Exegesis of Surat al-Filq. Allah the Exalted said: "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak." And an explanation of the categories of address directed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and their examples.
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The Shaykh :[Al-Falaq 113:1] The word "Say" is a command, and the one being addressed is singular. Is this address directed solely to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), or is it directed to everyone to whom it is appropriate to direct the address, meaning to every individual?
Yes, the correct view is that it is directed to every individual. Know that the address directed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is divided into three categories:
The first category is that which the context indicates is specific to him. This is specific to him and does not extend to others. An example of this is the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Ad-Duhaa 93:2-3] To whom is the address here, "and leave"? To the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is specific to him. Likewise, the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Ash-Sharh 94:1-2] and so on. To whom is the address? It is specific to him.
The second category is that in which the context indicates generality. An example is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[At-Talaq 65:1] Here, to whom is the address directed first? To whom? To the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) Then he generalized and said: [At-Talaq 65:1] So this address is what? It is general for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and for the Ummah.
The third category is that in which the address is directed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), but there is no context indicating that it is for him alone or for him and others. This is common in the Qur'an. An example is:[Al-Ma'un 107:1-2] To whom is the address, "Have you seen"? To the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), but it is general for the Ummah, general for the Ummah. And likewise, what we are currently discussing: [Al-Falaq 113:1] The address, brother? Stand up.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : The address is singular but it is intended to be general. May Allah reward you. It means "O you who are addressed," so it is for the general public. [Al-Falaq 113:1-2] up to the end of it. Before it is Surat al-Ikhlas [Al-Ikhlas 112:1] and after it is Surat al-Nas [An-Nas 114:1].
These commands are from Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Some of the atheists say that we do not need to say[Al-Falaq 113:1] [An-Nas 114:1] [Al-Ikhlas 112:1] but rather we should say "He is Allah, the One. I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak. I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind," because Allah says "Say," and what is said is not the same as the command to say it. But this is due to their misguidance, ignorance, and atheism. Because when you say [Al-Ikhlas 112:1] [Al-Falaq 113:1] [An-Nas 114:1] you feel that the One who commanded you to do this is whom? What? Allah. But if you said "I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak. I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind," you would not feel this; you would have said it from yourself. But the atheists raise objections to people. However, praise be to Allah, even the lowest of people knows that this is a doubt and misguidance.
[Al-Falaq 113:1] What does "I seek refuge" mean? "I seek refuge" means: I take hold of Allah against all that is disliked. That is, I take hold of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and He is the best Master and the best Helper. Whoever takes hold of His Majesty finds what pleases him. [Al-Hajj 22:38] So the meaning of "I seek refuge" is what? It means I take hold of the Lord of the Daybreak. And who is the Lord of the Daybreak? It is Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Al-Falaq (the Daybreak) has two meanings: the first is the breaking of the dawn, and the second is the splitting of the seed. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said regarding the first: "The Splitter of the Dawn." What is this splitting? The splitting of the dawn. And in the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) regarding the beginning of revelation to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), she said: Sahih al-Bukhari 3.
The second type of al-Falaq is: the splitting of the seed and the pith. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-An'am 6:95].
What is the seed? "Indeed, Allah is the Splitter of the seed and the pip." What is the seed? Is the question for the specific? Yes. And what is the seed?
Seeds, like wheat, barley, and corn. Okay. And the pips?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : What?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : So, the Lord of the Daybreak is Allah. And regarding the Daybreak?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : What?
O you who are the Prophet, if you divorce women, then divorce them when they are at the end of their waiting period.
The Shaykh : The pith of the date and other fruits. The olive has no pith, right? Yes? Okay, rest. So who is able to split this dry, withered seed so that it becomes a plant? Who can do this? No one can except Allah, Mighty and Majestic. This hard pit is planted in the ground, and Allah brings out from it a palm tree. Who can do this? Allah, Mighty and Majestic. For this reason, it came in the hadith:Sahih al-Bukhari 7559 It is a Holy Hadith. Sahih al-Bukhari 5953 Can anyone do this? No. What about a living animal, even a small one? It cannot. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: [Al-Hajj 22:73] Complete it. Complete it?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh :[Al-Hajj 22:73] If every one of those worshipped besides Allah were asked to create a fly, and it is the lightest of animals or insects, they would not be able to.
