1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,759 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:32,299 A Gentle Commentary 3 00:00:32,299 --> 00:00:35,259 on the Book: Identification Cards 4 00:00:35,259 --> 00:00:37,500 for the Surahs of the Noble Mus'haf, 5 00:00:38,500 --> 00:00:42,179 by Dr. Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Umar Nasif, 6 00:00:42,179 --> 00:00:44,460 may Allah preserve him. 7 00:00:44,460 --> 00:00:46,460 Surah ar-Ra'd. 8 00:00:46,460 --> 00:00:47,979 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 9 00:00:47,979 --> 00:00:51,530 Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. 10 00:00:51,530 --> 00:00:53,530 We continue with this gentle commentary, 11 00:00:53,530 --> 00:00:55,530 and with Surah ar-Ra'd, 12 00:00:55,530 --> 00:00:57,530 with which we have three main pauses. 13 00:00:57,530 --> 00:00:59,659 The first pause pertains to its name. 14 00:00:59,659 --> 00:01:01,820 One of the notable observations 15 00:01:01,820 --> 00:01:03,820 regarding the names is that there is 16 00:01:03,820 --> 00:01:05,819 a group of surahs that appear consecutively 17 00:01:05,819 --> 00:01:07,819 with names that share 18 00:01:07,819 --> 00:01:10,010 a clear relationship. Here we have 19 00:01:10,010 --> 00:01:12,010 Yunus, Hud, 20 00:01:12,010 --> 00:01:14,010 Yusuf, and Ibrahim, 21 00:01:14,010 --> 00:01:16,140 and between them came ar-Ra'd— 22 00:01:16,140 --> 00:01:18,140 between Yusuf and Ibrahim— 23 00:01:18,140 --> 00:01:20,390 followed then by al-Hijr. 24 00:01:20,390 --> 00:01:22,390 Now, al-Hijr differs 25 00:01:22,390 --> 00:01:24,519 from the rest 26 00:01:24,519 --> 00:01:26,519 of these surahs, yet it also aligns with them: 27 00:01:26,519 --> 00:01:28,519 it aligns in being centered 28 00:01:28,519 --> 00:01:30,519 on Qur'anic narratives. 29 00:01:30,519 --> 00:01:32,519 From Yunus through to 30 00:01:32,519 --> 00:01:34,519 al-Hijr, they all focus on Qur'anic narratives. 31 00:01:34,519 --> 00:01:36,519 Four are named after prophets, 32 00:01:36,519 --> 00:01:38,519 while al-Hijr is the name of a place 33 00:01:38,519 --> 00:01:40,519 where the disbelievers were punished; 34 00:01:40,519 --> 00:01:42,519 I will return to this, if Allah wills, when discussing Surah 35 00:01:42,519 --> 00:01:44,519 al-Hijr. 36 00:01:44,519 --> 00:01:46,519 As for Surah ar-Ra'd, it has a distinct name— 37 00:01:46,519 --> 00:01:48,519 a truly distinct name 38 00:01:48,519 --> 00:01:50,519 that clearly differs 39 00:01:50,519 --> 00:01:52,519 from the other names, 40 00:01:52,519 --> 00:01:54,519 and its central theme is likewise unique, 41 00:01:54,519 --> 00:01:56,519 distinct from the rest of the surahs. 42 00:01:56,519 --> 00:01:58,519 When you recite each of these surahs, 43 00:01:58,519 --> 00:02:00,519 once you conclude Surah Yusuf, 44 00:02:00,519 --> 00:02:02,519 preceded by Yunus 45 00:02:02,519 --> 00:02:04,519 and Hud, you begin reciting 46 00:02:04,519 --> 00:02:06,519 Surah ar-Ra'd; the mere recollection 47 00:02:06,519 --> 00:02:08,520 of its name draws your attention 48 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:10,520 to the fact that its subject matter is different. 49 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:12,520 The theme here revolves around the signs of Allah 50 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:14,520 that point to Him, 51 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,520 regardless of the stances of the disbelievers. 