The meaning of "the former" in the saying of the Exalted: "A group of the former"
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The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, what is meant by "the former" in the saying of the Exalted: "All of you are from the former"? Are they the former of this Ummah?
The Shaykh:
It was said that this is the case; it was said that what is meant by them is the former of this Ummah, and a group of the latter from the end of this Ummah, both groups being in this Ummah. And it was said[Al-Waqi'ah 56:13-14] the first of creation, from the righteous servants of Allah from the first of creation, from Adam and those after him, and a group of the latter from this Ummah. So there are two opinions regarding the former: are they from the previous nations, or are they from the first of this Ummah? Yes.
The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh:
[Al-Waqi'ah 56:38-40], but regarding the predecessors, the Majestic and Exalted said about them [Al-Waqi'ah 56:13-14].
The questioner:
The issue of the problem.
The Shaykh:
The predecessors are the highest and most noble ranks of the Muslims. Yes.
The questioner:
And as for the matter.
The Shaykh:
The righteous are below them; the righteous are below them, below the predecessors. Yes.
The questioner:
Honorable.
The Shaykh:
They are called the people of the right hand; the righteous are the people of the right hand. Yes.
Honorable Shaykh, what is meant by "the former" in the saying of the Exalted: "All of you are from the former"? Are they the former of this Ummah?
The Shaykh:
It was said that this is the case; it was said that what is meant by them is the former of this Ummah, and a group of the latter from the end of this Ummah, both groups being in this Ummah. And it was said
(13) A [large] company of the former peoples
ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنَThe questioner:
Honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh:
(38) For the companions of the right [who are] (39) A company of the former peoples (40) And a company of the later peoples.
لِّأَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ(13) A [large] company of the former peoples (14) And a few of the later peoples,
ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَThe questioner:
The issue of the problem.
The Shaykh:
The predecessors are the highest and most noble ranks of the Muslims. Yes.
The questioner:
And as for the matter.
The Shaykh:
The righteous are below them; the righteous are below them, below the predecessors. Yes.
The questioner:
Honorable.
The Shaykh:
They are called the people of the right hand; the righteous are the people of the right hand. Yes.
Source
شرح قرة عيون الموحدين في تحقيق دعوة الأنبياء والمرسلين، باب من حقق التوحيد دخل الجنة بغير حساب — islamhouse.com (19:01)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.