1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,759 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:32,299 The gentle commentary 3 00:00:32,299 --> 00:00:35,299 on the book *Profile Cards* 4 00:00:35,299 --> 00:00:38,299 *for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an* 5 00:00:38,299 --> 00:00:42,299 by Dr. Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Umar Nassif, 6 00:00:42,299 --> 00:00:44,460 may Allah preserve him. 7 00:00:44,460 --> 00:00:46,460 Surah al-Hashr. 8 00:00:46,460 --> 00:00:48,460 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 9 00:00:48,460 --> 00:00:50,460 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, 10 00:00:50,460 --> 00:00:53,460 and may peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, 11 00:00:53,460 --> 00:00:55,460 and upon all his family and Companions. 12 00:00:55,460 --> 00:00:58,460 We continue with our gentle commentary on the profile cards, 13 00:00:58,460 --> 00:01:00,460 and we have arrived at Surah al-Hashr. 14 00:01:00,460 --> 00:01:02,679 I have three points of reflection regarding it. 15 00:01:02,679 --> 00:01:04,680 The first reflection 16 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,680 concerns the importance of the Prophetic biography (Seerah) 17 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,680 in understanding the verses and surahs of the Qur'an. 18 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:13,840 For indeed, Surah al-Hashr, 19 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,840 the beginning of it was revealed concerning the Expedition of Banu an-Nadir, 20 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,840 which is why it is also called "Surah Bani an-Nadir." 21 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:21,870 Furthermore, 22 00:01:21,870 --> 00:01:24,870 the more a person studies the Seerah, 23 00:01:24,870 --> 00:01:26,030 the more 24 00:01:26,030 --> 00:01:30,030 they understand the verses that describe the events of the Seerah 25 00:01:30,030 --> 00:01:32,030 to a far greater degree. 26 00:01:32,030 --> 00:01:35,030 Although the Qur'an is the supreme judge and not judged by anything else, 27 00:01:35,030 --> 00:01:38,030 you may find an event described in the Seerah 28 00:01:38,030 --> 00:01:41,030 through the eyes of the Companion who witnessed the incident. 29 00:01:41,030 --> 00:01:43,030 However, 30 00:01:43,030 --> 00:01:45,030 when the Lord of the worlds describes it, 31 00:01:45,030 --> 00:01:48,030 His word is the ultimate truth that cannot be surpassed. 32 00:01:48,030 --> 00:01:50,030 Nevertheless, examining the Seerah 33 00:01:50,030 --> 00:01:52,030 provides us with details 34 00:01:52,030 --> 00:01:55,030 and insights that help us understand 35 00:01:55,030 --> 00:01:57,030 and grasp the feelings of the Companions 36 00:01:57,030 --> 00:02:00,030 on the day the event occurred, and how 37 00:02:00,030 --> 00:02:03,030 Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, nurtured them 38 00:02:03,030 --> 00:02:07,189 through these magnificent surahs that were revealed alongside those events. 39 00:02:07,189 --> 00:02:09,189 As for the second reflection, 40 00:02:09,189 --> 00:02:12,189 it is the profound need 41 00:02:12,189 --> 00:02:16,189 for those verses that addressed the events of the Seerah. 