52 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,520 At the beginning of the surah, with "Alif, Lam, Mim, Ra," 53 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,520 “Alif. Lam. Mim. Ra. These are verses of the Scripture. That which is revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the Truth, but most of mankind believe not.” (13:1) 54 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,129 signs are mentioned 55 00:02:23,129 --> 00:02:25,129 that point to Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He; 56 00:02:25,129 --> 00:02:27,129 rather, this 57 00:02:27,129 --> 00:02:29,129 constitutes the overall essence of the surah, 58 00:02:29,129 --> 00:02:31,129 unlike the surahs before it 59 00:02:31,129 --> 00:02:33,129 which employed narrative stories, 60 00:02:33,129 --> 00:02:35,129 and likewise those after it 61 00:02:35,129 --> 00:02:37,129 among the group termed 62 00:02:37,129 --> 00:02:39,129 the "Alif-Lam-Ra" surahs. 63 00:02:39,129 --> 00:02:41,129 Some scholars also include among them the "Alif-Lam-Mim-Ra" surah 64 00:02:41,129 --> 00:02:43,129 that accompanies them 65 00:02:43,129 --> 00:02:45,129 in the order of the Mus'haf. 66 00:02:45,129 --> 00:02:47,259 Thus, the variation 67 00:02:47,259 --> 00:02:49,259 in the name and the type of name 68 00:02:49,259 --> 00:02:51,259 reflects a shift in theme. 69 00:02:51,259 --> 00:02:53,259 We now move to the second pause, 70 00:02:53,259 --> 00:02:55,419 which is that the surah 71 00:02:55,419 --> 00:02:57,419 consists, 72 00:02:57,419 --> 00:02:59,419 as shown in its structural passages, of an introduction 73 00:02:59,419 --> 00:03:01,419 and a single main section. 74 00:03:01,419 --> 00:03:03,419 This single section has been characterized as having a dual opening. 75 00:03:03,419 --> 00:03:05,419 These are technical terms I have formulated through careful study, 76 00:03:05,419 --> 00:03:07,539 and they invite 77 00:03:07,539 --> 00:03:09,539 further reflection. 78 00:03:09,539 --> 00:03:11,539 Any noble reader 79 00:03:11,539 --> 00:03:13,539 can 80 00:03:13,539 --> 00:03:15,539 categorize them whenever they find 81 00:03:15,539 --> 00:03:17,539 an opening described in a particular way, 82 00:03:17,539 --> 00:03:19,539 noting it down 83 00:03:19,539 --> 00:03:21,539 and recording it, so that 84 00:03:21,539 --> 00:03:23,539 across their complete reading of the book, 85 00:03:23,539 --> 00:03:25,539 the various openings of the Qur'an become clear to them: 86 00:03:25,539 --> 00:03:28,090 the openings of each section. 87 00:03:28,090 --> 00:03:30,090 The opening here is dual 88 00:03:30,090 --> 00:03:32,090 in the sense that it makes Allah known, 89 00:03:32,090 --> 00:03:34,090 and introducing Allah 90 00:03:34,090 --> 00:03:36,090 inherently entails praising Him; 91 00:03:36,090 --> 00:03:38,090 for nothing is attributed to Him or predicated of Him 92 00:03:38,090 --> 00:03:40,090 except that which is deserving of 93 00:03:40,090 --> 00:03:42,090 absolute praise, and He is truly worthy of all praise 94 00:03:42,090 --> 00:03:44,659 and gratitude, Glorified and Exalted be He. 95 00:03:44,659 --> 00:03:46,659 We notice that the passages mentioned 96 00:03:46,659 --> 00:03:48,659 thereafter—and which I chose 97 00:03:48,659 --> 00:03:50,659 not to provide explicit subheadings for, 98 00:03:50,659 --> 00:03:52,659 though one could easily do so— 99 00:03:52,659 --> 00:03:54,659 also follow this pattern; that is, beneath this opening 100 00:03:54,659 --> 00:03:56,659 or main section, there are several passages: 101 00:03:56,659 --> 00:03:58,729 three passages, 102 00:03:58,729 --> 00:04:00,729 all of which extol Allah 103 00:04:00,729 --> 00:04:02,729 and all of which begin with the name "Allah." 104 00:04:02,729 --> 00:04:05,139 However, I did not wish 105 00:04:05,139 --> 00:04:07,139 to turn these passages 106 00:04:07,139 --> 00:04:09,139 into separate headings for their openings, 107 00:04:09,139 --> 00:04:11,500 so as not to overburden the book; 108 00:04:11,500 --> 00:04:13,500 otherwise, if you examine these 109 00:04:13,500 --> 00:04:15,500 passages, you will find that they are 110 00:04:15,500 --> 00:04:17,500 likewise parallel. 