Exegesis of Verses (62 - 78) of Surat al-Rahman.
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
As for what follows:
This is the ninety-third meeting of the meetings known as the Open Door Meeting, which take place every Thursday, and this is the seventh day of the month of Sha'ban in the year 1419 AH.
We begin this meeting by discussing what remains of Surat al-Rahman, from the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Ar-Rahman 55:62] meaning: below the two previous gardens are two gardens of another type. This was clarified in the Sunnah, where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , and the verse is explicit that the two gardens are below the first two: [Ar-Rahman 55:62-64] meaning: dark in color due to the abundance of trees.
[Ar-Rahman 55:65-66] meaning: they gush with water, i.e., they spring forth. Regarding the two previous gardens, He said: [Ar-Rahman 55:50] and flowing is more complete than springing, because the spring remains in its place but does not flow, whereas that which flows moves about, so it is higher and more complete.
[Ar-Rahman 55:66-68] and there He says: [Ar-Rahman 55:52], whereas here He said: [Ar-Rahman 55:68] The date palm and the pomegranate are known in this world, but you must know that these two are not equal. The name is the same, but the thing named differs greatly. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted: [As-Sajdah 32:17] If the date palm and pomegranate in Paradise were like the date palm and pomegranate in this world, we would know, but we do not know. So, the name?
The name is the same, but the reality is different. For this reason, Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: "There is nothing in Paradise from what is in this world except the names only".
[Ar-Rahman 55:68-70] In them. In the first, He said: Is there a difference? The question is for students of knowledge. Is there a difference?
The questioner : Yes, this is a plural.
The Shaykh : Yes, the first is dual, "in them," and this is plural, "in them." Why did He say "in them" when before that He said "in the two"? Because this plural refers to all four gardens. So, in the four gardens are the huri with downcast eyes, as mentioned before, and in the four gardens are good and beautiful things. "In them" means in the four gardens, good and beautiful things. Good in character, with good morals, and beautiful in face and form. So, the first is good in the inner self, and this is good in the outward appearance.
[Ar-Rahman 55:70-72]:
The huri is the beautiful one who is beautiful in all her creation, especially the eye, which is intensely white, intensely black, wide, and round, of the most beautiful kind.
meaning: kept hidden.
is the plural of tent, and the tent is known. Do you know it?
The tent is known; it is a structure with a pillar and corridors. But the tent in the Hereafter is not like the tent in this world. It is a tent of pearl, its height in the sky is very high, and those inside it can be seen from outside. Do not ask about its beauty and loveliness. These huri are secluded: kept hidden in these tents in the most perfect way of charm and enjoyment.
[Ar-Rahman 55:73-74] meaning: no one has had intercourse with them. Rather, they remain in their virginity until their husband covers them when he enters Paradise, may Allah make us and you among them. No human or jinn has defiled them: meaning: nor any jinn. This indicates that the jinn enter Paradise with the humans, and that is the case, because Allah does not wrong anyone. Among the jinn are the righteous and those less so; among them are Muslims and among them are the transgressors, i.e., disbelievers, exactly like the humans. Just as among the humans are the obedient and the disobedient, and among them are disbelievers and believers, so it is with the jinn. The Muslim jinn is a sign of good, indicates good, and helps the righteous among the humans.
And the sinful or disbelieving jinn is like the sinful or disbelieving human, exactly the same. Their disbeliever enters the Fire by the consensus of the Muslims, as in the Qur'an:[Al-A'raf 7:38] Complete the verse?
The questioner :[Al-A'raf 7:38].
The Shaykh :[Al-A'raf 7:38] This is the text of the Qur'an, and the scholars have agreed that the disbeliever among the jinn enters the Fire, and the believer among the jinn enters Paradise. For this reason, in Surat al-Rahman: [Ar-Rahman 55:13] meaning: the jinn and the humans.
[Ar-Rahman 55:56] indicates that the jinn enter Paradise, and that is the case.
