Mentioning the benefits of His saying, the Exalted: "O you who believe."
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The Shaykh : Here we pause. Why did Allah begin the command with this call? That is one point. Why did He direct it specifically to the believers? That is a second point. Why did Allah begin this command, "Wash your faces," with a call? It is out of care for it, to alert the one being addressed. When the one being addressed is called out, he pays attention. Right now, you are listening to me, but if I were to say, "O so-and-so," would he pay attention or not? He would pay attention. So, if Allah begins an address with a call, know that this is an increase in care for it, because a call necessitates the attention of the one being addressed. Do you agree with this? Yes. So, the benefit of beginning this ruling or this address with a call is, what? It is an alert to the care taken with it. That is why it began with a call.
The second question: Why was the call directed to the believers? Yes, for three benefits:
The first: This is from the category of encouragement and exhortation. It is from the category of encouragement and exhortation, as if He said: If you are truly a believer, then do what I am commanding you to do. The parallel to this is if you say to a man, "O generous one, give charity." If you say, "O generous one, give charity," it is more eloquent than if you said, "O man, give charity," because the implication of his generosity is, what? That he should give charity. So, directing the address to the believers is from the category of encouragement to action and obedience, because the more complete a person is in faith, the more he executes the command of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. This is the benefit.
The second benefit: That obeying these commands is among the implications of faith. Because for the sake of your faith, do this thing. So, it is an implication of faith that a person should stand by these commands.
The third benefit: That opposing these commands is a deficiency in faith. Because if the address is directed to you in your capacity as a believer and you do not act, what happens? Your faith decreases. So, these are, O my brothers, three benefits in directing the address to the believers. Who has memorized them? Who has memorized the three benefits? Please, stand up. No, I wanted that one over there.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Correct.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Fine.
The student: The second benefit.
The Shaykh : It is among the implications of faith. Yes.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Now, the third. Who would like to answer?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : That leaving the action is a deficiency in faith. Correct. And it is reported from Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "When you hear Allah saying, 'O you who believe,' give it your hearing", meaning listen to it, "for it is either good that you are commanded to do, or evil that you are forbidden from". Good.
When you stand up for prayer, wash your faces
إذا قمتم إلى الصلاة فاغسلوا وجوهكمThe second question: Why was the call directed to the believers? Yes, for three benefits:
The first: This is from the category of encouragement and exhortation. It is from the category of encouragement and exhortation, as if He said: If you are truly a believer, then do what I am commanding you to do. The parallel to this is if you say to a man, "O generous one, give charity." If you say, "O generous one, give charity," it is more eloquent than if you said, "O man, give charity," because the implication of his generosity is, what? That he should give charity. So, directing the address to the believers is from the category of encouragement to action and obedience, because the more complete a person is in faith, the more he executes the command of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. This is the benefit.
The second benefit: That obeying these commands is among the implications of faith. Because for the sake of your faith, do this thing. So, it is an implication of faith that a person should stand by these commands.
The third benefit: That opposing these commands is a deficiency in faith. Because if the address is directed to you in your capacity as a believer and you do not act, what happens? Your faith decreases. So, these are, O my brothers, three benefits in directing the address to the believers. Who has memorized them? Who has memorized the three benefits? Please, stand up. No, I wanted that one over there.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Correct.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Fine.
The student: The second benefit.
The Shaykh : It is among the implications of faith. Yes.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Now, the third. Who would like to answer?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : That leaving the action is a deficiency in faith. Correct. And it is reported from Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "When you hear Allah saying, 'O you who believe,' give it your hearing", meaning listen to it, "for it is either good that you are commanded to do, or evil that you are forbidden from". Good.