Nice comment on the identification cards of 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 The Graceful Commentary

0:32 upon the book *Introductory Profiles

0:35 of the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an*

0:37 by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nasif,

0:42 may Allah preserve him.

0:43 Surah al-Baqarah.

0:46 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah,

0:49 and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.

0:52 Today's lesson in the graceful commentary

0:54 upon the book introducing the surahs of the Noble Qur'an

0:57 focuses on Surah al-Baqarah,

0:58 the longest surah in the Qur'an.

1:00 Because of this, I will dedicate to it

1:02 two or three segments.

1:04 In this particular segment,

1:06 I shall confine myself

1:07 to three reflective pauses.

1:09 The first pause concerns the occasions of revelation (asbab al-nuzul).

1:11 I mentioned here

1:13 that Surah al-Baqarah has

1:14 sixty-eight occasions of revelation,

1:17 whereas I mentioned regarding al-Fatihah

1:20 that no occasion of revelation was recorded for it.

1:21 One of the esteemed scholars raised an objection

1:23 whom I met after the book was printed,

1:26 asking, "What was the methodology adopted here?"

1:29 The truth is that I did indicate

1:32 the methodology,

1:32 yet the matter perhaps required further elaboration.

1:35 So I say:

1:37 I relied upon a single book regarding the occasions of revelation,

1:40 which is *Al-Sahih min Asbab al-Nuzul*

1:43 by 'Isam al-Humaydan.

1:45 Such is the title of the book:

1:46 *Al-Sahih min Asbab al-Nuzul*

1:49 by 'Isam al-Humaydan.

1:51 The methodology was to cite his tally,

1:54 and then I might offer a critique,

1:56 noting that a narration is mursal,

1:58 weak,

1:59 or the like.

2:01 This critique was mostly drawn from the book

2:04 *Al-Muharrar fi Asbab al-Nuzul*

2:06 by Dr. Khalid al-Muzayni.

2:09 Furthermore, you may find an analytical comment;

2:11 for instance, here I mentioned sixty-eight occasions in al-Baqarah,

2:14 and then clarified that some pertain to the opening of the surah,

2:19 while others pertain to other themes—

2:23 offering a kind of thematic overview of the occasions of revelation.

2:25 This was an analytical effort on my part,

2:28 aimed at enlightening the reader

2:30 about the significant events associated with the surah,

2:34 which in turn grants insight—or rather aids—

2:38 in understanding the chronology of revelation as well.

2:41 I ought to have followed this uniform methodology

2:46 throughout the entire book; however, the reality

2:48 is that the book was published without my maintaining this consistently,

2:52 except in the earliest surahs and a few others.

2:55 I ask Allah to assist me in a subsequent edition

2:58 to apply this very same method across all surahs,

3:02 discussing the core themes

3:05 around which those occasions revolved,

3:06 even though this naturally varies from one surah to another.

3:10 And Allah is the One whose help is sought.

3:11 There remains the question: why did I choose this particular book?

3:14 The fact is that this work,

3:16 within the scope of my reading—and books on occasions of revelation are very numerous—

3:21 is among the finest written on this subject,

3:24 for two primary reasons,

3:27 or rather for a single reason that branches into two considerations.

3:29 Some books were overly lenient, including fabricated narrations

3:33 without critical refinement;

3:34 they cited the fabricated, the extremely weak, and the weak,

3:36 recording every single report that was transmitted concerning occasions of revelation.

3:39 On the other hand, some works strictly applied the rigorous standards of hadith scholars

3:43 used for hadiths of legal rulings and the like.

3:46 The author took a balanced middle path;

3:47 for the early hadith scholars did not treat hadiths of legal rulings

3:51 —meaning the early authorities—

3:52 in the same manner they treated occasions of revelation,

3:54 reports of Tafsir, and the like.

3:56 The author adopted a praiseworthy middle course according to

4:01 my understanding and assessment,

4:03 positioning himself between those who record any narration indiscriminately

4:05 and those who are overly rigid, treating

4:09 occasions of revelation as though they were hadiths on legal rulings.

