WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.500 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:02.500 --> 00:00:37.539 *Al-Ta'liq al-Latif 'ala Kitab Bitaqat al-Ta'rif bi-Suwar al-Mushaf al-Sharif* (Gentle Commentary on the Identification Cards for the Surahs of the Noble Mushaf), 00:00:37.539 --> 00:00:43.539 by Dr. Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Umar Nassif, may Allah preserve him. 00:00:43.539 --> 00:00:45.729 Surah al-Baqarah. 00:00:45.729 --> 00:00:49.729 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. 00:00:49.729 --> 00:01:01.179 We continue with our gentle commentary on the identification cards, and this is the third segment on Surah al-Baqarah, which is the final segment covering this noble surah. 00:01:01.179 --> 00:01:05.340 Here we have three focal points and a conclusion. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:12.739 The first point concerns the third section of the surah; we have already covered the introduction, 00:01:12.739 --> 00:01:19.739 the first section, and the second section, and now we are in the third section, which begins with Allah Almighty's words in verse 208. 00:01:19.739 --> 00:01:25.739 “O ye who believe! Come, all of you, into submission (unto Him); and follow not the footsteps of the devil. Lo! he is an open enemy for you.” (2:208) 00:01:25.739 --> 00:01:30.739 Memorize this verse well, for it is an essential key to understanding what follows it, 00:01:30.739 --> 00:01:39.739 because the text from here to the end of the surah revolves around rulings that, in general, are unlike the preceding ones. 00:01:39.739 --> 00:01:45.739 We have already encountered Hajj and fasting, and no Muslim would ever think that these do not fall within Islam and God-fearing piety (taqwa), 00:01:45.739 --> 00:01:49.810 or doubt that Hajj and fasting are obligatory. 00:01:49.810 --> 00:01:56.840 As for the rulings in this third section, however, you find discussion of divorce, 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:01.870 jihad, financial matters, and usury (riba). 00:02:01.870 --> 00:02:09.419 Many Muslims might assume that these three areas fall outside the sphere of religion. 00:02:09.419 --> 00:02:18.539 Thus, you might see a righteous, pious, devoted man who prays in the mosque and performs 'Umrah and Hajj, 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:23.639 yet when he enters his home, conduct that does not please Allah transpires between him and his family. 00:02:23.639 --> 00:02:28.639 Divorce does not merely concern the marital relationship itself, but governs their interaction 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:36.639 in times of dispute and discord—moments when many people stray far from the command of Allah. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:42.639 A person might think it sufficient simply to pray, pay zakat, and perform Hajj, though these are indeed great pillars; 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:49.180 nevertheless, the matter of divorce has ordained legal rulings, as does the matter of jihad. 00:02:49.180 --> 00:02:54.180 A Muslim might overstep and violate Allah's bounds in jihad, or conversely neglect it entirely, 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:59.180 viewing it through the lens of pride, tribal zeal, nationalism, or the like. 00:02:59.180 --> 00:03:04.729 The third matter is financial affairs: you may find a man who is righteous in all his circumstances, 00:03:04.729 --> 00:03:10.759 even with his family, except in matters of money. These three areas might thus be thought of 00:03:10.759 --> 00:03:15.759 as falling outside of Islam and the bounds of piety. Yet Allah stated at the beginning of this section, 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:19.979 as I mentioned: "O you who have believed, enter into al-silm," meaning into Islam. 00:03:19.979 --> 00:03:24.979 Here, *al-silm* does not mean the opposite of war; rather, *al-silm* here means Islam. 00:03:24.979 --> 00:03:31.180 Imam al-Tabari affirmed and established this, even if some have differed with him. 00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:37.370 Although there is scholarly disagreement on the issue, it carries little weight here; the position of Imam al-Tabari is that 00:03:37.370 --> 00:03:44.370 *al-silm* is Islam. Entering into the rulings of Islam in this section— 00:03:44.370 --> 00:03:49.370 the command to embrace the rulings of Islam—subsequently encompassed rulings that, as I said, 00:03:49.370 --> 00:03:54.370 one might fail to realize are an integral part of piety and religion. 00:03:54.370 --> 00:03:58.939 Then comes the second point, which is directly related to the first: 00:03:58.939 --> 00:04:05.979 we should observe that these rulings are frequently linked at the ends of verses 00:04:05.979 --> 00:04:13.069 to the mention of Allah's Most Beautiful Names, which is particularly evident in the verses on divorce. 00:04:13.069 --> 00:04:18.199 Verse endings, in general, are an important feature in the verses of the Qur'an, 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:24.199 as they frequently reinforce or elevate the meaning conveyed within the verse. 