1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:37,240 A brief commentary on the book *Profile Cards for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an*, 3 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:43,240 by Dr. Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Umar Nassif, may Allah preserve him. 4 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,369 Surah an-Naba'. 5 00:00:46,369 --> 00:00:50,560 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. 6 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:56,689 We continue with *Profile Cards for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an*, focusing on Surah an-Naba'. 7 00:00:56,689 --> 00:00:59,689 I have three reflections upon it. 8 00:00:59,689 --> 00:01:05,780 The first reflection is that this surah belongs to the medium-length chapters of the *Mufassal* section. 9 00:01:05,780 --> 00:01:11,780 This is the first surah we encounter from the beginning of the Qur'an that belongs to the medium *Mufassal*. 10 00:01:11,780 --> 00:01:14,780 The long *Mufassal* concluded with Surah al-Mursalat, 11 00:01:14,780 --> 00:01:20,780 and the medium *Mufassal* begins here, according to the opinion adopted in this book. 12 00:01:20,780 --> 00:01:22,780 The medium *Mufassal* holds a distinct significance. 13 00:01:22,780 --> 00:01:27,780 Based on the inductive analysis of jurists in the Hanbali school regarding the practice of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 14 00:01:27,780 --> 00:01:33,780 it is part of the Sunnah to recite from the medium *Mufassal* during the 'Isha' prayer. 15 00:01:33,780 --> 00:01:37,780 In audible prayers, we recite the long *Mufassal* in Fajr, 16 00:01:37,780 --> 00:01:39,780 the short *Mufassal* in Maghrib, 17 00:01:39,780 --> 00:01:43,780 and the medium *Mufassal* in 'Isha'. 18 00:01:43,780 --> 00:01:45,780 This is the general norm, 19 00:01:45,780 --> 00:01:48,069 and it is an established Sunnah. 20 00:01:48,069 --> 00:01:51,329 Therefore, prayer leaders should give careful attention to this practice. 21 00:01:51,329 --> 00:01:53,329 This entails several benefits, 22 00:01:53,329 --> 00:01:56,519 among which is that the prayer does not become overly long. 23 00:01:56,519 --> 00:01:58,519 When recited from the medium *Mufassal*, 24 00:01:58,519 --> 00:02:00,620 the prayer remains well-balanced and moderate in length. 25 00:02:00,620 --> 00:02:03,620 The second benefit is that an entire, unified message is conveyed during the prayer. 26 00:02:03,620 --> 00:02:06,620 When you recite from the medium *Mufassal*, it is never too burdensome to finish a full surah. 27 00:02:07,620 --> 00:02:10,620 Its length is perfectly suited to reciting a complete surah in a single unit of prayer, 28 00:02:10,620 --> 00:02:12,620 or dividing it across two rak'ahs, 29 00:02:12,620 --> 00:02:14,620 thereby conveying a complete message, 30 00:02:14,620 --> 00:02:18,620 because every single surah contains an integral message from Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. 31 00:02:18,620 --> 00:02:22,620 Thus, when an imam upholds this Sunnah, 32 00:02:22,620 --> 00:02:27,620 he conveys a clear message, allowing both the listener and the reciter to depart 33 00:02:27,620 --> 00:02:29,620 having grasped a complete, self-contained message, 34 00:02:29,620 --> 00:02:31,840 rather than only taking away a fragmented portion of one. 35 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:33,840 This is what ought to be done, 36 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,840 especially given the profound cohesion of this surah. 37 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:42,840 When a surah is very long, it can be difficult to perceive the structural interconnections among its verses; 38 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,840 but when a surah is of this moderate length, 39 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,840 it is quite easy to discern its thematic links. 40 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,840 Notice how the beginning of the surah addresses the denial or dismissal of the Resurrection: 41 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:52,900 "The Tremendous Tiding." 42 00:02:52,900 --> 00:02:54,939 Even according to the view 43 00:02:54,939 --> 00:02:57,939 that "the Tremendous Tiding" refers to the Qur'an itself, 44 00:02:57,939 --> 00:02:59,939 the Qur'an inherently establishes the reality of the Resurrection; 45 00:02:59,939 --> 00:03:01,939 and upon it, within it, and concerning it, 46 00:03:01,939 --> 00:03:04,939 the discourse of the remainder of the surah proceeds. 