Part of The Gentle Commentary (series completed)
· Lesson 15 of 117
The nice comment on the book of cards identifying the surahs of the Holy Qur’an | D. Muhammad Nassif | Surah Al-Adiyat
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
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*The Graceful Commentary on the Book of Introductory Profiles*
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*of the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an,*
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by Dr. Muhammad ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Umar Nasif,
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may Allah preserve him.
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Surah al-'Adiyat.
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In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
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All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds,
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and may peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers,
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and upon all his family and Companions.
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We continue with *The Graceful Commentary on the Introductory Profiles*,
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and with Surah al-'Adiyat,
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regarding which I have three reflections to share.
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The first reflection
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concerns what was noted regarding the central theme of the surah:
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that it serves as a warning to man against being distracted from Allah and becoming intensely consumed by striving in this worldly life.
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Indeed, becoming distracted from Allah and forgetting Him,
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and even displaying ingratitude for His favors
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while relentlessly pursuing worldly ambitions,
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is a chronic ailment
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pointed out by this surah
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from its beginning up to His saying:
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“And lo! in the love of wealth he is violent.” (100:8)
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It is an ailment scarcely anyone is free from.
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As for striving in this world,
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there is no doubt that no one can do without it,
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yet it is often accompanied by an ailment to which this surah draws our attention.
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This brings us to the second reflection:
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the Qur'an is a cure;
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it does not merely diagnose the disease,
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but rather provides us with the remedy.
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And the remedy lies in the remainder of the surah:
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in remembering the Hereafter and what will take place therein.
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“Knoweth he not that, when the contents of the graves are poured forth” (100:9)
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“And the secrets of the breasts are made known,” (100:10)
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"Indeed, their Lord with them, that Day, is [fully] Acquainted."
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Compare these three concluding verses
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with what preceded them in the surah:
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you will first recognize the ailment,
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and then discern its cure.
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This is a point worthy of extensive contemplation.
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Consider, for example,
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man's strength and capability in his worldly endeavors.
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"By the racers, panting..."
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Galloping and raiding are attributed here
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to non-rational creatures,
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even though they are being driven.
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They run,
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but there is someone guiding them in their charge,
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and their riders are the ones launching the raid with them.
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Though they lack intellect,
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the action is directly attributed to them.
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But in the Hereafter,
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you—who actively strove in this world
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using your intellect to direct non-rational creatures—
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will be in a state of utter helplessness,
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“Knoweth he not that, when the contents of the graves are poured forth” (100:9)
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entirely subject to what is done to you.
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After having been an active agent of influence,
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you will become completely powerless
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as you are brought to meet your ultimate destiny.
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So remember, while you strive,
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that a Day awaits you when you will be driven,
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or carried along, toward your final reckoning.
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I ask Allah to make Paradise
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my abode and yours.
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As for the third reflection,
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it pertains to the placement of the surah in the Qur'anic order,
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and how it complements Surah al-Zalzalah
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in depicting the events of the Resurrection.
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Notice, however,
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that this surah
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dynamically connects the Hereafter with this worldly life,
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showing that we must not merely remember the Hereafter passively,
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but rather keep it actively in mind
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and let that awareness govern
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our striving and conduct in this world.
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This is unmistakably clear in this surah,
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just as it is also present in Surah al-Zalzalah.
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And Allah knows best.
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May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
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and upon all his family and Companions.
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All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.