Commentaries on the Al-Nuniyyah Poem and Books That Aid in Understanding It

The questioner:
It is not up to you.

The Shaykh:
The Al-Nuniyyah has no old commentaries. The best thing to rely on for understanding it is to refer to the words of the poet in his books. A person who has the capability should review the poet’s words in his books, such as *Al-Sawa’iq al-Mursalah*, *Ihram*, *Ittihad al-Juyush al-Islamiyyah*, *Madarij al-Salikin*, and the various books of Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him). For these are a poetic arrangement of the noble discussions contained in them. This is the best thing: to refer to his words in his books (may Allah have mercy on him), for this poem is a summary of what he mentioned in his books and what his teacher, the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, mentioned. So the best thing to rely on for understanding this poem is to refer to the books of the two Shaykhs: the poet and his teacher, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah. Because it is a summary of their words.
Some writings have been written on it recently, such as the writing of Shaykh Ahmad ibn Isa (may Allah have mercy on him). It is an attempt; it is not a commentary, meaning it is an attempt to clarify some things, and it has some benefit, but it is not sufficient. Shaykh Ibn Sa’di (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote brief notes on it, which also do not provide a commentary on the Al-Nuniyyah as required; rather, they are a clarification of some meanings. Therefore, he did not call it a commentary; he called it a clarification, *Tawdih al-Kafi ‘ala al-Shafi’i*. He did not call it a commentary. Shaykh Muhammad al-Hirras (may Allah have mercy on him), from the scholars of al-Azhar, wrote a commentary on it. He was a supporter of the Sunnah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and he was a pious, upright scholar upon the creed of the people of the Sunnah and the community. But in reality, he did not digest the words of the two Shaykhs as he should. However, his book is, in my opinion, the best attempt. Al-Hirras’s commentary is the best attempt, but it is not exactly the commentary required. Yes.

The questioner:
Thank you.

The Shaykh:
Shaykh Abd al-Latif only commented on the introduction. He wrote a booklet, I think, or he did not comment on it; rather, he wrote an introduction about it. Yes. It is said that he started to comment on it but did not complete it, and Allah knows best. Yes. Do you have something from it? Yes. Do you have something from his commentary? No, he did not comment on anything except the introduction. Absolutely, the one who knows it completely should refer to the words of the two Shaykhs for every chapter according to its context. For every chapter according to its context, he should refer to the words of the two Shaykhs.