Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: (And the sky with the constellations, and the Day of Promise. And a witness and a witnessed)
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The Shaykh : On the twenty-second of Ramadan in the year 1420, we listened to what our imam recited in the Fajr prayer. Here are two surahs. - Please stand - Yes? Al-Buruj and Al-Ghashiyah.
Allah Mighty and Majestic said:[Al-Buruj 85:1] This waw is for the oath. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Buruj 85:1] The waw is a letter of oath, and the sky is what is sworn by. And is a description of this sky, meaning the one possessing the constellations. Al-Buruj is the plural of burj, which is a high building. The constellations in the sky contain great stars, and each group is called a burj. They - meaning the constellations - are twelve constellations: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. These are twelve constellations. Each three of them are in a season. The spring season has the first three. Then the summer season has the second three. Then the autumn season has the third three. Then the winter season has the fourth three. Allah the Exalted swore by the sky with the constellations because of the signs therein indicating the greatness of its Creator, Mighty and Majestic. For this sky, despite its height and strength, is created by Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He. It is not ancient, meaning it is not eternal, but it is created and not everlasting, because it will be destroyed in the end, as He Mighty and Majestic said: [Al-Anbya 21:104]. And He Mighty and Majestic said: [Az-Zumar 39:67]. Then He swore by something else and said: which is the Day of Resurrection, for it is a great day which Allah the Exalted described with many great descriptions that this place does not allow for mentioning. But they are present in the Book and the Sunnah. This also happens on the Day of Resurrection. This nation is a witness over the nations before it, as He Mighty and Majestic said: [Al-Baqarah 2:143] What? [Al-Baqarah 2:143]. Then this nation is witnessed over by its Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), as Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said in the same verse: [Al-Baqarah 2:143]. And He Mighty and Majestic said: [An-Nisa 4:41] meaning how will the situation be? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Abdullah ibn Mas'ud to recite the Qur'an to him. And Abdullah ibn Mas'ud was the best of the readers in recitation, to the extent that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said: Sahih al-Bukhari 5056 - May the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. Pray upon him. May the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him - أحب أن أسمعه من غيري يقول فقرأت عليه من سورة النساء فلما بلغتُ قول الله عز وجل : فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ شَهِيدًا قال : حسبك I love to hear it from someone else. He said: So I recited to him from Surat al-Nisa, and when I reached the words of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: "So how will it be when We bring from every nation a witness and We bring you as a witness over these?" He said: That is enough for you. meaning that was sufficient. He said: from tears, because he remembered this great situation. [An-Nisa 4:41]. Allah Mighty and Majestic says: [An-Nisa 4:42]. And this is like His saying: [An-Naba 78:40] [An-Nisa 4:42].
So when is the witness and the witnessed? On the Day of Resurrection.
Allah Mighty and Majestic said:
By the sky containing great stars
والسماء ذات البروجBy the sky containing great stars
والسماء ذات البروجWith the constellations
ذات البروجThe Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is] a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it.
يوم نطوي السماء كطي السجل للكتب كما بدأنا أول خلق نعيده وعدا علينا إنا كنا فاعلينThey have not appraised Allah with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be [within] His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand
وما قدروا الله حق قدره والأرض جميعا قبضته يوم القيامة والسموات مطويات بيمينهAnd the Day of Promise
واليوم الموعودAnd a witness and a witnessed
وشاهد ومشهودAnd a witness and a witnessed
شاهد ومشهودAnd thus we have made you a just community
وكذلك جعلناكم أمة وسطاthat you will be witnesses over the people
لتكونوا شهداء على الناسthat you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you
لتكونوا شهداء على الناس ويكون الرسول عليكم شهيداSo how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and we bring you, [O Muhammad] against these [people] as a witness?
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ شَهِيدًاWhoever wants to read the Qur'an fresh as it was revealed, let him read with the recitation of Ibn Umm Abd.
من أراد أن يقرأ القرآن غضا كما أنزل فليقرأ بقراءة ابن أم عبدI said to him. "Shall I recite (it) to you while it has been revealed to you?" He said, "I like to hear it from another person."
يا رسول كيف أقرا القرآن وعليك أنزل ؟ قال : إني أحب أن أسمعه من غيريSo I looked, and behold, his eyes were overflowing with tears.
فنظرت فإذا عيناه تذرفانSo how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and we bring you, [O Muhammad] against these [people] as a witness?
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ شَهِيدًاThat Day, those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger will wish they could be covered by the earth
يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَعَصَوُا الرَّسُولَ لَوْ تُسَوَّى بِهِمُ الْأَرْضُand the disbeliever will say, "Oh, I wish that I were dust!"
يقول الكافر يا ليتني كنت تراباAnd they will not conceal from Allah a [single] statement.
وَلَا يَكْتُمُونَ اللَّهَ حَدِيثًاSo when is the witness and the witnessed? On the Day of Resurrection.