend to trace 00:02:29.939 --> 00:02:31.939 every Surah that begins with "O Prophet" here; 00:02:31.939 --> 00:02:34.009 if you trace them, you will find them 00:02:34.009 --> 00:02:36.009 likewise, while some of them 00:02:36.009 --> 00:02:38.009 require deeper contemplation, such as Surah al-Talaq. 00:02:38.009 --> 00:02:40.009 One may refer to the statements of 00:02:40.009 --> 00:02:42.009 the exegetes regarding it and why it opened 00:02:42.009 --> 00:02:44.009 in that particular matter 00:02:44.009 --> 00:02:46.009 by addressing the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:02:46.009 --> 00:02:48.169 concerning divorce. 00:02:48.169 --> 00:02:50.169 Here, Allah said: "O Prophet." 00:02:50.930 --> 00:02:52.930 Thus, alongside the Surah's special connection 00:02:52.930 --> 00:02:54.930 to the Prophet, peace be upon him— 00:02:54.930 --> 00:02:56.930 and indeed it is so, as I have stated— 00:02:56.930 --> 00:02:58.930 and although the Surah establishes the Muslim community 00:02:58.930 --> 00:03:00.930 upon piety as its core theme, 00:03:00.930 --> 00:03:02.930 it nevertheless possesses a distinctive emphasis: 00:03:02.930 --> 00:03:04.930 namely, the aspect of proper etiquette 00:03:04.930 --> 00:03:06.930 toward our master, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 00:03:06.930 --> 00:03:08.930 You will find a number of verses 00:03:08.930 --> 00:03:10.930 that clearly demonstrate this, 00:03:10.930 --> 00:03:13.060 such as: "O Prophet! 00:03:13.060 --> 00:03:15.060 Indeed, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, 00:03:15.060 --> 00:03:17.060 a warner, and a caller to Allah by His permission, 00:03:17.060 --> 00:03:19.060 and an illuminating lamp." 00:03:19.819 --> 00:03:21.819 “Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.” (33:56) 00:03:21.819 --> 00:03:23.819 "And send blessings upon him and salute him with peace." 00:03:23.819 --> 00:03:26.139 And other such verses. 00:03:26.139 --> 00:03:28.139 One can trace this theme of showing proper reverence 00:03:28.139 --> 00:03:30.139 toward the Messenger of Allah all the way to the verses: 00:03:30.139 --> 00:03:32.139 “O ye who believe! Be not as those who slandered Moses, but Allah proved his innocence of that which they alleged, and he was well esteemed in Allah's sight.” (33:69) 00:03:32.139 --> 00:03:34.139 "Then Allah cleared him of what they said." 00:03:34.139 --> 00:03:36.139 Thus, addressing the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:03:36.139 --> 00:03:38.139 with this specific title 00:03:38.139 --> 00:03:40.139 is an artistic opening (bara'at al-istihlal) 00:03:40.139 --> 00:03:42.139 that points us toward the overarching aim of the Surah, 00:03:42.139 --> 00:03:44.139 as well as an essential matter that ought 00:03:44.139 --> 00:03:46.139 to be observed throughout the Surah: his revered status, peace be upon him. 00:03:46.139 --> 00:03:48.139 The second pause: 00:03:48.900 --> 00:03:50.900 looking at the two aforementioned 00:03:50.900 --> 00:03:52.900 halves of the Surah, 00:03:52.900 --> 00:03:54.900 we find that the end of the first half 00:03:54.900 --> 00:03:56.930 contains a strong exhortation 00:03:56.930 --> 00:03:58.930 to remember Allah abundantly: 00:03:58.930 --> 00:04:00.930 "O you who have believed, 00:04:00.930 --> 00:04:02.930 remember Allah with much remembrance," and the following verses. 00:04:02.930 --> 00:04:04.930 Meanwhile, the beginning of the second half 00:04:04.930 --> 00:04:06.930 is a fragrant commendation 00:04:06.930 --> 00:04:08.990 of the Prophet, peace be upon him: 00:04:08.990 --> 00:04:10.990 "O Prophet! 00:04:10.990 --> 00:04:12.990 Indeed, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner," 00:04:12.990 --> 00:04:14.990 which are the verses I previously cited. 