Exegesis of Surat Qaf, verses (36-45), and other selected verses, and what is derived from them.
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The Shaykh : We had begun with Surat Qaf until we reached the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Qaf 50:36] When the Quraysh used to deny the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and reject the resurrection, saying, “If we die and become dust and bones, will we really be brought back to life?” Allah (Mighty and Majestic) warned them that what happened to the nations before them would happen to them, so He said:[Maryam 19:74] That is, We destroyed many generations. Here, “generation” means “generations,” as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Isra 17:17] So many nations did Allah (Mighty and Majestic) destroy when they denied the messengers.[Qaf 50:36] That is, they searched the lands seeking an escape and a refuge from the punishment of Allah, but they found no escape. For this reason, He said:[Qaf 50:36] That is, there is no escape for them.[Saba 34:51-52] So what befell the people who first denied the messengers will befall these people second. — Come closer a little, come closer, come closer, straighten the row — it will befall these people second, because Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) says:[Muhammad 47:10]
Then He (Mighty and Majestic) said:[Qaf 50:37] "Indeed, in that" — meaning the aforementioned great verses, including what Allah the Exalted narrated or indicated in these noble verses regarding the destruction of previous nations — "there is a reminder" for two types of people. The first is one who has a heart, meaning one who has intellect and reason by which he is guided through reflection. [Qaf 50:37] meaning he listens to others who admonish him while his heart is present. So Allah the Exalted clarified that the reminder is for two types of people: the first is one who has intellect and awareness, who reflects and contemplates on his own and knows; the second is one who listens to others, but on the condition that he is a witness, meaning his heart is present. As for one who does not listen to the admonition, or listens without a present heart, or does not have intellect by which to reflect, he does not benefit from this reminder, because he is heedless and his heart is dead.
Then He (Mighty and Majestic) said:[Qaf 50:38] These are three great creations. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) clarified that He created them in six days, and He affirmed this news with three affirmations: the oath, the lam, and "qad." The estimation of the verse is: "Allah, We have certainly created the heavens and the earth." The heavens are known to us all, and they are seven heavens, one above another. The earth is this earth on which we are, and it is seven earths, as explicitly stated in the Sunnah and as apparent in the Qur'an in His saying: [At-Talaq 65:12] meaning between the heaven and the earth. What is between the heaven and the earth are great creations, indicated by their greatness by the fact that Allah made them equivalent to the creation of the heavens and the creation of the earth. So they are great creations. And now, as science advances in astronomy, it has become apparent from the signs of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in what is between the heaven and the earth what was not known to many people before. [Al-A'raf 7:54] The first is Monday and the last is Friday. If He (Mighty and Majestic) had willed, He could have created them in an instant, for His command, when He wills something, is to say to it "Be," and it is. But He (Exalted and Majestic is He) creates things through causes and preliminaries that complete gradually until they are finished. Just as, if He had willed, He could have created the fetus in its mother's womb in an instant, but He creates it in stages until it is complete. Similarly, the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if He had willed, He could have created them in an instant, but He (Mighty and Majestic) creates things to complete gradually. Some scholars said that in this there is another benefit, which is that He teaches His servants to be deliberate in matters and not to take things quickly, because the important thing is perfection, not haste and speed. [Qaf 50:38] meaning no fatigue or weariness touched Us. This is like His saying: [Al-Ahqaf 46:33] So He (Mighty and Majestic) created these great heavens and earths and what is between them without fatigue or weariness. And fatigue is negated for Him (Exalted and Majestic is He) due to the perfection of His strength and power. [Fatir 35:44] And He (Mighty and Majestic) said in another verse: [Al-Ahqaf 46:35] "Be patient, for the outcome is for the righteous." And they say that Muhammad is a liar, a sorcerer, a poet, a soothsayer, and a madman, and that there is no resurrection. Even if they acknowledge the Lord (Mighty and Majestic) and that He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, they do not acknowledge the matters of the unseen future. So Allah commanded him to be patient with what they say. Patience with what they say includes two things: the first is not to be annoyed by what these people say, and to bear what his enemies say about him and what he brought. The second is to proceed in calling to Allah and not to be lazy.
