WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.759 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:30.300 --> 00:00:32.299 The Graceful Commentary 00:00:32.299 --> 00:00:35.299 on the book "Identification Cards 00:00:35.299 --> 00:00:38.299 for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an" 00:00:38.299 --> 00:00:42.299 by Dr. Muhammad ibn Abdul-Aziz ibn Umar Nassif, 00:00:42.299 --> 00:00:44.359 may Allah preserve him. 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:45.859 Surah Al-Mulk. 00:00:45.859 --> 00:00:47.359 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:49.359 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:52.359 and peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, 00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:54.359 and upon all his family and Companions. 00:00:55.179 --> 00:00:57.179 We are still proceeding with "The Graceful Commentary 00:00:57.179 --> 00:00:59.179 on the Identification Cards," 00:00:59.179 --> 00:01:01.179 and we have arrived at Surah Al-Mulk. 00:01:01.179 --> 00:01:03.179 I have three points of reflection concerning it. 00:01:03.179 --> 00:01:06.180 The first point concerns the surah's placement. 00:01:06.180 --> 00:01:08.700 He stated that it is the sixty-seventh surah. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:10.700 Perhaps one of the reasons for its contextual placement 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:12.700 is that At-Tahrim and At-Talaq 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:14.700 contained legal rulings, 00:01:14.700 --> 00:01:16.700 so it was fitting to provide a reminder 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:18.950 in this surah 00:01:18.950 --> 00:01:20.950 that all sovereignty belongs to Allah. 00:01:20.950 --> 00:01:23.950 This is similar to how earlier surahs outside the Mufassal concluded, 00:01:24.709 --> 00:01:26.709 such as Al-Ma'idah and An-Nur. 00:01:26.709 --> 00:01:28.709 It was mentioned in the book 00:01:28.709 --> 00:01:30.709 and in the extended audio lessons— 00:01:30.709 --> 00:01:32.709 and it may be pointed out here as well— 00:01:32.709 --> 00:01:34.709 that after Al-Ma'idah, 00:01:34.709 --> 00:01:36.709 with all the legal rulings it contains, 00:01:36.709 --> 00:01:38.709 came Surah Al-An'am, 00:01:38.709 --> 00:01:40.709 which establishes creed 00:01:40.709 --> 00:01:42.709 and strengthens faith. 00:01:42.709 --> 00:01:44.709 And after An-Nur, 00:01:44.709 --> 00:01:46.709 which likewise centers on legal rulings, 00:01:46.709 --> 00:01:48.709 came Surah Al-Furqan, 00:01:48.709 --> 00:01:50.709 which is a surah on creed. 00:01:50.709 --> 00:01:52.709 Thus, it is fitting, 00:01:53.469 --> 00:01:55.469 following these legal rulings, to have a reminder 00:01:55.469 --> 00:01:57.469 of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. 00:01:57.469 --> 00:01:59.469 This sequential arrangement of the surahs, 00:01:59.469 --> 00:02:01.540 which was not 00:02:01.540 --> 00:02:03.569 based on the order of revelation, 00:02:03.569 --> 00:02:05.569 is considered by many scholars 00:02:05.569 --> 00:02:07.599 to be divinely ordained (tawqifi), 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:09.599 containing profound wisdom. 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:11.599 That is why we discuss the surah's placement. 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:13.599 For if a person were to occupy himself 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:15.599 solely with legal rulings 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:17.599 without renewing his faith, this would be problematic. 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:19.699 Rather, there must be this 00:02:19.699 --> 00:02:21.699 harmonious blend achieved by 00:02:22.460 --> 00:02:24.490 the arrangement of the surahs, 00:02:24.490 --> 00:02:26.490 which is a beautiful matter 00:02:26.490 --> 00:02:28.490 truly worthy of contemplation. 00:02:28.490 --> 00:02:30.490 This is true even though the verses of legal rulings themselves 00:02:30.490 --> 00:02:32.490 contain admonitions 00:02:32.490 --> 00:02:34.490 and reminders of Allah 00:02:34.490 --> 00:02:36.490 and of being conscious of Him (taqwa). 00:02:36.490 --> 00:02:38.490 Within the very verse of a legal ruling— 00:02:38.490 --> 00:02:40.490 in a single verse—you will often find at its conclusion 00:02:40.490 --> 00:02:42.490 two of Allah's names, 00:02:42.490 --> 00:02:44.490 as well as a reminder of taqwa, 00:02:44.490 --> 00:02:46.490 among other elements that are readily observable 00:02:46.490 --> 00:02:48.490 and evident. 