WEBVTT

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In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

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Milestones on the path to steadfastness.

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Connection to the Qur'an.

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Among the means of steadfastness is:

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Connection to the Qur'an,

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through recitation and contemplation,

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and through knowledge and action.

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For the magnificent Qur'an

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is one of the greatest sources of steadfastness,

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especially during times of tribulation.

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It is no wonder that Allah begins

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the surah that speaks of tribulations,

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which is Surah al-Kahf,

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by speaking of the Qur'an.

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He, the Exalted, says:

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“Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hath not placed therein any crookedness,” (18:1)

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[He has sent down] upon His servant the Book,

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“Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hath not placed therein any crookedness,” (18:1)

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making it upright, to warn of

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a severe punishment

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from Him and to give good tidings to

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the believers,

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and to give good tidings to the believers

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who do

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righteous deeds

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that they will have a reward

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good.

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And if the youths

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took refuge in their physical cave

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to escape from tribulations,

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then the cave of every believer

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until the Day of Resurrection

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is the Qur'an,

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for whoever holds fast to it [is saved].

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“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)

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The Exalted says:

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And when We substitute a verse

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in place of a verse—

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and Allah

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is most knowing of what He sends down—

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they say,

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"You are but

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an inventor [of lies]."

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But

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most of them do not know.

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Say,

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"The Holy Spirit has brought it down

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from your Lord

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in truth to make firm

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those who believe,

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to make firm

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those who believe,

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and as guidance and good tidings

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to the Muslims."

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And He said,

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"And those who disbelieve say,

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'Why was

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the Qur'an not sent down to him all at

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once?'

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Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby

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your heart,

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and We have spaced it distinctly."

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Al-Sa'di said in his Tafsir:

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This is among the

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suggestions of the disbelievers,

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which their own souls

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suggest to them.

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So they said,

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“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)

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"All at once,"

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meaning, just as the scriptures were sent down before it.

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And what is the objection

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to its being sent down in this manner?

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Rather, its being sent down in

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this manner is more complete

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and better.

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Likewise,

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We sent it down in stages

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to strengthen your heart thereby,

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because every time

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something of the Qur'an was revealed to him,

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he increased in tranquility

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and steadfastness,

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especially when faced with

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causes of anxiety.

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For the revelation of the Qur'an at the occurrence

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of the cause has

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a great impact and provides much steadfastness,

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more effectively than

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if it had been revealed before that,

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and then he remembered it

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upon the arrival of its cause.

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Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, has revealed

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the Qur'an to the people

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so that they may contemplate its verses,

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and He criticized those who do not contemplate it

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and do not understand it.

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The Exalted says:

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"[This is] a Book which We have revealed

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to you, blessed,

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that they may contemplate its verses,

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that they may contemplate its verses,

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and that those

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of understanding may be reminded."

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And He said:

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"Then do they not reflect upon

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the Qur'an, or

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are there locks

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upon [their] hearts?"

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And He said:

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"Then do they not reflect upon

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the Qur'an?

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And if it had been

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“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)

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they would have found within it

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much contradiction."

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Milestones

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on the path of

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steadfastness.