[Qaf 50:39] Recite tasbih accompanied by praise at these two times, before the rising of the sun and before the setting of the sun. Most of the exegetes said that this refers to the Fajr prayer and the 'Asr prayer, which are the best of the five prayers. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 635a And the two cool times are Fajr, which contains the coolness of the night, and 'Asr, which contains the coolness of the day. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So the prayer before the sun rises is Fajr, and the prayer before it sets is 'Asr. In this is evidence that maintaining these two prayers is among the causes of entering Paradise and seeing the Face of Allah the Noble. The best of them is 'Asr, because Allah the Exalted singled it out by name when He commanded the maintenance of the prayers, saying:[Al-Baqarah 2:238] And it is 'Asr, as interpreted by the one most knowledgeable of creation regarding the Book of Allah, who is the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).[Taha 20:130] What is meant? Fajr. And before sunset, what is meant is the 'Asr prayer.[Qaf 50:40] Also, glorify Allah during the night. The word "part" here indicates a portion, meaning he should also glorify Him for a part of the night. This includes the Maghrib prayer and the 'Isha' prayer, and it also includes the tahajjud prayer. That is, glorify Allah after the prostrations, meaning after the prayers. Does the reference to glorification after the prostrations here mean the voluntary prayers performed after the obligatory ones, such as the rawatib after the Zuhr, the rawatib after the Maghrib, and the rawatib after the 'Isha'? Or does it mean the specific dhikr, which is "Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar"? There are two opinions among the exegetes, but if one were to say that it includes both, that would have a basis.[Qaf 50:40-42] That is, wait for this call that occurs when the Trumpet is blown and the people are gathered.[Qaf 50:42] That is, the Day. from the graves And what comes after that?
The student:[Qaf 50:43]
The Shaykh :[Qaf 50:43] "Indeed, We" — Allah speaks about Himself — to magnify it. So He is capable of giving life after death and causing death after life. And to Us is the return, meaning the destination. [Qaf 50:44] meaning their destination is to Us at that time. The earth will split open, meaning it will open for them, meaning for these people in their graves, as the earth splits open when plants sprout. meaning they will come quickly to the gathering place. [Qaf 50:44] meaning it is easy for Us, because Allah the Exalted says in His Book: [An-Nazi'at 79:13-14] And He says: [Ya-Sin 36:53] And this indicates the ease of that for Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
[Taha 20:104] And this is a warning to those who say about the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) what they say. Allah informed here that their state is not hidden from Him and that He knows what they say. Then He said: [Qaf 50:45] meaning I am not one who compels you, so I do not force you to submit and believe in Me. For this reason, He said in another verse: [Yunus 10:99] [Qaf 50:45] meaning admonish with the noble Qur'an those who fear My warning, meaning those who fear My warning with punishment. Because these are the ones who benefit from remembering the Qur'an. The Qur'an reminds all people, but only those who fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) benefit from it. We ask Allah to make us and you among those who remember His Book and are admonished by His verses. Now, to the questions. We start from the right. Those who are with us in the country do not have the right to ask questions; they only have the right to listen, out of respect for the guest.
The student: Shaykh, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : No, later, in order.
And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape?
وكم أهلكنا قبلهم من قرن هم أشد منهم بطشاً فنقبوا في البلاد هل من محيصAnd how many a generation have We destroyed before them
وكم أهلكنا قبلهم من قرنAnd how many have We destroyed from the generations after Noah
وكم أهلكنا من القرون من بعد نوحand had explored throughout the lands
فنقبوا في البلادIs there any place of escape?
هل من محيص(51) And if you could see when they are terrified but there is no escape, and they will be seized from a place nearby. (52) And they will [then] say, "We believe in it!" But how for them will be the taking [of faith] from a place far away?
ولو ترى إذ فزعوا فلا فوت وأخذوا من مكان قريب وقالوا آمنا به وأنى لهم التناوش من مكان بعيدHave they not traveled through the land and seen how was the end of those before them? Allah destroyed [everything] over them, and for the disbelievers is something comparable.