[Ar-Rahman 55:74-76]:
Reclining means: leaning on their hands and backs.
On soft cushions means: on cushions on which they recline with a softness like that of the shilsh. Do you know this? The shilsh that is on cushions and beds, which is soft.
Because the green color is the most suitable for the eye, and the most delightful for the heart.
The 'abqari is the very fine carpets. For this reason, the best of everything is called 'abqari, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said in the vision he saw when 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was taken away: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 29:333 meaning: he is taken away from his strength, may Allah be pleased with him.
[Ar-Rahman 55:76-77] And the meaning of: [Ar-Rahman 55:13] affirmation means: the blessings are clear, so by what do you deny?
The answer: We do not deny anything. We acknowledge the blessings of Allah, i.e., His favors, and we affirm them. We acknowledge that we are shortcoming and have not thanked Allah the Exalted with the due thanks, but we believe that the forgiveness of Allah is wider than our sins, and that Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, is Forgiving and Generous, He loves the repentance of His servant, He loves those who repent, and He loves those who purify themselves. Until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:: and he was in a desert land with no one around him, so he despaired and lay down in the shade of a tree, waiting for what?
The questioner : Death.
The Shaykh : He is waiting for death, he despaired of life. What does he want?
The questioner : You are my Lord.
The Shaykh : He wants to say "You are my Lord and I am Your servant," but out of the intensity of his joy, he made a mistake and said: "O Allah, You are my servant and I am Your Lord." So Allah is more joyful with the repentance of His servant than this man is with this man and his camel. O Allah, accept our repentance, O Lord of the worlds.
The questioner : Amen.
The Shaykh :[Ar-Rahman 55:78]: He concluded this surah with this great phrase, meaning: How great is the blessing of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and how great is the blessing with His name, until the name of Allah makes the slaughtered animal lawful or forbids it. If a person slaughters an animal and does not say: In the name of Allah, what is it?
It is carrion, forbidden, impure, and harmful to the body, even if he forgot. He slaughtered and forgot to say: In the name of Allah, so it is forbidden, impure, and spoils the body. He must throw it to the dogs, because it is impure. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-An'am 6:121] So look at the blessing. If a person performs wudu' and does not say the name, what is his wudu' according to some scholars?
The questioner : Defective.
The Shaykh : A defective wudu' must be repeated, because the basmalah is obligatory according to some scholars. If a person sees game, crawling or flying, and shoots it without saying the name, what is this game?
It is forbidden, carrion, impure, and harmful to the body. So look at the blessing!
If a person comes to his wife, meaning he has intercourse with his wife, and says:Sahih al-Bukhari 141, this is protection for this child that grows from this intercourse, protection for him from Satan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Mishkat al-Masabih 2416. A person strives right and left to protect his child and loses many dollars, and here is a medicine from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Is it expensive or cheap? Yes, it is cheap in terms of action, it is easy. This protects him from Satan forever. In the name of Allah, O Allah, keep Satan away from us and keep Satan away from what You have provided us. All this is evidence of what?
Of the blessing of the name of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. For this reason He said:[Ar-Rahman 55:78] meaning: the One of Majesty and Honor. Does "the One of Honor" mean He is honored, or He honors? It is both: He is honored, respected, and magnified, Mighty and Majestic, and He also honors. Allah the Exalted said to the people of Paradise -may Allah make us among them-: He said: [Al-Ma'arij 70:35] So He is the One of Majesty and Honor, He honors those who deserve honor, and He honors them, Mighty and Majestic, His righteous servants. May Allah make us and you among them by His grace and favor.
And with this, our reading of the exegesis ends, and with it ends Surat al-Rahman. So we now begin the questions from the right, question one.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
As for what follows:
This is the ninety-third meeting of the meetings known as the Open Door Meeting, which take place every Thursday, and this is the seventh day of the month of Sha'ban in the year 1419 AH.
