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.

0:02 "The Subtle Commentary

0:32 on the Book of Profile Cards

0:35 for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an"

0:38 by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nasif,

0:42 may Allah preserve him.

0:44 Surah al-Ma'arij.

0:46 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.

0:51 We are still with "The Subtle Commentary on the Profile Cards."

0:54 We have reached Surah al-Ma'arij,

0:57 and I have three reflections on it.

1:00 The first reflection concerns its names.

1:02 It was mentioned in the card that among its names is "al-Waqi'."

1:05 The author said: "Because it occurs in its opening."

1:09 Of course, what is meant is that the word *waqi'*

1:12 occurs in its opening.

1:14 Therefore, had it been stated: "Because the word *waqi'* occurs in its opening,"

1:18 it might have been clearer.

1:20 Here is a beneficial insight

1:23 from the Tafsir of Ibn 'Ashur,

1:25 which is among the works of Tafsir that pay the greatest

1:28 attention

1:30 to the names of the surahs.

1:32 In it, there are numerous pointers that might

1:34 not be found

1:36 in this manner in any other book,

1:38 specifically in the introductions he provides before beginning

1:41 the exegesis of any surah.

1:43 He said: "These three names,

1:45 which are:

1:47 *al-Ma'arij*, *Sa'ala*, and *al-Waqi'*—"

1:49 and he may also add to them

1:52 *Sa'ala Sa'il*.

1:54 Al-Tahir mentioned *Sa'ala Sa'il*,

1:56 *al-Ma'arij*, and *al-Waqi'*.

1:59 He said: "These three names

2:01 are adapted from words

2:03 that occur at its beginning." This is

2:05 obvious, but

2:07 I am only quoting what I quoted in order to mention what follows it.

2:09 He said: "And the most specific of them

2:11 to it—"

2:13 because the most specific of these three names

2:15 to this surah is the phrase

2:17 *Sa'ala Sa'il*,

2:19 "because nothing like it occurs elsewhere;

2:21 however,

2:23 the dominant designation given to it became

2:25 *Surat al-Ma'arij*,

2:27 because it is lighter."

2:29 Al-Tahir Ibn 'Ashur always offers subtle

2:31 explanations.

2:33 He says that *Sa'ala Sa'il*

2:36 is the most distinctive phrase for this surah,

2:38 because it is not found in any other surah,

2:40 so it was the most deserving to be its name.

2:42 Yet, the dominant designation given to it became

2:44 *Surat al-Ma'arij*, which is the common name we use today.

2:46 He said: "Because it is lighter,"

2:48 meaning lighter in pronunciation.

2:50 One of the reasons a particular name becomes widespread

2:52 is that it is lighter to pronounce.

2:54 This is a subtle observation

2:56 from Imam

2:58 al-Tahir Ibn 'Ashur.

3:00 The second reflection concerns its theme.

3:02 In fact, the stated theme

3:04 requires modification.

3:06 It is more accurate

3:08 to say that its theme is:

3:10 expressing astonishment at the hastiness

3:12 of man, and clarifying

3:14 the remedy for

3:16 that hastiness

3:18 in facing the Day of Resurrection.

3:20 The reality is that

3:22 the two themes—the theme of hastiness

3:24 and the theme of the Resurrection—are deeply interwoven

3:26 in the surah,

3:28 in a manner that can only be found

3:30 in the Magnificent Qur'an.

3:32 I move from this

3:34 to the third reflection.

3:36 Of course, the remedy is clearly evident in

3:38 the characteristics mentioned:

3:40 "Except the observers of prayer..." through the rest of those qualities.

3:42 The third reflection

3:44 is that these names—

3:46 and *al-Ma'arij* (the Ways of Ascent) is what I will focus on—

3:48 are part of the remedy.

3:50 If we say that the surah speaks

3:52 about hastiness and its remedy,

3:54 what does that have to do with the name *al-Ma'arij*?

3:56 *Al-Ma'arij* is part of the remedy.

3:58 Whoever knows the Owner of the Ways of Ascent,

4:00 Glorified and Exalted is He,

4:02 and that the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him

4:04 in a Day

4:06 the measure of which is

4:08 fifty thousand years—

4:10 whoever conceptualizes this reality,

4:12 his hastiness will vanish.

4:14 "Indeed, they see it as distant, but We see it

4:16 as near." All of this,

4:19 along with recognizing

4:21 the true value of the time we live in,

4:23 and that there is no

4:25 comparison between it and the decree

4:27 with our Lord, Glorified and Exalted is He,

4:29 causes man to refrain

4:31 from haste.

4:33 Thus, the name of the surah

4:35 points to the greatness of Allah,

4:37 which calls us to deliberate

4:39 and reflect.

4:41 Regarding *al-Ma'arij*,

4:43 the exegetes have differed on its meaning.

4:45 “From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways” (70:3)

4:47 They said its meaning is the Owner of High Ranks,

4:49 Stations, Virtues,

4:51 and Blessings.

4:53 I mentioned this as an explanation

4:55 of the word's meaning;

4:57 otherwise, His saying: "The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him"

4:59 is what contains the explicit reminder

5:01 that the affair

5:03 ought not

5:05 to be based

5:07 upon haste.

5:09 "The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a Day

5:11 the measure of which is

5:13 fifty thousand years."

5:15 We ask Allah to grant us

5:17 proper deliberation and patience.

5:19 And may Allah send blessings upon our Prophet

5:21 Muhammad, and upon his family and companions

5:23 altogether. 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-Ma'arij

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