Mentioning a rule in tafsir: "If a verse has multiple meanings that do not contradict each other, and none is more preferred than the others, then apply it to the general case," with

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The Shaykh : And we will give you a benefit in tafsir: If you see a verse that encompasses multiple meanings that do not contradict each other, and none is more preferred than the others, then apply it to what?
The student: ... .

The Shaykh : Apply it to the general case. This is a benefit that serves the student of knowledge. Look at the saying of Allah the Exalted:

⁽¹⁷⁾ And by the night as it closes in ⁽¹⁸⁾ And by the dawn when it breathes

وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ

[At-Takwir 81:17-18]

What did the exegetes say about

departs

عسعس

? They said: It approached. Some of them said: It departed. That Allah swore by the night when it approaches, and some say: He swore by the night when it departs. Do you understand that the verse encompasses both meanings? Since

departs

عسعس

is among the verbs of opposites in the Arabic language, verbs that apply to a thing and its opposite. Well, which one do you apply the verse to? What? To the general case, meaning to both meanings together. We say: Allah the Exalted swore by the night when it approaches and the night when it departs, because the approach and departure of the night are among the greatest signs of Allah:

Say: "Have you considered if Allah made the night for you continuous until the Day of Resurrection? Who is a god other than Allah that would bring you light? Do you not hear? Say: "Have you considered if Allah made the day for you continuous until the Day of Resurrection? Who is a god other than Allah that would bring you a night in which you rest? Do you not see? And from His mercy He made for you the night and the day that you may rest in them and seek from His bounty, and perhaps you will be grateful."

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ اللَّيْلَ سَرْمَداً إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ إِلَهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِضِيَاءٍ أَفَلا تَسْمَعُونَ قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ النَّهَارَ سَرْمَداً إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ إِلَهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِلَيْلٍ تَسْكُنُونَ فِيهِ أَفَلا تُبْصِرُونَ وَمِنْ رَحْمَتِهِ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لِتَسْكُنُوا فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Well, if the saying of Allah the Exalted:

And to Him is the destination

وإليه المصير

encompasses what? The general case. The destination in the Hereafter, the destination in the Shari'ah, the destination in divine decree, everything. The destination is to Allah Mighty and Majestic. Allah the Exalted said:

And that to your Lord is the end

وَأَنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الْمُنْتَهَى

and

And indeed to your Lord is the return

إِنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَى

Source alathar.net

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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