WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:37.240 A brief commentary on the book *Profile Cards for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an*, 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:43.240 by Dr. Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Umar Nassif, may Allah preserve him. 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:46.369 Surah an-Naba'. 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. 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'. 00:00:56.689 --> 00:00:59.689 I have three reflections upon it. 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. 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*. 00:01:11.780 --> 00:01:14.780 The long *Mufassal* concluded with Surah al-Mursalat, 00:01:14.780 --> 00:01:20.780 and the medium *Mufassal* begins here, according to the opinion adopted in this book. 00:01:20.780 --> 00:01:22.780 The medium *Mufassal* holds a distinct significance. 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, 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:33.780 it is part of the Sunnah to recite from the medium *Mufassal* during the 'Isha' prayer. 00:01:33.780 --> 00:01:37.780 In audible prayers, we recite the long *Mufassal* in Fajr, 00:01:37.780 --> 00:01:39.780 the short *Mufassal* in Maghrib, 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:43.780 and the medium *Mufassal* in 'Isha'. 00:01:43.780 --> 00:01:45.780 This is the general norm, 00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:48.069 and it is an established Sunnah. 00:01:48.069 --> 00:01:51.329 Therefore, prayer leaders should give careful attention to this practice. 00:01:51.329 --> 00:01:53.329 This entails several benefits, 00:01:53.329 --> 00:01:56.519 among which is that the prayer does not become overly long. 00:01:56.519 --> 00:01:58.519 When recited from the medium *Mufassal*, 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:00.620 the prayer remains well-balanced and moderate in length. 00:02:00.620 --> 00:02:03.620 The second benefit is that an entire, unified message is conveyed during the prayer. 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. 00:02:07.620 --> 00:02:10.620 Its length is perfectly suited to reciting a complete surah in a single unit of prayer, 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:12.620 or dividing it across two rak'ahs, 00:02:12.620 --> 00:02:14.620 thereby conveying a complete message, 00:02:14.620 --> 00:02:18.620 because every single surah contains an integral message from Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. 00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:22.620 Thus, when an imam upholds this Sunnah, 00:02:22.620 --> 00:02:27.620 he conveys a clear message, allowing both the listener and the reciter to depart 00:02:27.620 --> 00:02:29.620 having grasped a complete, self-contained message, 00:02:29.620 --> 00:02:31.840 rather than only taking away a fragmented portion of one. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:33.840 This is what ought to be done, 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:36.840 especially given the profound cohesion of this surah. 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; 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:44.840 but when a surah is of this moderate length, 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:47.840 it is quite easy to discern its thematic links. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:50.840 Notice how the beginning of the surah addresses the denial or dismissal of the Resurrection: 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:52.900 "The Tremendous Tiding." 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:54.939 Even according to the view 00:02:54.939 --> 00:02:57.939 that "the Tremendous Tiding" refers to the Qur'an itself, 00:02:57.939 --> 00:02:59.939 the Qur'an inherently establishes the reality of the Resurrection; 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:01.939 and upon it, within it, and concerning it, 00:03:01.939 --> 00:03:04.939 the discourse of the remainder of the surah proceeds. 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:06.939 It presents the proofs for the Resurrection, 00:03:06.939 --> 00:03:09.939 followed by a detailed exposition of what will occur on the Day of Resurrection. 00:03:09.939 --> 00:03:12.939 Thus, the surah is exceptionally cohesive. 00:03:12.939 --> 00:03:16.939 For this reason, in contemplating it, it is best recited in a single rak'ah 00:03:16.939 --> 00:03:18.939 or in a single sitting, 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:20.939 owing to its profound internal unity, 00:03:20.939 --> 00:03:22.939 where each verse naturally leads into the next. 00:03:22.939 --> 00:03:25.580 As for the third and final reflection, 00:03:25.580 --> 00:03:27.580 which is directly connected to the previous point, 00:03:27.580 --> 00:03:31.580 it concerns observing a motif that recurs at the beginning of the surah, 00:03:31.580 --> 00:03:33.580 in its middle, and at its conclusion— 00:03:33.580 --> 00:03:36.580 a feature that clearly demonstrates the remarkable thematic harmony of the surah. 00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:38.580 The surah opens with: "About what are they asking one another? About the Tremendous Tiding." 00:03:38.580 --> 00:03:40.610 Thus, they are speaking, 00:03:40.610 --> 00:03:42.610 and their speech is entirely falsehood. 00:03:42.610 --> 00:03:44.610 They question an undeniable reality, 00:03:44.610 --> 00:03:45.610 which is the Resurrection, 00:03:45.610 --> 00:03:46.610 or they question the Qur'an, 00:03:46.610 --> 00:03:52.439 despite it being manifest truth from Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. 00:03:52.439 --> 00:03:56.569 We then observe this consistency throughout the rest of the surah. 00:03:56.569 --> 00:03:58.569 Regarding the fate of the transgressing disbelievers, 00:03:59.569 --> 00:04:02.569 He said: "And they persistently denied Our signs as false." 00:04:02.569 --> 00:04:06.659 The signs of Allah encompass both the verses of the Qur'an 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:09.659 and the cosmic signs mentioned in this very surah: 00:04:09.659 --> 00:04:11.659 "Have We not made the earth a resting place, and the mountains as pegs?" 00:04:11.659 --> 00:04:12.659 and so forth. 00:04:12.659 --> 00:04:15.240 Thus, they persist in denial, 00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:18.240 which aligns with the denial and skepticism depicted at the beginning of the surah. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:20.240 Their disregard for clear truths 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:22.240 and their mocking inquiries are an act of outright rejection, 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:23.399 without any doubt. 00:04:23.399 --> 00:04:26.399 Then comes the reward of the believers: 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:29.399 "They will hear therein no vain talk nor any falsehood." 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:33.399 Thus, the offensive, mocking discourse of the deniers that once grieved the believers 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:36.399 will be entirely removed from them, and they will hear none of it 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:38.779 in the Gardens of Delight. 00:04:38.779 --> 00:04:40.779 You will also notice in the surah, 00:04:40.779 --> 00:04:42.939 toward its very end: 00:04:42.939 --> 00:04:44.939 "The Day that the Spirit and the angels will stand in rows, 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:47.259 they will not speak, 00:04:47.259 --> 00:04:48.259 except for him whom the Most Merciful permits, 00:04:48.259 --> 00:04:50.259 and who speaks what is right." In this worldly life, 00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:53.259 there is room for speech and questioning— 00:04:53.259 --> 00:04:54.259 say whatever you wish; 00:04:54.259 --> 00:04:57.259 but in the Hereafter, no speech will be granted except to the people of faith, 00:04:57.259 --> 00:05:00.300 and none shall speak except those granted permission 00:05:00.300 --> 00:05:02.459 by our Lord, the Most Merciful. 00:05:02.459 --> 00:05:03.459 I will suffice with this, 00:05:03.459 --> 00:05:04.459 and I invoke blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:06.459 and upon his family and all his Companions. 00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:08.459 All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.