We begin this meeting by discussing what remains of Surat al-Rahman, from the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
And below them both [in excellence] are two [other] gardens -
ومن دونهما جنّتانTwo gardens of gold, their vessels and what is in them, and two gardens of silver, their vessels and what is in them
جنّتان من ذهب آنيتهما وما فيهما، وجنّتان من فضّة آنيتهما وما فيهما(62) And below them both [in excellence] are two [other] gardens - (63) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? - (64) Dark green [in color].
ومن دونهما جنّتان * فبأيّ آلاء ربّكما تكذّبان * مدهامّتان(65) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? (66) In both of them are two springs, spouting.
فبأيّ آلاء ربّكما تكذّبان * فيهما عينان نضّاختانIn both of them are two springs, flowing.
فيهما عينان تجريان(66) In both of them are two springs, spouting. (67) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? (68) In both of them are fruit and palm trees and pomegranates.
فيهما عينان نضّاختان * فبأيّ آلاء ربّكما تكذّبان * فيهما فاكهة ونخل ورمّانIn both of them are of every fruit, two kinds.
فيهما من كلّ فاكهة زوجانIn both of them are fruit and palm trees and pomegranates.
فيهما فاكهة ونخل ورمّانAnd no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do.
فلا تعلم نفس ما أُخفي لهم من قرّة أعين جزاء بما كانوا يعملونThe name is the same, but the reality is different. For this reason, Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: "There is nothing in Paradise from what is in this world except the names only".
(68) In both of them are fruit and palm trees and pomegranates. (69) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? (70) In them are good and beautiful women -
فيهما فاكهة ونخل ورمّان * فبأيّ آلاء ربّكما تكذّبان * فيهنّ خيرات حسانin them
فيهماThe questioner : Yes, this is a plural.
The Shaykh : Yes, the first is dual, "in them," and this is plural, "in them." Why did He say "in them" when before that He said "in the two"? Because this plural refers to all four gardens. So, in the four gardens are the huri with downcast eyes, as mentioned before, and in the four gardens are good and beautiful things. "In them" means in the four gardens, good and beautiful things. Good in character, with good morals, and beautiful in face and form. So, the first is good in the inner self, and this is good in the outward appearance.
(70) In them are good and beautiful women - (71) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? - (72) Fair ones reserved in pavilions -
فيهنّ خيرات حسان * فبأيّ آلاء ربّكما تكذّبان * حور مقصورات في الخيامThe huri is the beautiful one who is beautiful in all her creation, especially the eye, which is intensely white, intensely black, wide, and round, of the most beautiful kind.
Houris confined.
حور مقصوراتin the tents
في الخيامThe tent is known; it is a structure with a pillar and corridors. But the tent in the Hereafter is not like the tent in this world. It is a tent of pearl, its height in the sky is very high, and those inside it can be seen from outside. Do not ask about its beauty and loveliness. These huri are secluded: kept hidden in these tents in the most perfect way of charm and enjoyment.
(73) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? - (74) Untouched before them by man or jinni -
فبأيّ آلاء ربّكما تكذّبان * لم يطمثهنّ إنس قبلهم ولا جانّAnd the sinful or disbelieving jinn is like the sinful or disbelieving human, exactly the same. Their disbeliever enters the Fire by the consensus of the Muslims, as in the Qur'an:
[Allah] will say, "Enter among nations which had passed on before you
قال ادخلوا في أمم من قبلكمThe questioner :
of jinn and mankind
من الجنّ والإنسThe Shaykh :
of jinn and mankind into the Fire
من الجنّ والإنس في النّارSo which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
فبأيّ آلاء ربّكما تكذّبانuntouched before them by man or jinni -
لم يطمثهنّ إنس قبلهم ولا جانّ(74) Untouched before them by man or jinni - (75) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? - (76) Reclining on green cushions and beautiful fine carpets.
لم يطمثهنّ إنس قبلهم ولا جانّ * فبأيّ آلاء ربّكما تكذّبان * متّكئين على رفرف خضر وعبقريّ حسانReclining means: leaning on their hands and backs.