أفلم يسيروا في الأرض فينظروا كيف كان عاقبة الذين من قبلهم دمر الله عليهم وللكافرين أمثالهاThen He (Mighty and Majestic) said:
Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind].
إن في ذلك لذكرى لمن كان له قلب أو ألقى السمع وهو شهيدor who listens while he is present [in mind].
أو ألقى السمع وهو شهيدThen He (Mighty and Majestic) said:
And We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and there touched Us no weariness.
ولقد خلقنا السماوات والأرض وما بينهما في ستة أيام وما مسنا من لغوبIt is Allah who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them
الله الذي خلق سبع سماوات ومن الأرض مثلهنAnd what is between them
وما بينهماIndeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.
في ستة أيامand there touched Us no weariness.
وما مسنا من لغوبDo they not see that Allah, who created the heavens and earth and did not fail in their creation
أولم يروا أن الله الذي خلق السماوات والأرض ولم يعي بخلقهنBut Allah is not to be caused failure by anything in the heavens or on the earth. Indeed, He is ever Knowing and Competent.
وما كان الله ليعجزه من شيء في السماوات ولا في الأرض إنه كان عليماً قديراًSo be patient with what they say
فاصبر على ما يقولونSo be patient, [O Muhammad], as were those of determination among the messengers and do not be impatient for them. It will be - on the Day they see that which they are promised - as though they had not remained [in the world] except an hour of a day
فاصبر كما صبر أولو العزم من الرسل ولا تستعجل لهم كأنهم يوم يرون ما يوعدون لم يلبثوا إلا ساعة من نهارSo be patient with what they say
فاصبر على ما يقولونand exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting,
وسبح بحمد ربك قبل طلوع الشمس وقبل الغروبHe who observed two prayers at two cool (hours) would enter Paradise.
من صلى البردين دخل الجنةYou will see your Lord as you see the full moon on the night of the full moon, and you will not be hindered in seeing Him. So if you can, do not be prevented from the prayer before the rising of the sun and the prayer before its setting.
إنكم سترون ربكم كما ترون القمر ليلة البدر لا تضامون في رؤيته فإن استطعتم ألا تغلبوا على صلاة قبل طلوع الشمس وصلاة قبل غروبها فافعلواMaintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer
حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطىexalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun
سبح بحمد ربك قبل طلوع الشمسAnd [in part] of the night exalt Him
ومن الليل فسبحهAnd after the prostrations
وأدبار السجود(40) And [in part] of the night exalt Him and after prostration. (41) And listen on the Day when the Caller will call out from a place that is near - (42) The Day they will hear the blast [of the Horn] in truth. That is the Day of Emergence [from the graves].
ومن الليل فسبحه وأدبار السجود واستمع يوم يناد المنادي من مكان قريب يوم يسمعون الصيحة بالحق ذلك يوم الخروجThe Day they will hear the blast [of the Horn] in truth. That
يوم يسمعون الصيحة بالحق ذلكThe Day of Departure
يوم الخروجThat is the Day of Departure
ذلك يوم الخروجThe student:
Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death
إنا نحن نحي ونميتThe Shaykh :
Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us is the destination
إنا نحن نحي ونميت وإلينا المصيرIndeed, We
إنا نحنWe give life and cause death
نحي ونميتOn the Day the earth breaks away from them [and they emerge] rapidly
يوم تشقق الأرض عنهم سراعاًSwiftly
سراعاًthat is a gathering easy for Us.
ذلك حشر علينا يسير(13) Indeed, it will be but one shout, (14) And suddenly they will be [alert] upon the earth's surface.
فإنما هي زجرة واحدة فإذا هم بالساهرةIt will not be but one blast, and at once they are all brought present before Us.
إن كانت إلا صيحة واحدة فإذا هم جميع لدينا محضرونWe are most knowing of what they say
نحن أعلم بما يقولونand you are not over them a tyrant
وما أنت عليهم بجبارThen, [O Muhammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers?
أفأنت تكره الناس حتى يكونوا مؤمنينBut remind by the Qur'an whoever fears My threat.
فذكر بالقرآن من يخاف وعيدThe student: Shaykh, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : No, later, in order.