00:04:24.199 --> 00:04:31.199 In the verses on divorce and what follows them, you will find a considerable number of Allah's 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:36.199 Most Beautiful Names. Reflect upon them, and realize that the safety valve and the ultimate aid in 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:41.329 adhering to these rulings is knowing Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. 00:04:41.329 --> 00:04:48.459 Consider the words of Saul (Talut) and those with him when they said: "How many a small company..." 00:04:48.459 --> 00:04:53.459 “And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249) 00:04:53.459 --> 00:04:57.459 and this appears within verses urging toward jihad: "...and Allah is with the patient." 00:04:57.459 --> 00:05:02.459 This provides tremendous fortitude for jihad. Staying connected to Allah helps one 00:05:02.459 --> 00:05:06.459 observe the Sacred Law in the rulings of divorce, and in fighting 00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:11.459 it grants steadfastness and support as well, just as in financial matters: "And Allah multiplies 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:15.839 for whom He wills, and Allah is All-Encompassing and Knowing." When a person focuses in his recitation of 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:19.839 this section on this meaning, he will find immense good, if Allah wills. 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:25.839 The third point is that the revelation of this surah extended over a very long period. 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:31.000 If you reflect on the reason for the revelation of the end of the surah, regarding His saying, 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:36.220 Exalted is He: "The Messenger has believed..."—and I do not wish to cite it at length here so as not to prolong things— 00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:41.220 read it and perceive the profound state of the Companions, as they mentioned 00:05:41.220 --> 00:05:46.220 the burdensome obligations placed upon them: prayer, fasting, jihad, 00:05:46.220 --> 00:05:50.220 and charity. Recall the rulings contained in the surah, for it includes the mention of 00:05:50.220 --> 00:05:54.220 prayer, fasting, jihad, and charity. Charity is mentioned in the context of 00:05:54.220 --> 00:05:59.259 financial matters and in other verses. Bear in mind that the Companions 00:05:59.259 --> 00:06:02.259 were nurtured upon this surah, upon other surahs, and upon these rulings. 00:06:02.259 --> 00:06:06.259 “O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender.” (4:171) 00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:09.350 “Unto Allah (belongeth) whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth; and whether ye make known what is in your minds or hide it, Allah will bring you to account for it. He will forgive whom He will and He will punish whom He will. Allah is Able to do all things.” (2:284) 00:06:09.350 --> 00:06:13.350 How deeply the Companions lived with this surah! This is wherewith I conclude 00:06:13.350 --> 00:06:18.350 my remarks, and I say: having heard this concise yet comprehensive exposition, 00:06:18.350 --> 00:06:24.480 make sure, during Ramadan and after Ramadan, that you dedicate 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:32.480 personal effort to studying, understanding the fiqh of, and practicing Surah 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:36.480 al-Baqarah. Remember what I mentioned previously, that Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:40.480 with him and his father, spent four years with this surah 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:45.480 learning it. How commendable it is for an individual to allocate a period of 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:49.480 time for himself—a year, two years, or more—to truly learn Surah al-Baqarah. 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:52.480 Whenever students studied Surah al-Baqarah in Tafsir under some of the scholars, 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:56.480 the scholar would say: "By mastering this, you have acquired what 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:59.480 will aid you in reading through the entire Tafsir." Therefore, let us be diligent regarding 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:03.480 Surah al-Baqarah, seeking the help of Allah first and last, and let us not neglect 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:06.480 it hereafter, just as we do not neglect al-Fatihah, nor neglect any part 00:07:07.480 --> 00:07:12.480 of the Qur'an. With al-Fatihah, we diversify and read from its Tafsir from time to time 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:16.480 so that it remains ever fresh, while al-Baqarah requires sustained devotion over a period 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:20.480 of time, that we may be among the companions of Surah al-Baqarah. 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:22.480 May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and Companions, 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:24.480 all together. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.