42 00:02:16,189 --> 00:02:19,189 For the struggle between truth and falsehood 43 00:02:19,189 --> 00:02:22,189 is recurring and similar across time. 44 00:02:22,189 --> 00:02:25,189 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went through diverse and manifold situations 45 00:02:25,189 --> 00:02:29,289 with the people of falsehood, 46 00:02:29,289 --> 00:02:31,289 and whenever an event took place, 47 00:02:31,289 --> 00:02:33,349 there was revealed 48 00:02:33,349 --> 00:02:35,349 that which helped 49 00:02:35,349 --> 00:02:38,349 the Muslims see the incident 50 00:02:38,349 --> 00:02:40,580 for what it truly was. 51 00:02:40,580 --> 00:02:44,580 "You did not kill them, but it was Allah who killed them" in Surah al-Anfal 52 00:02:44,580 --> 00:02:45,580 is an example, 53 00:02:45,580 --> 00:02:48,699 and here: "He is the One who..." 54 00:02:48,699 --> 00:02:52,699 “He it is Who hath caused those of the People of the Scripture who disbelieved to go forth from their homes unto the first exile. Ye deemed not that they would go forth, while they deemed that their strongholds would protect them from Allah. But Allah reached them from a place whereof they recked not, and cast terror in their hearts so that they ruined their houses with their own hands and the hands of the believers. So learn a lesson, O ye who have eyes!” (59:2) 55 00:02:52,699 --> 00:02:53,699 is another example. 56 00:02:53,699 --> 00:02:55,770 And I reiterate and state 57 00:02:55,770 --> 00:02:57,770 more precisely: 58 00:02:57,770 --> 00:03:00,770 indeed, many of the events that occurred 59 00:03:00,770 --> 00:03:02,770 recur in every era, 60 00:03:02,770 --> 00:03:04,960 and the verses came to address them. 61 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,960 We do not say that for every single incident that occurs, 62 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:08,960 there is revealed— 63 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,020 a specific verse is revealed; if I misspoke 64 00:03:12,020 --> 00:03:14,020 earlier, I correct myself here. 65 00:03:14,020 --> 00:03:16,020 Rather, I say that 66 00:03:16,020 --> 00:03:19,020 Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, in His wisdom, 67 00:03:19,020 --> 00:03:22,020 revealed verses alongside those events 68 00:03:22,020 --> 00:03:24,020 that addressed those specific occurrences, 69 00:03:24,020 --> 00:03:25,020 so that they became 70 00:03:25,020 --> 00:03:27,020 a model to be followed, 71 00:03:27,020 --> 00:03:29,020 from which the Ummah may benefit 72 00:03:29,020 --> 00:03:31,020 for all time, because events 73 00:03:31,020 --> 00:03:33,020 repeat themselves in one way or another. 74 00:03:33,020 --> 00:03:35,020 Thus, Surah al-Hashr, 75 00:03:35,020 --> 00:03:37,020 like other surahs 76 00:03:37,020 --> 00:03:39,020 that were revealed on account of a specific incident, 77 00:03:39,020 --> 00:03:42,020 requires us to gain insight from it and reflect deeply. 78 00:03:42,020 --> 00:03:44,060 So if a similar event 79 00:03:44,060 --> 00:03:46,060 recurs, 80 00:03:46,060 --> 00:03:48,060 we will know how to handle it. 81 00:03:48,060 --> 00:03:49,060 It is from Allah's wisdom— 82 00:03:49,060 --> 00:03:51,060 and perhaps I have pointed this out before— 83 00:03:51,060 --> 00:03:53,060 that Allah did not make the life of the Prophet, peace be upon him, 84 00:03:53,060 --> 00:03:56,060 proceed in a single, unchanging manner; 85 00:03:56,060 --> 00:03:59,060 rather, he transitioned from one state to another, 86 00:03:59,060 --> 00:04:02,060 and the Hereafter remained better for him than the first life, 87 00:04:02,060 --> 00:04:05,060 until he passed away, 88 00:04:05,060 --> 00:04:07,060 peace and blessings be upon him, 89 00:04:07,060 --> 00:04:10,060 to the Highest Companionship. 90 00:04:10,060 --> 00:04:12,060 As for the third reflection, 91 00:04:12,060 --> 00:04:15,060 it concerns this unique passage 92 00:04:15,060 --> 00:04:17,060 that appears at the end of this surah. 