00:02:48.490 --> 00:02:50.490 Likewise, you find at the conclusion of those surahs 00:02:51.250 --> 00:02:53.250 that encompass numerous legal rulings 00:02:53.250 --> 00:02:55.250 a reminder of Allah's sovereignty 00:02:55.250 --> 00:02:57.250 over all creation 00:02:57.250 --> 00:02:59.250 and similar profound meanings. 00:02:59.250 --> 00:03:01.250 This is clearly present in what 00:03:01.250 --> 00:03:03.250 was pointed out regarding Surah Al-Ma'idah 00:03:03.250 --> 00:03:05.250 and Surah An-Nur: 00:03:05.250 --> 00:03:07.250 alongside the verses of legal rulings, there is a reminder of Allah; 00:03:07.250 --> 00:03:09.250 at the end of the surah, 00:03:09.250 --> 00:03:11.340 there is a reminder of Allah; 00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:13.379 and in the surah that follows, 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:15.379 there is even greater elaboration 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:17.379 in reminding of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. 00:03:17.379 --> 00:03:19.379 Such is also the case 00:03:19.379 --> 00:03:21.379 with Surah At-Tahrim 00:03:21.379 --> 00:03:23.379 and At-Talaq before it, 00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:25.379 in relation to Surah Al-Mulk. 00:03:25.379 --> 00:03:27.469 As for the second point of reflection, 00:03:27.469 --> 00:03:29.469 it concerns the names of the surah. 00:03:29.469 --> 00:03:31.469 He stated: "Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty), because it opens 00:03:31.469 --> 00:03:33.469 with sanctifying and glorifying Allah Himself, 00:03:33.469 --> 00:03:35.469 in Whose hand is all sovereignty." 00:03:35.469 --> 00:03:37.469 "Al-Mulk, because it opens 00:03:37.469 --> 00:03:39.469 with the fact that He, Glorified be He, 00:03:39.469 --> 00:03:41.469 is the One in Whose hand is all sovereignty." 00:03:41.469 --> 00:03:43.469 Under this same heading, 00:03:43.469 --> 00:03:45.469 he said: "Al-Mani'ah (The Preventer); it was named thus 00:03:45.469 --> 00:03:47.469 because it protects its companion from the punishment of the grave." 00:03:47.469 --> 00:03:49.469 The word "as" should be added: "As 00:03:49.469 --> 00:03:51.469 authentically reported from Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him)," 00:03:51.469 --> 00:03:53.469 and the statement ends there. 00:03:53.469 --> 00:03:55.469 As for mentioning that "it protects 00:03:55.469 --> 00:03:57.469 from the punishment of the grave" in parentheses, 00:03:57.469 --> 00:03:59.469 adding "[meaning] it is the preventer," there is no need for that. 00:03:59.469 --> 00:04:01.469 Rather, it was named so 00:04:01.469 --> 00:04:03.469 because it protects its companion 00:04:03.469 --> 00:04:05.469 from the punishment of the grave, as authentically reported 00:04:05.469 --> 00:04:07.469 from Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him). 00:04:07.469 --> 00:04:09.469 The third point of reflection, 00:04:09.469 --> 00:04:11.469 which is the final one for this surah, 00:04:11.469 --> 00:04:13.699 deals with 00:04:13.699 --> 00:04:15.699 what was mentioned regarding its overarching theme and its thematic sections. 00:04:15.699 --> 00:04:17.699 Regarding its theme, he said: 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:19.699 "Reflecting upon many of its verses guides..." 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:21.699 It would be better to state: 00:04:21.699 --> 00:04:23.699 "By contemplating 00:04:23.699 --> 00:04:25.699 and looking into this..." 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:27.699 in defining the theme based on 00:04:27.699 --> 00:04:29.699 this division. 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:31.699 So we say: By contemplating 00:04:31.699 --> 00:04:33.699 its two sections, it becomes apparent 00:04:33.699 --> 00:04:35.759 that its central theme is the introduction 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:37.759 to Allah and His absolute sovereignty 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:39.759 over all creation. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:41.759 Then the word "generally" should be omitted— 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:43.759 an introduction pertaining to Him, 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:45.759 Glorified and Exalted be He. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:47.759 Here ends the theme of the surah, 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:49.759 which is closely tied to its sections; 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:51.759 thus I included it with them in the very same point of reflection. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:53.759 Regarding its thematic sections, 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:55.759 he stated: "It can be divided into two sections: 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:57.759 the first is an introduction [to Allah's majesty], 00:04:57.759 --> 00:04:59.759 and the second is a warning and admonition." 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:01.759 As for the first section, 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:03.759 it is written: "the eulogistic opening" (al-matla' ath-thana'i). 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:05.759 It is more precise to say: 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:07.759 "It contains a eulogistic opening," 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:09.860 without the definite article "al-", 00:05:09.860 --> 00:05:11.860 because no prior opening was mentioned 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:14.209 to warrant adding "al-". 00:05:14.209 --> 00:05:16.209 Then he wrote regarding the second section: 00:05:16.209 --> 00:05:18.209 "the expository opening"—no, 00:05:18.209 --> 00:05:20.560 in the second section there is also a eulogistic opening. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:22.560 This is a matter of terminology: 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:24.560 the finalized definition, 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:26.560 which has been settled upon and 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:28.560 will be incorporated into the second edition, by Allah's will, 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:30.560 is that every verse 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:32.560 that begins with the mention of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:34.620 or opens with the mention of 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:36.620 a name of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He— 00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:38.620 and this includes 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:40.620 cases where it is preceded by an emphatic particle, 00:05:40.620 --> 00:05:42.660 such as "Indeed, Allah..."— 00:05:42.660 --> 00:05:44.660 is considered among the eulogistic 00:05:44.660 --> 00:05:46.660 openings. 00:05:46.660 --> 00:05:48.660 This also encompasses instances where a pronoun occurs, 00:05:48.660 --> 00:05:50.660 such as "He" (Huwa), as found in this surah. 00:05:50.660 --> 00:05:52.660 “He it is Who hath made the earth subservient unto you, so Walk in the paths thereof and eat of His providence. And unto Him will be the resurrection (of the dead).” (67:15) 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:54.660 The first verse, and this 00:05:54.660 --> 00:05:56.660 is likewise praise, because it refers back 00:05:56.660 --> 00:05:58.660 to Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. 00:05:58.660 --> 00:06:00.660 Likewise, anything containing praise—for the beginning of the surah is 00:06:00.660 --> 00:06:02.660 "Blessed is He in Whose hand is dominion"— 00:06:02.660 --> 00:06:04.660 is a eulogistic opening. 00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:06.660 Praise is accomplished through a word expressing 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:08.689 praise, or through mentioning Him, 00:06:08.689 --> 00:06:10.689 for nothing is attributed to Him 00:06:10.689 --> 00:06:12.689 except that which conveys praise, 00:06:12.689 --> 00:06:14.689 and He is transcendent above all deficiency, 00:06:14.689 --> 00:06:16.850 Exalted and Glorified in His loftiness. 00:06:16.850 --> 00:06:18.850 Likewise, when a pronoun refers back to Him, 00:06:18.850 --> 00:06:20.850 it directly conveys 00:06:20.850 --> 00:06:22.850 praise as well. 00:06:22.850 --> 00:06:24.850 I will conclude with this. 00:06:24.850 --> 00:06:26.850 May Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and Companions 00:06:26.850 --> 00:06:28.850 all together, and all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.