47 00:03:04,939 --> 00:03:06,939 It presents the proofs for the Resurrection, 48 00:03:06,939 --> 00:03:09,939 followed by a detailed exposition of what will occur on the Day of Resurrection. 49 00:03:09,939 --> 00:03:12,939 Thus, the surah is exceptionally cohesive. 50 00:03:12,939 --> 00:03:16,939 For this reason, in contemplating it, it is best recited in a single rak'ah 51 00:03:16,939 --> 00:03:18,939 or in a single sitting, 52 00:03:18,939 --> 00:03:20,939 owing to its profound internal unity, 53 00:03:20,939 --> 00:03:22,939 where each verse naturally leads into the next. 54 00:03:22,939 --> 00:03:25,580 As for the third and final reflection, 55 00:03:25,580 --> 00:03:27,580 which is directly connected to the previous point, 56 00:03:27,580 --> 00:03:31,580 it concerns observing a motif that recurs at the beginning of the surah, 57 00:03:31,580 --> 00:03:33,580 in its middle, and at its conclusion— 58 00:03:33,580 --> 00:03:36,580 a feature that clearly demonstrates the remarkable thematic harmony of the surah. 59 00:03:36,580 --> 00:03:38,580 The surah opens with: "About what are they asking one another? About the Tremendous Tiding." 60 00:03:38,580 --> 00:03:40,610 Thus, they are speaking, 61 00:03:40,610 --> 00:03:42,610 and their speech is entirely falsehood. 62 00:03:42,610 --> 00:03:44,610 They question an undeniable reality, 63 00:03:44,610 --> 00:03:45,610 which is the Resurrection, 64 00:03:45,610 --> 00:03:46,610 or they question the Qur'an, 65 00:03:46,610 --> 00:03:52,439 despite it being manifest truth from Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. 66 00:03:52,439 --> 00:03:56,569 We then observe this consistency throughout the rest of the surah. 67 00:03:56,569 --> 00:03:58,569 Regarding the fate of the transgressing disbelievers, 68 00:03:59,569 --> 00:04:02,569 He said: "And they persistently denied Our signs as false." 69 00:04:02,569 --> 00:04:06,659 The signs of Allah encompass both the verses of the Qur'an 70 00:04:06,659 --> 00:04:09,659 and the cosmic signs mentioned in this very surah: 71 00:04:09,659 --> 00:04:11,659 "Have We not made the earth a resting place, and the mountains as pegs?" 72 00:04:11,659 --> 00:04:12,659 and so forth. 73 00:04:12,659 --> 00:04:15,240 Thus, they persist in denial, 74 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,240 which aligns with the denial and skepticism depicted at the beginning of the surah. 75 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,240 Their disregard for clear truths 76 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,240 and their mocking inquiries are an act of outright rejection, 77 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:23,399 without any doubt. 78 00:04:23,399 --> 00:04:26,399 Then comes the reward of the believers: 79 00:04:26,399 --> 00:04:29,399 "They will hear therein no vain talk nor any falsehood." 80 00:04:29,399 --> 00:04:33,399 Thus, the offensive, mocking discourse of the deniers that once grieved the believers 81 00:04:33,399 --> 00:04:36,399 will be entirely removed from them, and they will hear none of it 82 00:04:36,399 --> 00:04:38,779 in the Gardens of Delight. 83 00:04:38,779 --> 00:04:40,779 You will also notice in the surah, 84 00:04:40,779 --> 00:04:42,939 toward its very end: 85 00:04:42,939 --> 00:04:44,939 "The Day that the Spirit and the angels will stand in rows, 86 00:04:44,939 --> 00:04:47,259 they will not speak, 87 00:04:47,259 --> 00:04:48,259 except for him whom the Most Merciful permits, 88 00:04:48,259 --> 00:04:50,259 and who speaks what is right." In this worldly life, 89 00:04:50,259 --> 00:04:53,259 there is room for speech and questioning— 90 00:04:53,259 --> 00:04:54,259 say whatever you wish; 91 00:04:54,259 --> 00:04:57,259 but in the Hereafter, no speech will be granted except to the people of faith, 92 00:04:57,259 --> 00:05:00,300 and none shall speak except those granted permission 93 00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:02,459 by our Lord, the Most Merciful. 94 00:05:02,459 --> 00:05:03,459 I will suffice with this, 95 00:05:03,459 --> 00:05:04,459 and I invoke blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, 96 00:05:04,459 --> 00:05:06,459 and upon his family and all his Companions. 97 00:05:06,459 --> 00:05:08,459 All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.