In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A Gentle Commentary on the Book of Identification Cards
Featuring Images of the Noble Qur'an
By Dr. Muhammad ibn Abdul Aziz ibn Omar Nassif
May Allah protect him.
Surah Ash-Shams (The Sun)
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
We continue with the Gentle Commentary
on the Identification Cards
and with Surah Ash-Shams.
I have three points of reflection regarding it.
The first point of reflection.
What is mentioned about the location of the Surah
and how it suits the context of the chapter [referring to Surah Al-Balad, mentioned earlier in the book].
As it has reiterated
the mention of the two groups
who were mentioned in Al-Balad, in another style.
This is common in the Qur'an,
the mention of two groups.
It is common in the Qur'an,
but the style always differs.
This teaches that the subject matter
cannot be presented
through different means.
Therefore, the Friday preacher
who reminds people
of the great truths of the religion,
what does he say? He often needs to
refer to known topics
and tries to search for
a new subject.
The truth is, it is better to search for
a new presentation of the
old subject.
Because the fundamental subjects
in the religion
are well-known,
and it is necessary to remind people of them and solidify them,
and to dispel doubts about them,
and so forth.
So they are repeated in a different way
that serves the current situation
of the addressees,
and the temporal and spatial context.
Therefore, it might take
a short time to prepare the sermon
in terms of information,
because we are dealing with fundamentals.
But thinking
about the method of presenting them
requires great effort from
the preacher.
As for the second point of reflection,
and it is related to the first point,
because we said that
the style is new, and the subject
is repeated, which is the subject of the two groups,
but here it focuses on the description
mentioned in the subject of the Surah:
"He has succeeded who purifies it, and he has failed who corrupts it."
The successful one who purifies,
and the failed one who corrupts.
Purification is well-known;
most people generally know
that it means growth and purity,
and so forth.
But what is corruption (tadsiya)?
It might be unknown to many.
Corruption (tadsiya) is still
used by us with a close meaning in colloquial Arabic.
We say "dassahu" (he hid it)
or "nudassuhu" (we hide it).
"Nudassuhu" means he disappeared and hid himself.
"Dassaha" means he hid it,
concealed it.
He covered it with mud,
with doubts, desires,
and vices.
This is corruption (tadsiya).
And this leads us to the third point of reflection,
which is the relationship of the oath
to the answer of the oath.
This long oath,
"By the sun and its brightness, and by the moon when it follows it,"
"and by the day when it reveals it,"
a long oath until He said:
"He has succeeded who purifies it, and he has failed who corrupts it."
This hints
at the issue of the answer to the oath.
Its relationship to the oath is not a matter of certainty,
and it is not something that is explicitly stated, but it hints
that considering
these mentioned verses,
the sun,
the moon, and so forth,
are great cosmic signs.
Whoever hides himself from them
is the one who corrupts himself.
And whoever looks at them and contemplates them
is on the path of purification.
If you want to purify yourself
and be among the successful,
contemplate these
great verses.
As for he who averts himself from seeing them,
we ask Allah for safety.
May they not be among the corrupted,
and may they not be among the failed.
I ask Allah to protect us,
and protect our offspring,
and the Muslims.
And may Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad,
and his family and all his Companions.
And all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.