I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak from the evil of what He has created.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : The first thing that began with the revelation was the true vision. So he did not see a vision except that it came like the splitting of the dawn.
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
قل أعوذ برب الفلقYes, the correct view is that it is directed to every individual. Know that the address directed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is divided into three categories:
The first category is that which the context indicates is specific to him. This is specific to him and does not extend to others. An example of this is the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
(2) And [by] the night when it covers with darkness, (3) Your Lord has not taken leave of you, [O Muhammad], nor has He detested [you].
والضحى والليل إذا سجى ما ودعك ربك وما قلى(1) Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast? (2) And We removed from you your burden
ألم نشرح لك صدرك ووضعنا عنك وزركThe second category is that in which the context indicates generality. An example is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them
يا أبها النبي إذا طلقتم النساء فطلقوهنO Prophet
يا أيها النبيwhen you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period
إذا طلقتم النساء فطلقوهن لعدتهنThe third category is that in which the address is directed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), but there is no context indicating that it is for him alone or for him and others. This is common in the Qur'an. An example is:
(1) Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense? (2) For that is the one who drives away the orphan
أرأيت الذي يكذب بالدين فذلك الذي يدع اليتيمSay, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
قل أعوذ برب الفلقThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : The address is singular
Say
قلSay
قل(1) Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak (2) From the evil of that which He created
أعوذ برب الفلق من شر ما خلقSay, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قل هو الله أحدSay, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
قل أعوذ برب الناسThese commands are from Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Some of the atheists say that we do not need to say
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
قل أعوذ برب الفلقSay, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
قل أعوذ برب الناسSay, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قل هو الله أحدSay, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قل هو الله أحدSay, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
قل أعوذ برب الفلقSay, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
قل أعوذ برب الناسSay, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
قل أعوذ برب الفلقIndeed, Allah defends those who have believed
إن الله يدافع عن الذين آمنواThe Splitter of the Dawn
فالق الإصباحThe commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright daylight
كان أول ما بدء به من الوحي الرؤية الصالحة فكان لا يرى رؤيا إلا جاءت مثل فلق الصبحThe second type of al-Falaq is: the splitting of the seed and the pith. Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, Allah is the cleaver of grain and date seeds
إن الله فالق الحب والنوىWhat is the seed? "Indeed, Allah is the Splitter of the seed and the pip." What is the seed? Is the question for the specific? Yes. And what is the seed?
Seeds, like wheat, barley, and corn. Okay. And the pips?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : What?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : So, the Lord of the Daybreak is Allah. And regarding the Daybreak?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : What?
O you who are the Prophet, if you divorce women, then divorce them when they are at the end of their waiting period.
The Shaykh : The pith of the date and other fruits. The olive has no pith, right? Yes? Okay, rest. So who is able to split this dry, withered seed so that it becomes a plant? Who can do this? No one can except Allah, Mighty and Majestic. This hard pit is planted in the ground, and Allah brings out from it a palm tree. Who can do this? Allah, Mighty and Majestic. For this reason, it came in the hadith:
Who are most unjust than those
ومن أظلم ممن ذهبWho would be more unjust than the one who tries to create the like of My creatures? Let them create a grain: let them create a gnat.
ومن أظلم ممن ذهب يخلق كخلقي فليخلقوا حبة أو ليخلقوا شعيرةIndeed, those you invoke besides Allah will never create
إن الذين تدعون من دون الله لن يخلقواThe student: ... .
The Shaykh :
will never create [as much as] a fly, even if they gathered together for that purpose
لن يخلقوا ذبابا ولو اجتمعوا لهI seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak from the evil of what He has created.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : The first thing that began with the revelation was the true vision. So he did not see a vision except that it came like the splitting of the dawn.