111 00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:19,500 The surah's single section 112 00:04:19,500 --> 00:04:21,500 begins with: "Allah is the One Who raised 113 00:04:21,500 --> 00:04:23,500 the heavens," then 114 00:04:23,500 --> 00:04:25,500 the second passage— 115 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:27,500 and naturally, the start of the section is the start of the first passage— 116 00:04:27,500 --> 00:04:29,500 the second passage begins with: "Allah knows..." 117 00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:31,500 “Allah knoweth that which every female beareth and that which the wombs absorb and that which they grow. And everything with Him is measured.” (13:8) 118 00:04:31,500 --> 00:04:33,500 then the third passage begins with: 119 00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:35,500 "Allah extends provision..." Thus, the name of 120 00:04:35,500 --> 00:04:37,500 "Allah" is repeated, 121 00:04:37,500 --> 00:04:39,500 Glorified and Exalted is He in the highest. 122 00:04:39,500 --> 00:04:41,589 These openings 123 00:04:41,589 --> 00:04:43,589 instill within us the realization that the surah 124 00:04:43,589 --> 00:04:45,589 speaks directly 125 00:04:45,589 --> 00:04:47,589 of Allah, 126 00:04:47,589 --> 00:04:49,589 Glorified and Exalted be He. 127 00:04:49,589 --> 00:04:51,589 This brings us 128 00:04:51,589 --> 00:04:53,589 to the third and final pause: 129 00:04:53,589 --> 00:04:55,589 surahs like this one 130 00:04:55,589 --> 00:04:57,589 are immensely helpful 131 00:04:57,589 --> 00:04:59,589 in receiving and appreciating 132 00:04:59,589 --> 00:05:01,589 the Madinan surahs. 133 00:05:01,589 --> 00:05:03,589 These Makkan surahs that introduce 134 00:05:03,589 --> 00:05:05,589 Allah provide 135 00:05:05,589 --> 00:05:07,589 an evident aid toward 136 00:05:07,589 --> 00:05:09,589 understanding the Madinan surahs. 137 00:05:09,589 --> 00:05:11,589 For in the Madinan surahs, we find 138 00:05:11,589 --> 00:05:13,589 numerous legal rulings 139 00:05:13,589 --> 00:05:15,589 that conclude with the names of Allah. 140 00:05:15,589 --> 00:05:17,589 Who is this Allah? He is the One 141 00:05:17,589 --> 00:05:19,589 Whom we came to know in Makkah. 142 00:05:19,589 --> 00:05:21,589 We observe here that when the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 143 00:05:21,589 --> 00:05:23,589 witnessed the early conversions from Madinah 144 00:05:23,589 --> 00:05:25,589 in the initial stages, 145 00:05:25,589 --> 00:05:27,589 he dispatched Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) 146 00:05:27,589 --> 00:05:29,589 and Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr with them 147 00:05:29,589 --> 00:05:32,009 to teach them the Qur'an, 148 00:05:32,009 --> 00:05:34,009 so that they might draw 149 00:05:34,009 --> 00:05:36,009 from the very same spring that nurtured 150 00:05:36,009 --> 00:05:38,009 the Companions who later became the Emigrants (Muhajirun), 151 00:05:38,009 --> 00:05:40,009 following the Companions in Makkah. 152 00:05:40,009 --> 00:05:42,230 Thus, the spiritual identity 153 00:05:42,230 --> 00:05:44,230 of the Companions in Madinah was forged 154 00:05:44,230 --> 00:05:46,230 through nurturing upon the Qur'an; so when the Prophet (peace be upon him) settled 155 00:05:46,230 --> 00:05:48,230 in Madinah, they were fully prepared 156 00:05:48,230 --> 00:05:50,230 to receive the Madinan Qur'an. 157 00:05:50,230 --> 00:05:52,230 We ought to pay close attention to the name of this surah, 158 00:05:52,230 --> 00:05:54,230 and rejoice in every verse 159 00:05:54,230 --> 00:05:56,230 that begins with the name of Allah, 160 00:05:56,230 --> 00:05:58,230 for it praises Allah 161 00:05:58,230 --> 00:06:00,230 and makes Him known to us, 162 00:06:00,230 --> 00:06:02,230 so that we may worship Him, Glorified and Exalted be He. 163 00:06:02,230 --> 00:06:04,230 I ask Allah for success for all. 164 00:06:04,230 --> 00:06:06,230 I will suffice with this much 165 00:06:06,230 --> 00:06:08,230 regarding this surah. 166 00:06:08,230 --> 00:06:10,230 May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, 167 00:06:10,230 --> 00:06:12,230 and upon all his family and Companions.