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﴿ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴾

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Exegesis of Surat al-Dhariyat, verses (47-51), and other selected verses, and what is derived from them.

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The questioner : We begin this session by discussing verses in Surat al-Dhariyat from the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander. وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ
[Adh-Dhariyat 51:47]
In this verse, Allah the Exalted informs that He built the sky with strength, meaning: with power, as He said:
And constructed above you seven strong [heavens] وَبَنَيْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعاً شِدَاداً
[An-Naba 78:12]
The word "ayd" here is not the plural of "hand" as some people imagine and think that the meaning is that Allah built the sky with hands, meaning: with His two hands, Mighty and Majestic. That is because "ayd" here is a verbal noun from "a'ada ya'id" meaning: became strong. For this reason, Allah the Exalted did not attribute this word to His noble self, as He attributed it to His noble self in His saying:
Do they not see that We have created for them from what Our hands have made, grazing livestock أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُمْ مِمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَا أَنْعَاماً
[Ya-Sin 36:71]
So, whoever interprets "ayd" as strength here, it is not said that he is among those who engage in figurative interpretation that distorts words from their places; rather, it is correct interpretation.
And We are indeed expanding it وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ
Meaning: We expanded its spaces, because it is vast, great, and encompassing the earth from every side.
He said, the Exalted:
And the earth, We spread it out وَالْأَرْضَ فَرَشْنَاهَا
Meaning: We made it for its inhabitants like a soft, comfortable bed.
So We are the best of those who spread out فَنِعْمَ الْمَاهِدُونَ
He praised Himself, Blessed and Exalted is He, with this, because He is worthy of praise. And Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, made it for the people of the earth at a level that is beneficial for the servants. It is not so hard that people are unable to benefit from it, nor so soft that they cannot settle on it, but it is perfectly suitable for them. Although there is variation in it regarding softness and hardness, this does not prevent benefiting from it.
And of all things We created two mates; perhaps you will remember. وَمِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
[Adh-Dhariyat 51:49]
Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, created pairs of everything, opposing each other, so that the state is completed and rectified by the gathering of some to some. So, all animals, from humans and others, are all from pairs: between male and female, as Allah the Exalted said:
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوباً وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا
[Al-Hujurat 49:13]
Except that Adam, peace be upon him, was created by Allah with His hand without a mother or father, and He paired him with Hawwa, who was created from a father without a mother. And 'Isa ibn Maryam was created from a mother without a father. For this reason, people divide humans into four categories: the first is one created without a mother or father, which is Adam.
And the second is one created from a father without a mother, which is Hawwa.
And the third is one created from a mother without a father, which is 'Isa. And the rest of humans were created from a male and a female.
From every thing, Allah created pairs: dryness and moisture, heat and cold, softness and hardness, and other things, by which, if a person reflects, he knows the wisdom of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
So that you may remember لعلكم تذكرون
Meaning: We explained this to you so that you may remember and take a lesson from the verses of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He. Indeed, the more a person is knowledgeable about the cosmic or legislative verses of Allah, the more he takes a lesson and considers them. For this reason, Allah encouraged looking at the cosmic verses, and He said:
Say, "Observe what is in the heavens and earth." But of no avail will be signs or warners to a people who do not believe قُلِ انْظُرُوا مَاذَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُغْنِي الْآياتُ وَالنُّذُرُ عَنْ قَوْمٍ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ
[Yunus 10:101]
And He said:
Do they not contemplate within themselves? Allah has not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ
[Ar-Rum 30:8]
. And Allah the Exalted praised those who reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth in His saying:
(190) Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. (191) Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire. إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآياتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ * الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَاماً وَقُعُوداً وَعَلَى جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلاً سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
[Ali 'Imran 3:190-191]
Therefore, a person should take a lesson, remember, and reflect on the cosmic and legislative verses of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
So flee to Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner. فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَكُمْ مِنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ
[Adh-Dhariyat 51:50]
This is as if on the tongue of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, meaning: Say to them: Flee to Allah
Indeed, I am to you from Him إني لكم منه
[Hud 11:2]
Meaning: To Allah
a clear warner نذير مبين
Fleeing to Allah is by performing His obedience and avoiding His prohibitions, because nothing saves you from the punishment of Allah except this, unless you perform the obedience of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. So, it is as if a person, when he performs the obedience of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is as if he fled from an enemy. Have you seen if a roaring, deep valley came towards you, would you stand in front of it? No, do not stand in front of it, but flee from it and run away from it. Likewise, if a blazing fire came towards you, you would not stand, but you would flee. Likewise, the Fire of Jahannam is more severe, greater, and more deserving of fleeing from it. For this reason, he said:
So flee to Allah ففروا إلى الله
[Adh-Dhariyat 51:50]
Meaning: From the punishment of Allah
Indeed, I am to you from Him a warner إني لكم منه نذير
[Hud 11:2]
Meaning: A warner
Clear مبين
Meaning: One who makes clear what they were warned about and explains it.
So, he, peace and blessings be upon him, is a warner from Allah the Exalted to His servants, warning those who oppose His command with punishment. And with this, he, peace and blessings be upon him, is a bringer of good news, a bringer of good news to those who believe and obey with Paradise and happiness in this world and the Hereafter, as Allah the Exalted said:
Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do. مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحاً مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
[An-Nahl 16:97]
But Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, mentions the warning only in the context of threat and warning. And this surah, as you see, is all about the mention of previous nations and what befell them of punishment for opposing the command of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He.
And do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity وَلا تَجْعَلُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهاً آخَرَ
[Adh-Dhariyat 51:51]
Meaning: Do not make with Him a deity that you worship.
Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner. إِنِّي لَكُمْ مِنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ
[Adh-Dhariyat 51:50]
And the worshipped are of types and kinds: some people worship the sun, some worship the moon, some worship the stars, some worship animals, some worship trees, some worship stones, some worship wealth, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
Woe to the slave of the dinar, woe to the slave of the dirham, woe to the slave of the khamsishah, woe to the slave of the khumaylah. If he is given, he is pleased, and if he is not given, he is displeased. تعس عبد الدينار، تعس عبد الدرهم، تعس عبد الخميصة، تعس عبد الخميلة، إن أعطي رضي وإن لم يعط سخط
So, the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, made clear that the one whose only concern is wealth is truly a worshipper of it, even if he does not bow to it or prostrate to it. But his attachment in his heart to it, his concern for it, and his being pleased with its acquisition and angry at its prevention, no doubt, has taken complete possession of his heart. But the worship of the worshipped differs in ruling: if he diverts to it something of worship, this is major shirk. And if he does not divert to it anything of worship, but the heart attaches to it completely, to the extent that he leaves obligatory acts and falls into forbidden things for the sake of obtaining it, this is a worship that does not take one out of the religion, but it is truly worship.
Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner. إني لكم منه نذير مبين
[Adh-Dhariyat 51:50]
He repeated this for the importance of the subject.
So, we ask Allah the Exalted to grant us and you the taking of a lesson and benefiting from what we heard of the verses of Allah the Exalted. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
And to the questions, and we begin with the right hand.
Source alathar.net

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

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