1
00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:03,609
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

2
00:00:03,609 --> 00:00:08,460
Milestones on the path to steadfastness.

3
00:00:08,460 --> 00:00:13,689
Connection to the Qur'an.

4
00:00:13,689 --> 00:00:18,510
Among the means of steadfastness is:

5
00:00:18,510 --> 00:00:20,710
Connection to the Qur'an,

6
00:00:20,710 --> 00:00:22,910
through recitation and contemplation,

7
00:00:22,910 --> 00:00:24,910
and through knowledge and action.

8
00:00:24,910 --> 00:00:27,140
For the magnificent Qur'an

9
00:00:27,140 --> 00:00:29,140
is one of the greatest sources of steadfastness,

10
00:00:29,140 --> 00:00:32,140
especially during times of tribulation.

11
00:00:32,829 --> 00:00:35,229
It is no wonder that Allah begins

12
00:00:35,229 --> 00:00:38,429
the surah that speaks of tribulations,

13
00:00:38,429 --> 00:00:40,429
which is Surah al-Kahf,

14
00:00:40,429 --> 00:00:42,829
by speaking of the Qur'an.

15
00:00:42,829 --> 00:00:44,829
He, the Exalted, says:

16
00:00:44,829 --> 00:00:48,429
“Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hath not placed therein any crookedness,” (18:1)

17
00:00:48,429 --> 00:00:50,429
[He has sent down] upon His servant the Book,

18
00:00:50,429 --> 00:00:53,630
“Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hath not placed therein any crookedness,” (18:1)

19
00:00:53,630 --> 00:00:56,030
making it upright, to warn of

20
00:00:56,030 --> 00:00:59,030
a severe punishment

21
00:00:59,030 --> 00:01:01,030
from Him and to give good tidings to

22
00:01:01,030 --> 00:01:03,030
the believers,

23
00:01:03,030 --> 00:01:05,030
and to give good tidings to the believers

24
00:01:05,030 --> 00:01:07,030
who do

25
00:01:07,030 --> 00:01:09,030
righteous deeds

26
00:01:09,030 --> 00:01:11,030
that they will have a reward

27
00:01:11,030 --> 00:01:13,420
good.

28
00:01:13,420 --> 00:01:15,420
And if the youths

29
00:01:15,420 --> 00:01:17,420
took refuge in their physical cave

30
00:01:17,420 --> 00:01:19,420
to escape from tribulations,

31
00:01:19,420 --> 00:01:21,420
then the cave of every believer

32
00:01:21,420 --> 00:01:23,420
until the Day of Resurrection

33
00:01:23,420 --> 00:01:25,420
is the Qur'an,

34
00:01:25,420 --> 00:01:27,420
for whoever holds fast to it [is saved].

35
00:01:27,420 --> 00:01:29,420
“How can ye disbelieve, when it is ye unto whom Allah's revelations are recited, and His messenger is in your midst? He who holdeth fast to Allah, he indeed is guided unto a right path.” (3:101)

36
00:01:29,420 --> 00:01:31,540
The Exalted says:

37
00:01:31,540 --> 00:01:33,540
And when We substitute a verse

38
00:01:33,540 --> 00:01:35,540
in place of a verse—

39
00:01:35,540 --> 00:01:37,540
and Allah

40
00:01:37,540 --> 00:01:39,540
is most knowing of what He sends down—

41
00:01:39,540 --> 00:01:41,540
they say,

42
00:01:41,540 --> 00:01:43,540
"You are but

43
00:01:43,540 --> 00:01:45,540
an inventor [of lies]."

44
00:01:45,540 --> 00:01:47,540
But

45
00:01:47,540 --> 00:01:49,540
most of them do not know.

46
00:01:49,540 --> 00:01:51,540
Say,

47
00:01:51,540 --> 00:01:53,540
"The Holy Spirit has brought it down

48
00:01:53,540 --> 00:01:55,540
from your Lord

49
00:01:55,540 --> 00:01:57,540
in truth to make firm

50
00:01:57,540 --> 00:01:59,540
those who believe,

51
00:01:59,540 --> 00:02:01,540
to make firm

52
00:02:01,540 --> 00:02:03,540
those who believe,

53
00:02:03,540 --> 00:02:05,540
and as guidance and good tidings

54
00:02:05,540 --> 00:02:07,540
to the Muslims."

55
00:02:09,539 --> 00:02:11,770
And He said,

56
00:02:11,770 --> 00:02:13,770
"And those who disbelieve say,

57
00:02:13,770 --> 00:02:15,770
'Why was

58
00:02:15,770 --> 00:02:17,770
the Qur'an not sent down to him all at

59
00:02:17,770 --> 00:02:19,770
once?'