93 00:04:17,060 --> 00:04:19,060 There are passages in the Qur'an 94 00:04:19,060 --> 00:04:21,060 structured in an unprecedented way, 95 00:04:21,060 --> 00:04:24,060 and among them is this passage at the end of the surah: 96 00:04:24,060 --> 00:04:28,060 “He is Allah, than Whom there is no other Allah, the Knower of the Invisible and the Visible. He is the Beneficent, Merciful.” (59:22) 97 00:04:28,060 --> 00:04:31,060 “He is Allah, than Whom there is no other Allah, the Knower of the Invisible and the Visible. He is the Beneficent, Merciful.” (59:22) 98 00:04:31,060 --> 00:04:34,060 these two or three verses. 99 00:04:34,060 --> 00:04:36,060 These verses contain 100 00:04:36,060 --> 00:04:39,060 a large number of Allah's Most Beautiful Names 101 00:04:39,060 --> 00:04:41,060 mentioned in immediate succession, 102 00:04:41,060 --> 00:04:45,060 and you will never find this in any other surah. 103 00:04:45,060 --> 00:04:47,060 You may find two consecutive names, 104 00:04:47,060 --> 00:04:49,060 or you might find four names, 105 00:04:49,060 --> 00:04:53,060 but to have the names listed in this manner— 106 00:04:53,060 --> 00:04:57,060 fourteen of His names, Glorified and Exalted be He, 107 00:04:57,060 --> 00:04:59,060 at the conclusion of this surah— 108 00:04:59,060 --> 00:05:01,060 is truly remarkable. 109 00:05:01,060 --> 00:05:03,060 Such an unrepeated style 110 00:05:03,060 --> 00:05:07,060 requires special contemplation to understand 111 00:05:07,060 --> 00:05:10,060 why this surah was uniquely distinguished by it. 112 00:05:10,060 --> 00:05:12,060 Some scholars have examined this— 113 00:05:12,060 --> 00:05:15,060 namely, at-Tahir ibn 'Ashur in his Tafsir— 114 00:05:15,060 --> 00:05:19,060 looking at these names and connecting all of them 115 00:05:19,060 --> 00:05:23,060 to the incident of the Expedition of Banu an-Nadir, 116 00:05:23,060 --> 00:05:27,060 which was mentioned at the beginning of the surah. 117 00:05:27,060 --> 00:05:30,060 From this, a methodology can be derived 118 00:05:30,060 --> 00:05:34,060 on how to recognize Allah's Most Beautiful Names 119 00:05:34,060 --> 00:05:37,060 within the events that a person experiences. 120 00:05:37,060 --> 00:05:39,060 This is an immensely important matter, 121 00:05:39,060 --> 00:05:41,060 because everything a person undergoes 122 00:05:41,060 --> 00:05:45,060 is tied to Allah's decree, preordainment, wisdom, 123 00:05:45,060 --> 00:05:48,060 and knowledge, Glorified and Exalted be He. 124 00:05:48,060 --> 00:05:50,060 Often, we interpret an event 125 00:05:50,060 --> 00:05:52,060 in isolation from Allah's Names, 126 00:05:52,060 --> 00:05:54,060 and so we stray or lose our way. 127 00:05:54,060 --> 00:05:58,060 But when we see Allah's Names manifest in the event, 128 00:05:58,060 --> 00:06:02,060 it transforms how we feel about it 129 00:06:02,060 --> 00:06:04,220 and changes our response to it. 130 00:06:04,220 --> 00:06:07,220 Whoever is granted understanding in this domain 131 00:06:07,220 --> 00:06:09,220 has been granted immense good, 132 00:06:09,220 --> 00:06:14,220 accompanied by tranquility, contentment, and peace of mind. 133 00:06:14,220 --> 00:06:17,220 I ask Allah to grant us profound understanding 134 00:06:17,220 --> 00:06:20,220 of His Book, and our final supplication is: [Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds]. 135 00:06:20,220 --> 00:06:22,220 “Their prayer therein will be: Glory be to Thee, O Allah! and their greeting therein will be: Peace. And the conclusion of their prayer will be: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds!” (10:10) 136 00:06:22,220 --> 00:06:24,220 And may Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, 137 00:06:24,220 --> 00:06:26,220 and upon all his family and Companions.