Part of The Gentle Commentary (series completed)
· Lesson 8 of 117
The nice comment on the book of cards identifying the surahs of the Holy Qur’an | D. Muhammad Nassif | Surah Al-Ma'un
0:000:00
Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
0:00
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
0:03
"The Subtle Commentary on the Identification Cards
0:08
of the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an"
0:11
by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nasif,
0:15
may Allah protect him.
0:17
Surah al-Ma'un.
0:20
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
0:21
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds,
0:24
and peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers,
0:27
and upon his family and all of his Companions.
0:29
We continue with the gentle commentary on the identification cards,
0:33
and we have reached Surah al-Ma'un.
0:36
I have three reflections on it.
0:38
The first reflection
0:40
is that the surah brings together two groups:
0:43
a group that denies the Day of Recompense,
0:46
and a hypocritical, ostentatious group.
0:51
So, what is the common thread between the two groups?
0:54
It is the malice of the inner self.
0:58
For the one who denies the Day of Judgment
1:01
has a corrupt, vile inner self,
1:02
which leads to vile actions.
1:05
Likewise, the one who shows off
1:08
has a corrupt inner self,
1:10
even though some of his outward deeds
1:14
may appear good.
1:15
However, there is no value to that outward goodness.
1:18
This reminds me of the hadith
1:20
in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) compared
1:24
the hypocrite
1:25
who recites the Qur'an to a sweet basil plant:
1:30
its scent is pleasant,
1:32
but its taste
1:34
is bitter.
1:34
And we seek refuge with Allah.
1:35
A person might indeed be deceived
1:37
by this outward appearance,
1:39
but what truly matters is what lies within.
1:42
As for
1:43
the hypocrite—or in another narration, the wicked person—
1:46
the wicked person who does not recite the Qur'an,
1:48
his likeness is like that of
1:50
the colocynth:
1:52
it has no scent, and its taste is bitter.
1:55
Thus, the one who denies the Day of Judgment
1:57
is just like the colocynth,
1:59
while the one who shows off in his prayer
2:02
is most like the sweet basil plant.
2:05
Both of them
2:06
have an inner reality that is
2:08
corrupt
2:09
and bitter.
2:10
We ask Allah
2:12
for safety.
2:12
As for the second reflection,
2:14
it is a message to everyone who believes in the Day of Judgment:
2:19
if this
2:20
is the state and condition
2:22
of the one who denies the Day of Judgment,
2:24
then how ought you
2:25
to be, O believer in the Day of Judgment?
2:27
You believe in the Day of Recompense,
2:29
so prove it through your deeds,
2:31
and let that creed
2:34
have an impact on your life.
2:37
Stay completely away
2:38
from the traits that
2:40
are the direct fruits
2:42
of denying the Day of Judgment.
2:44
As for the third reflection,
2:46
it pertains to the word *al-ma'un*,
2:48
which
2:49
is the name of the surah.
2:51
It is a comprehensive
2:52
word.
2:53
For this reason,
2:55
some scholars who synthesized the various exegetical views—
2:57
since there are multiple interpretations of this verse,
3:00
which are of the nature of
3:01
complementary
3:02
diversity—
3:03
said that the root meaning of *al-ma'un*
3:05
is the utility and benefit derived from anything.
3:07
Thus, the meaning is that they withhold from people
3:09
the benefits of what they possess.
3:11
Indeed,
3:12
I can say that the word *al-ma'un*
3:14
reminds us
3:15
of a societal characteristic
3:17
by which you can discern
3:19
their closeness
3:20
to Allah,
3:21
or discern,
3:22
in phrasing
3:23
more suited to the surah,
3:25
their belief or disbelief in the Day of Judgment.
3:28
For if you see them
3:29
assisting one another as much as they can,
3:32
lending what they can,
3:34
and providing any form of benefit,
3:36
then this is a clear sign
3:37
that this
3:39
person—
3:39
indeed, this entire community—
3:41
is upon goodness
3:42
and truly believes in the Day of Recompense.
3:45
But if you see these deeds diminishing
3:47
and withering away,
3:48
then this
3:49
portends grave danger.
3:51
We ask Allah for safety.
3:52
And Allah knows best.
3:53
May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad,
3:55
and upon his family and all of his Companions.
3:57
And all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.