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 Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

0:02 Gentle Commentary on the Book "Identification Cards for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an"

0:37 by Dr. Muhammad ibn Abdul Aziz ibn Umar Nasif, may Allah preserve him.

0:43 Surah At-Tur.

0:45 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.

0:50 We continue with our gentle commentary on the identification cards, focusing today on Surah At-Tur.

0:55 I have three reflective points to make regarding it.

0:58 The first point concerns what was mentioned regarding the order of its revelation; he stated:

1:05 "Its style is powerful." Naturally, having a powerful style suggests a relatively late period of revelation.

1:16 For generally, surahs intensify in power, debate with the disbelievers, and severe warnings

1:22 predominantly in what is conceived to be a relatively late stage of the Meccan period.

1:28 What corroborates the strength of its style is its profound impact upon those who heard it.

1:34 In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is reported on the authority of Jubayr ibn Mut'im—

1:39 who was a disbeliever at the time of this incident he relates, and only embraced Islam later,

1:44 years afterward—who said: "I heard the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, reciting Surat At-Tur in the Maghrib prayer."

1:50 This took place, as scholars have clarified, when he went to ransom the captives of Badr;

1:58 he came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, in Medina while still a disbeliever.

2:01 He said: "He was reciting Surat At-Tur in Maghrib, and when he reached this verse: 'Were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]?'

2:09 'Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, they have no firm belief. Or do they possess the treasuries of your Lord? Or are they the controllers?'

2:19 my heart almost took flight."

2:22 The hadith is recorded in both Sahihs. If you wish to examine further reports demonstrating the impact of this

2:31 this surah and its power upon those who heard it, then consult

2:38 Tafsir Ibn Kathir at the beginning of the surah as well as in his commentary on some of its verses.

2:45 Consult also the book Masā'id an-Nazar by al-Biqa'i,

2:50 for he cited several reports illustrating the tremendous impact of this surah upon whoever recited it or heard it.

2:59 Among its verses is the saying of the Exalted: "Burn therein! Then endure it patiently or do not endure it; it is all the same to you. You are only being recompensed for what you used to do."

3:07 And before it: "Is this magic, or do you not see? Burn therein! Then endure it patiently or do not endure it."

3:13 These are immensely powerful verses.

3:16 The second point concerns the central theme of the surah.

3:19 The reality is that the themes of the surahs, especially in the Mufassal section, have not been sufficiently reviewed,

3:28 and they require further refinement; among these is what was stated regarding this surah.

3:33 It was stated regarding its theme: "Many verses of the surah pertain to warning the disbelievers and giving glad tidings to the believers."

3:39 Yet if you reflect slightly—or indeed, even without reflection—you will realize that this is common across the surahs of the Qur'an:

3:46 warning the disbelievers and giving glad tidings to the believers.

3:49 Thus, it is not suitable to designate this as the distinguishing theme of the surah.

3:54 Rather, what is mentioned after that is what truly distinguishes the surah,

3:59 because there are elements shared across multiple surahs,

4:02 and there are elements unique to a surah, and it is the latter that ought to form the discussion of a surah's theme.

4:07 He noted: "along with the rational discourse that occupies approximately the last third of the surah."

4:14 This rational discourse is precisely what distinguishes the surah.

4:17 In fact, you hardly find another surah featuring a debate structured in this specific manner,

4:21 where the interrogative "Am" (or) and "Bal" (nay) are repeated so frequently as in this surah.

4:26 Here we ought to pause and reflect upon these rational arguments,

4:34 and how profoundly they affected that man while he was still a disbeliever:

4:37 "Were they created by nothing, or were they the creators?" along with what precedes and follows it.

4:41 This rational discourse is the most prominent and distinguishing feature of the surah.

4:47 Therefore, its central theme is perhaps establishing the proof against them while persistently reminding them.

4:53 This brings us to the third point.

4:56 The third point concerns the words of the Exalted: "Therefore remind: by the grace of your Lord, you are neither a soothsayer nor a madman."

5:03 This verse comes after the reminders at the beginning of the surah, the threats, the warnings, and the promises—

5:12 the punishment and the reward—whereupon He said: "Therefore remind."

5:16 Continue to remind, for he is the master of all who remind, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

5:20 It is as though this verse serves as the core pivot of the surah and its ultimate purpose:

5:27 to persistently remind while dispelling misconceptions and establishing the definitive proofs.

5:33 What precedes it is reminder, and what follows it is the substantiation of proofs and the elimination of doubts.

5:41 This verse deserves a lengthy pause for reflection.

5:44 My master at-Tahir ibn Ashur said concerning it:

5:47 "And this noble phrase has encompassed..."

5:50 meaning: "Therefore remind: by the grace of your Lord, you are neither a soothsayer nor a madman,"

5:54 "...qualities befitting the veneration of the one to whom it was addressed."

5:58 Then he elaborated—concisely yet richly—expounding profound meanings

6:03 through succinct words that cannot be adequately reproduced here or elaborated upon at length.

6:10 It requires contemplation, deep understanding, study, and perhaps collective examination.

6:17 I highly recommend referring to it.

6:19 It serves as definitive proof of the importance of studying the Arabic language sciences in general,

6:26 and the science of rhetoric (balaghah) in particular;

6:28 for it is an indispensable aid in grasping the meanings of the Magnificent Qur'an,

6:37 discerning its subtle secrets and fine nuances,

6:40 and identifying the overarching objectives of its surahs,

6:44 among many other benefits that would take too long to recount.

6:46 I shall suffice with this much.

6:48 And may Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and Companions.

6:50 And all praise is due 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 | Surat Al-Tur

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