00:04:14.990 --> 00:04:16.990 Through this, I wish to address an important point: 00:04:16.990 --> 00:04:18.990 namely, that Medinan Surahs, 00:04:18.990 --> 00:04:20.990 while discussing legal rulings 00:04:20.990 --> 00:04:22.990 across many of their chapters, 00:04:22.990 --> 00:04:24.990 including this Surah, 00:04:24.990 --> 00:04:26.990 are never devoid of moral and spiritual admonition. 00:04:26.990 --> 00:04:28.990 This is distinctly evident 00:04:28.990 --> 00:04:30.990 in this Surah and in Surah an-Nisa' 00:04:30.990 --> 00:04:32.990 in particular, as well as in other Surahs. 00:04:32.990 --> 00:04:34.990 Yet each Surah 00:04:34.990 --> 00:04:36.990 possesses a unique character in its admonition. 00:04:36.990 --> 00:04:38.990 Here, we find that uniqueness lies 00:04:38.990 --> 00:04:40.990 in occupying oneself with remembrance of Allah, 00:04:40.990 --> 00:04:42.990 invoking blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:04:42.990 --> 00:04:44.990 and recognizing his esteemed rank. 00:04:44.990 --> 00:04:46.990 It is as though this corresponds 00:04:46.990 --> 00:04:48.990 to several verses 00:04:48.990 --> 00:04:50.990 found within the Surah; 00:04:50.990 --> 00:04:53.149 for among the historical events tied 00:04:53.149 --> 00:04:55.149 to the Surah was the incident 00:04:55.149 --> 00:04:57.149 of the marriage of the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:04:57.149 --> 00:04:59.149 to the woman who had previously been married 00:04:59.149 --> 00:05:01.149 to Zayd, 00:05:01.149 --> 00:05:03.149 his adopted son— 00:05:03.149 --> 00:05:05.149 whom he had adopted before 00:05:05.149 --> 00:05:07.149 divine legislation was revealed abolishing 00:05:07.149 --> 00:05:09.149 adoption—so the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:05:09.149 --> 00:05:11.149 married the former wife 00:05:11.149 --> 00:05:13.149 of his adopted son. 00:05:13.149 --> 00:05:15.470 In such circumstances, there can be much 00:05:15.470 --> 00:05:17.470 idle gossip and rumors. 00:05:17.470 --> 00:05:19.470 Therefore, there came the command: "Remember Allah 00:05:19.470 --> 00:05:21.470 with abundant remembrance," 00:05:21.470 --> 00:05:23.470 followed by: "Indeed, Allah and His angels 00:05:23.470 --> 00:05:25.470 confer blessings upon the Prophet," and: "Indeed, 00:05:25.470 --> 00:05:27.470 We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner." 00:05:27.470 --> 00:05:29.470 Thus, occupying oneself with the remembrance of Allah 00:05:29.470 --> 00:05:31.470 during times of confusion and civil discord 00:05:31.470 --> 00:05:33.470 is a demanded duty—not merely in this specific incident, 00:05:33.470 --> 00:05:35.470 but as a general rule. 00:05:35.470 --> 00:05:37.470 Likewise, recognizing the stature of the Prophet, peace be upon him: 00:05:37.470 --> 00:05:39.470 when people engage in wrongful chatter, one must realize 00:05:39.470 --> 00:05:41.470 and be mindful that the Prophet's rank 00:05:41.470 --> 00:05:43.470 is truly immense. 00:05:43.470 --> 00:05:45.470 This brings us to the third pause, 00:05:45.470 --> 00:05:47.819 which concerns the occasions of revelation (asbab al-nuzul). 00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:49.819 Twelve occasions have been mentioned for this Surah, 00:05:49.819 --> 00:05:51.819 varying in their authenticity 00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:53.860 and in the strength of their indication of revelation. 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:55.860 Some of them can help 00:05:55.860 --> 00:05:57.860 in determining the chronology of its revelation. 00:05:57.860 --> 00:05:59.860 I had written here "order of revelation," 00:05:59.860 --> 00:06:01.889 but no, they help in determining the chronology of revelation. 