4:13 For that reason, I selected this book,

4:15 *Al-Sahih min Asbab al-Nuzul*.

4:17 It was printed long ago, so it may not be readily available in bookstores,

4:20 though it might be found online,

4:22 having been published in the year 1420 AH.

4:25 That was the first edition, which is the one in my possession,

4:27 and I do not know whether it was reprinted thereafter.

4:30 The second pause: the importance of devoting oneself to Surah al-Baqarah.

4:34 This is because it is the longest surah in the Qur'an,

4:37 encompasses numerous legal rulings,

4:40 and is called the pinnacle of the Qur'an.

4:43 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, called out—

4:46 when he commanded al-'Abbas to summon the Companions at the Battle of Hunayn—

4:49 "O companions of Surah al-Baqarah!"

4:51 It is also reported that the rallying cry of the Muslims at the Battle of al-Yamamah was:

4:57 "O companions of Surah al-Baqarah!"

4:59 From some of this, Ibn 'Ashur deduced

5:03 that the Companions devoted themselves to this surah with tremendous dedication.

5:06 It has been established through a good chain of transmission

5:08 that Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father,

5:11 spent four years learning this surah.

5:14 Therefore, a person should eagerly cherish this surah,

5:16 dedicating to it of his time and effort

5:19 a great deal, learning it and acting in accordance with it.

5:23 The third pause concerns the structural sections of the surah.

5:28 The opening of the surah spans twenty verses,

5:31 discussing the righteous, the disbelievers, and the hypocrites.

5:36 Then the first main section begins with the words of the Exalted:

5:39 "O mankind, worship your Lord."

5:41 I wish to speak about this section

5:43 and conclude this reflection of mine with it.

5:46 This section commands the worship of Allah leading to piety (taqwa).

5:51 I will not delve into all that was mentioned in the book;

5:54 you may refer back to it and review the detailed commentary.

5:57 However, I wish to point out that this section, as it were,

6:01 prepares the ground from its very beginning for the change of the Qiblah,

6:05 which occurs towards the end of this section, approximately,

6:10 and is linked to it, even though these are relatively few verses.

6:13 Five occasions of revelation are connected with it, as noted

6:17 and recorded among the occasions of revelation for this surah,

6:19 which demonstrates the momentous nature of this event—

6:22 the event of the changing of the Qiblah.

6:24 This is a matter that I believe still warrants further study;

6:27 I have not encountered an in-depth treatment

6:29 discussing the distinctiveness of this Ummah

6:31 and why it was uniquely designated with this Qiblah.

6:34 There may well be subtle indications that I have not come across,

6:37 for everything preceding it serves as a preparation for it.

6:40 Bear in mind from the opening of the surah

6:42 that it will lead you to see that the Qiblah of the Muslims

6:46 is distinct from the Qiblah of others.

6:48 Thereafter, at the conclusion of this section, comes

6:51 the preparation of the Muslims

6:53 through seeking help through patience and prayer,

6:55 so that they may embrace the legal rulings

6:59 that will be presented to them in the second section.

7:01 At the close of this section, there is also

7:04 the warning against concealing what Allah has revealed

7:06 of clear proofs and guidance.

7:08 This is what I wished to state:

7:10 reflect upon the matter of the change of the Qiblah;

7:12 prior to it, there is a critique dissuading reliance upon the state of the People of the Book,

7:16 an exposition of the flaws in their conduct

7:19 after Allah had favored them above the worlds,

7:22 and an exposition of the leadership (imamah) of Ibrahim, peace be upon him.

7:25 All of this is intimately connected with the Qiblah,

7:27 and upon deep reflection, this will become manifest to you, by Allah's leave.

7:32 One may also consult the extensive commentary in this regard.

7:36 I will suffice with this much.

7:37 May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad,

7:38 and upon all his family and companions,

7:39 and all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Nice comment on the identification cards of the surahs of the Holy Qur’an | D. Muhammad Nassif | Surah Al-Baqarah (1)

Transcript