60
00:02:19,770 --> 00:02:21,770
Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby

61
00:02:21,770 --> 00:02:23,770
your heart,

62
00:02:23,770 --> 00:02:25,770
and We have spaced it distinctly."

63
00:02:25,770 --> 00:02:28,379
Al-Sa'di said in his Tafsir:

64
00:02:28,379 --> 00:02:30,379
This is among the

65
00:02:30,379 --> 00:02:32,379
suggestions of the disbelievers,

66
00:02:32,379 --> 00:02:34,379
which their own souls

67
00:02:34,379 --> 00:02:36,379
suggest to them.

68
00:02:36,379 --> 00:02:38,379
So they said,

69
00:02:38,379 --> 00:02:40,379
“And those who disbelieve say: Why is the Qur'an not revealed unto him all at once? (It is revealed) thus that We may strengthen thy heart therewith; and We have arranged it in right order.” (25:32)

70
00:02:40,379 --> 00:02:42,379
"All at once,"

71
00:02:42,379 --> 00:02:44,379
meaning, just as the scriptures were sent down before it.

72
00:02:44,379 --> 00:02:46,379
And what is the objection

73
00:02:46,379 --> 00:02:48,379
to its being sent down in this manner?

74
00:02:48,379 --> 00:02:50,379
Rather, its being sent down in

75
00:02:50,379 --> 00:02:52,379
this manner is more complete

76
00:02:52,379 --> 00:02:54,379
and better.

77
00:02:54,379 --> 00:02:56,379
Likewise,

78
00:02:56,379 --> 00:02:58,379
We sent it down in stages

79
00:02:58,379 --> 00:03:00,379
to strengthen your heart thereby,

80
00:03:00,379 --> 00:03:02,469
because every time

81
00:03:02,469 --> 00:03:04,469
something of the Qur'an was revealed to him,

82
00:03:04,469 --> 00:03:06,469
he increased in tranquility

83
00:03:06,469 --> 00:03:08,469
and steadfastness,

84
00:03:08,469 --> 00:03:10,469
especially when faced with

85
00:03:10,469 --> 00:03:12,569
causes of anxiety.

86
00:03:12,569 --> 00:03:14,569
For the revelation of the Qur'an at the occurrence

87
00:03:14,569 --> 00:03:16,569
of the cause has

88
00:03:16,569 --> 00:03:18,569
a great impact and provides much steadfastness,

89
00:03:18,569 --> 00:03:20,569
more effectively than

90
00:03:20,569 --> 00:03:22,569
if it had been revealed before that,

91
00:03:22,569 --> 00:03:24,569
and then he remembered it

92
00:03:24,569 --> 00:03:26,699
upon the arrival of its cause.

93
00:03:26,699 --> 00:03:28,699
Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, has revealed

94
00:03:28,699 --> 00:03:30,699
the Qur'an to the people

95
00:03:30,699 --> 00:03:32,699
so that they may contemplate its verses,

96
00:03:32,699 --> 00:03:34,699
and He criticized those who do not contemplate it

97
00:03:34,699 --> 00:03:36,729
and do not understand it.

98
00:03:36,729 --> 00:03:38,729
The Exalted says:

99
00:03:38,729 --> 00:03:40,729
"[This is] a Book which We have revealed

100
00:03:40,729 --> 00:03:42,729
to you, blessed,

101
00:03:42,729 --> 00:03:44,729
that they may contemplate its verses,

102
00:03:44,729 --> 00:03:46,729
that they may contemplate its verses,

103
00:03:46,729 --> 00:03:48,729
and that those

104
00:03:48,729 --> 00:03:50,729
of understanding may be reminded."

105
00:03:50,729 --> 00:03:52,759
And He said:

106
00:03:52,759 --> 00:03:54,759
"Then do they not reflect upon

107
00:03:54,759 --> 00:03:56,759
the Qur'an, or

108
00:03:56,759 --> 00:03:58,759
are there locks

109
00:03:58,759 --> 00:04:00,759
upon [their] hearts?"

110
00:04:00,759 --> 00:04:02,979
And He said:

111
00:04:02,979 --> 00:04:04,979
"Then do they not reflect upon

112
00:04:04,979 --> 00:04:06,979
the Qur'an?

113
00:04:06,979 --> 00:04:08,979
And if it had been

114
00:04:08,979 --> 00:04:10,979
“Will they not then ponder on the Qur'an? If it had been from other than Allah they would have found therein much incongruity.” (4:82)

115
00:04:10,979 --> 00:04:12,979
they would have found within it

116
00:04:12,979 --> 00:04:14,979
much contradiction."

117
00:04:14,979 --> 00:04:18,230
Milestones

118
00:04:18,230 --> 00:04:20,230
on the path of

119
00:04:20,230 --> 00:04:22,230
steadfastness.