The nice comment on the book of cards identifying the surahs of the Holy Qur’an | D. Muhammad Nassif

0:00 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

0:03 The commentary on the book *Bitaqat al-Ta'rif*

0:08 *bi-Suwar al-Mushaf al-Sharif*

0:11 By Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nasif,

0:15 May Allah preserve him.

0:17 Surah al-Humazah.

0:20 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

0:21 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds,

0:23 And may peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers,

0:26 And upon his family and all his Companions.

0:28 We continue with our commentary on the introductory cards of the Qur'an,

0:32 And we have arrived at Surah al-Humazah.

0:35 With regard to it, we have three reflections.

0:38 The first reflection is similar to our earlier reflections

0:42 Concerning surahs dedicated to a single, distinct theme,

0:46 And this surah is likewise dedicated.

0:49 This indicates to us the gravity of this matter,

0:53 Which is a critical moral and educational issue:

0:58 Slander and backbiting (al-hamz and al-lamz).

1:00 Both corrupt the individual and society,

1:03 And are extremely harmful.

1:06 Backbiting has indeed been classified

1:08 Among the major sins—in fact, a scholarly consensus has been reported on that.

1:12 Thus, this surah was uniquely dedicated to it:

1:14 Faulting people to their faces and defaming them behind their backs.

1:18 This surah was singularly revealed concerning this,

1:21 Which clearly shows that it is an issue

1:24 Of paramount importance.

1:25 We also note that this surah

1:27 Was revealed

1:29 In Makkah before many of the legal rulings were instituted.

1:32 Thus, the prohibition of slandering and backbiting

1:36 Came before the prohibition of intoxicants

1:39 And before many matters of the Shariah that we tend to emphasize.

1:43 Although those are indeed important,

1:44 This matter is even more critical.

1:47 From this, I move to the second reflection,

1:50 Which is a call

1:52 To bring the message of this surah closer [to the youth],

1:54 Just as I have urged regarding several of the short surahs:

1:58 I call for conveying the meanings of this surah to the rising generation.

2:03 It is among the most essential topics for primary school students to study—

2:07 That they study this surah

2:11 In a manner that firmly instills within them a deep fear

2:15 Of mentioning anyone unfavorably,

2:17 Whether to their face or behind their back.

2:20 As for the third reflection, it concerns the opening of the surah.

2:23 It is mentioned in the book

2:26 That it opens

2:28 With an invocation/imprecation (du'a).

2:30 They stated that this is the ninth type among the categories of surah openings mentioned in *al-Itqan*.

2:35 Two other surahs share this style of opening with it:

2:38 Al-Mutaffifin—

2:40 "Woe to the defrauders"—

2:41 And al-Masad: "May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined."

2:44 These three openings—

2:45 *Wayl* (woe) occurring twice,

2:47 It being mentioned twice,

2:49 And *Tabbat* (ruined)—

2:51 Are among what al-Suyuti

2:53 And others have categorized

2:54 As an invocation/imprecation.

2:57 This is how they classified it.

2:59 However, the leading scholar—

3:00 The great master of the Arabic language, Sibawayh—

3:03 Has a statement that is well worth mentioning here.

3:06 He did not approve of this terminology,

3:08 Because supplication (du'a) in its origin

3:11 Is directed from the lower to the higher.

3:13 This appears to be the reason for the reservation

3:17 Held by Sibawayh, may Allah have mercy on him.

3:18 Sibawayh says:

3:20 "As for the statement of Exalted Majesty:

3:24 'Woe, that Day, to the deniers,'

3:27 And: 'Woe to the defrauders,'

3:30 It is inappropriate to say that this is an invocation here,

3:35 For speaking of it in such terms is unbefitting."

3:37 Meaning, in this context,

3:38 When doing Tafsir of the speech of Allah,

3:42 One should not say that it is an invocation/imprecation,

3:45 Because speaking of it as such is unbefitting,

3:47 And phrasing it in that manner is improper.

3:49 "Rather, the servants

3:51 Were addressed in their own idiom,

3:52 And the Qur'an was revealed according to their language and what they intended by it.

3:56 Thus, it is as though—and Allah knows best—

3:58 It was declared to them:

3:59 'Woe to the defrauders,'

4:02 And: 'Woe, that Day, to the deniers,'

4:05 Meaning: these are people for whom such an assertion is deservedly due.

4:10 For such speech

4:11 Is only said to a person deserving of evil and ruin.

4:13 Thus it is declared:

4:15 'These are among those who have fallen into evil and ruin,

4:17 And this outcome is inevitable for them.'

4:19 For it is an instruction from Allah to His servants

4:22 Concerning what such individuals deserve"—

4:24 I ask Allah for safety—

4:25 "And it is not in the nature of an invocation."

4:29 Sibawayh's statement

4:31 Is profound, refined, and compelling,

4:32 And he is a foremost authority in the Arabic language.

4:36 Meanwhile, what is mentioned in the book

4:37 Is the view held by groups of scholars.

4:40 And Allah is Most High and All-Knowing.

4:42 May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad,

4:43 And upon his family and all his Companions,

4:45 And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

The nice comment on the book of cards identifying the surahs of the Holy Qur’an | D. Muhammad Nassif | Surah Al-Humza

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