On soft cushions means: on cushions on which they recline with a softness like that of the shilsh. Do you know this? The shilsh that is on cushions and beds, which is soft.
Reclining on green cushions.
متّكئين على رفرف خضرAnd beautiful carpets
وعبقريّ حسانSo I did not see a beautiful carpet being torn from its place
فما رأيت عبقريّا يفري فريهand beautiful fine carpets. (77) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
وعبقريّ حسان * فبأيّ آلاء ربّكما تكذّبانSo which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
فبأيّ آلاء ربّكما تكذّبانThe answer: We do not deny anything. We acknowledge the blessings of Allah, i.e., His favors, and we affirm them. We acknowledge that we are shortcoming and have not thanked Allah the Exalted with the due thanks, but we believe that the forgiveness of Allah is wider than our sins, and that Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, is Forgiving and Generous, He loves the repentance of His servant, He loves those who repent, and He loves those who purify themselves. Until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
Allah is more joyful with the repentance of His servant than one of you is [joyful]—and he mentioned—the man in a desert who lost his mount, and upon it was his food and drink, so he sought it and did not find it
لله أشدّ فرحاً بتوبة عبده من أحدكم -وذكر- الرّجل في فلاة أضلّ راحلته وعليها طعامه وشرابه فطلبها ولم يجدهاThe questioner : Death.
The Shaykh : He is waiting for death, he despaired of life.
Then he saw the rein of his camel hanging from the tree, so he took it and said: O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Lord
فإذا بخطام ناقته متعلّقا بالشّجرة فأخذه وقال: اللهمّ أنت عبدي وأنا ربّكThe questioner : You are my Lord.
The Shaykh : He wants to say "You are my Lord and I am Your servant," but out of the intensity of his joy, he made a mistake and said: "O Allah, You are my servant and I am Your Lord." So Allah is more joyful with the repentance of His servant than this man is with this man and his camel. O Allah, accept our repentance, O Lord of the worlds.
The questioner : Amen.
The Shaykh :
Blessed is the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
تبارك اسم ربّك ذي الجلال والإكرامIt is carrion, forbidden, impure, and harmful to the body, even if he forgot. He slaughtered and forgot to say: In the name of Allah, so it is forbidden, impure, and spoils the body. He must throw it to the dogs, because it is impure. Allah the Exalted said:
And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed, it is grave disobedience.
ولا تأكلوا ممّا لم يذكر اسم الله عليه وإنّه لفسقThe questioner : Defective.
The Shaykh : A defective wudu' must be repeated, because the basmalah is obligatory according to some scholars. If a person sees game, crawling or flying, and shoots it without saying the name, what is this game?
It is forbidden, carrion, impure, and harmful to the body. So look at the blessing!
If a person comes to his wife, meaning he has intercourse with his wife, and says:
In the name of Allah. O Allah! Protect us from Satan and also protect what you bestow upon us (i.e. the coming offspring) from Satan
بسم الله اللهمّ جنّبنا الشّيطان وجنّب الشّيطان ما رزقتناif anyone who means to have intercourse with his wife says, “In the name of God. O God, keep us away from the devil and keep the devil away from what Thou hast provided us,” should it be ordained that a child be born to them thereby, no devil will ever harm it.
لو أنّ أحدكم إذا أتى أهله قال: بسم الله اللهمّ جنّبنا الشّيطان وجنّب الشّيطان ما رزقتنا، فإنّه إن يقدّر بينهما ولد لم يضرّه الشّيطان أبدًاOf the blessing of the name of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. For this reason He said:
Blessed is the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
تبارك اسم ربّك ذي الجلال والإكرامThey will be in gardens, honored.
أولئك في جنّات مكرمونAnd with this, our reading of the exegesis ends, and with it ends Surat al-Rahman. So we now begin the questions from the right, question one.