00:06:01.889 --> 00:06:03.889 The occasions of revelation mentioned in the Surah, 00:06:03.889 --> 00:06:05.889 along with others, 00:06:05.889 --> 00:06:07.889 help establish the timeline of revelation. 00:06:07.889 --> 00:06:09.889 He then cited a narration 00:06:09.889 --> 00:06:11.889 regarding the Battle of Uhud, 00:06:11.889 --> 00:06:13.889 at the end of which 00:06:13.889 --> 00:06:15.889 Anas said: "We used to see, 00:06:15.889 --> 00:06:17.889 or think, 00:06:17.889 --> 00:06:19.889 that this verse was revealed concerning him 00:06:19.889 --> 00:06:21.889 and those like him," 00:06:21.889 --> 00:06:23.889 to the end of the verse. 00:06:23.889 --> 00:06:25.889 Here arises an objection that was not suitable 00:06:25.889 --> 00:06:27.889 to mention 00:06:27.889 --> 00:06:29.889 in the book for the sake of brevity: 00:06:29.889 --> 00:06:31.889 namely, that this phrasing— 00:06:31.889 --> 00:06:33.889 "we used to see" 00:06:33.889 --> 00:06:35.889 or "we used to see or think"— 00:06:35.889 --> 00:06:37.889 might lead one to believe the matter 00:06:37.889 --> 00:06:39.889 was not definitively asserted. 00:06:39.889 --> 00:06:41.980 However, al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar pointed out 00:06:41.980 --> 00:06:43.980 that this hesitation did not come from the Companion; 00:06:43.980 --> 00:06:45.980 rather, it was from one 00:06:45.980 --> 00:06:47.980 of the narrators of the hadith, whereas the definitive wording 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:49.980 is established in the narration of Sahih Muslim 00:06:49.980 --> 00:06:51.980 and the Musnad of Imam Ahmad. 00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:53.980 So this verse was revealed after 00:06:53.980 --> 00:06:55.980 the Battle of Uhud, 00:06:55.980 --> 00:06:57.980 whereas the verses preceding it and following it 00:06:57.980 --> 00:06:59.980 speak about the Battle of the Trench— 00:06:59.980 --> 00:07:01.980 the Battle of al-Ahzab. 00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:03.980 This is what I missed noting regarding the dating of revelation 00:07:03.980 --> 00:07:05.980 in the book; 00:07:05.980 --> 00:07:07.980 I will include it in the next edition. 00:07:07.980 --> 00:07:09.980 I wrote: "All of this 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:11.980 helps determine the dating of much of it." 00:07:11.980 --> 00:07:13.980 It should have been added that 00:07:13.980 --> 00:07:15.980 a portion of it was revealed during the Battle of al-Ahzab, 00:07:15.980 --> 00:07:17.980 and the Battle of al-Ahzab, 00:07:17.980 --> 00:07:19.980 according to the well-known view, took place in the fifth year 00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:21.980 Fifth, there is a minor disagreement 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:24.180 regarding this matter, though it is merely 00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:26.180 a semantic difference. I do not wish 00:07:26.180 --> 00:07:28.180 to delve into the Prophetic biography (Seerah), 00:07:28.180 --> 00:07:30.180 but I would note that knowledge of the Seerah 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:32.180 is instrumental in understanding the Qur'an, 00:07:32.180 --> 00:07:34.180 discerning the chronology of revelation, 00:07:34.180 --> 00:07:36.180 and other such matters. 00:07:36.180 --> 00:07:38.180 I will suffice with this much, 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:40.180 and send peace and blessings 00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:42.180 upon our master Muhammad, 00:07:42.180 --> 00:07:44.180 and upon his family and all his Companions.