Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Nay, but the record of the wicked is indeed in Sijjin] to His saying: [They say: These are the legends of the former peoples] from Surat al-Mutaffifin.
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The Shaykh : In this session, we continue with the exegesis of Surat al-Mutaffifin, where we had reached the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Mutaffifin 83:7-8] to the end of it.
The word "Nay" (Kalla), when it appears in the Qur'an, has meanings according to the context. It may be a particle of deterrence and prohibition, or it may mean "truly," or it may have other meanings determined by the context, because words in the Arabic language do not have a fixed meaning that they cannot exceed; rather, many Arabic words have meanings that vary according to the context of the speech.
In this verse, He says:[Al-Mutaffifin 83:7]. It may mean "truly, the record of the wicked is indeed in Sijjin," or it may mean a deterrence from denying the Day of Judgment.
In any case, Allah the Exalted has made clear in this noble verse that the record of the wicked is in Sijjin. The scholars said that Sijjin is derived from "prison" (sijn), which means narrowness, i.e., in a narrow place. This narrow place is the Fire of Hell, refuge with Allah from it, as Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said:[Al-Furqan 25:13-14]. It was also mentioned in the long, famous hadith of al-Bara' ibn 'Azib regarding the story of the dying person and what happens after death, that Allah the Sublime and Exalted says: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 5:1244 meaning the disbeliever, .
So Sijjin is the lowest part of the earth, which is the abode of the Fire, we seek refuge with Allah from it. So this record is in Sijjin.
Then Allah Mighty and Majestic magnified this Sijjin by saying:. The interrogative here is for magnification, meaning: What has informed you about Sijjin? Did you search for it? Did you ask about it? So that it may be made clear to you.
Magnification may be for the greatness of a thing in elevation, or it may be for the greatness of a thing in descent. This magnification regarding Sijjin is not for its elevation and height, but for its lowness and descent. Then He said the Exalted:. The word "record" (kitab) here does not refer back to Sijjin, but rather to the record of [Al-Mutaffifin 83:7]. So what is this record? He said: , meaning it is written, nothing is added to it, nothing is subtracted from it, it is not changed, and it is not altered. Rather, this is their destination and their abode, refuge with Allah from it, forever and ever.
[Al-Mutaffifin 83:9-10]: "Woe" (wayl) has been discussed previously in this surah, and we said that it is a word of threat by which Allah threatens those who deserve the threat, and it is frequent in the Noble Qur'an.
[Al-Mutaffifin 83:10-11]. The entire discourse is about the Day of Judgment, from the beginning of the surah to the end, it is all about the Day of Judgment and the recompense.
These are the ones who deny the Day of Judgment, and Allah threatens them with woe, because these deniers of the Day of Judgment cannot be upright upon the Shari'ah of Allah. No one is upright upon the Shari'ah of Allah except one who believes in the Day of Judgment, because whoever does not believe in it has only believed in this life. So he does not care about what is beyond it, nor does he work for it, but he remains like the cattle:[Muhammad 47:12].
Therefore, I think you know with me that Allah always couples belief in Him with belief in the Hereafter, because belief in Allah is the beginning, and belief in the Hereafter is the end. So you believe in Allah, then you work for the Hereafter, which is the abode.
So these, refuge with Allah from it, denied the Day of Judgment, and whoever denies it can never work for it, because action is based on belief. If you do not have belief, how can you work?
Therefore, He said:[Al-Mutaffifin 83:12], meaning: No one denies the Day of Judgment and rejects it except every transgressor, sinner. That is, one who transgresses in his actions and sins in his words. It was also said: one who transgresses in his actions and sins in his earnings, meaning that his outcome is to sin. The two meanings are close to each other.
The important point is that no one can deny the Day of Judgment except a man who is a transgressor, a sinner, a wrongdoer, one who acquires sins that lead him to the Fire of Hell, we seek refuge with Allah.
[Al-Qalam 68:15]. "When it is recited to him" means when someone recites it to him. This indicates that this man does not think to recite the verses of Allah, but rather they are recited to him. When they are recited to him, he says: "The legends of the former peoples," meaning these are the legends of the former peoples. "Asatir" (legends) is the plural of "asatirah" (legend), and it is speech that is mentioned for entertainment, having no truth and no origin. So he says this Qur'an is the legends of the former peoples. Why does he not benefit from the Qur'an, which is the most eloquent speech and the most impactful on the heart, until Allah the Exalted said: [Qaf 50:37]
The questioner : ... this does not follow, and I will not answer another question.
The Shaykh : No, bring the question you have, and do not consider what does not follow this as a question for you.
(7) No! Indeed, the record of the wicked is in sijjeen. (8) And what can make you know what is sijjeen?
كلا إن كتاب الفجار لفي سجين وما أدراك ما سجينThe word "Nay" (Kalla), when it appears in the Qur'an, has meanings according to the context. It may be a particle of deterrence and prohibition, or it may mean "truly," or it may have other meanings determined by the context, because words in the Arabic language do not have a fixed meaning that they cannot exceed; rather, many Arabic words have meanings that vary according to the context of the speech.
In this verse, He says:
No! Indeed, the record of the wicked is in sijjeen.
كلا إن كتاب الفجار لفي سجينIn any case, Allah the Exalted has made clear in this noble verse that the record of the wicked is in Sijjin. The scholars said that Sijjin is derived from "prison" (sijn), which means narrowness, i.e., in a narrow place. This narrow place is the Fire of Hell, refuge with Allah from it, as Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said:
(13) And when they are thrown into a narrow place therein bound in chains, they will cry out thereupon for destruction. (14) [They will be told], "Do not cry this Day for one destruction but cry for much destruction."
إذا ألقوا منها مكانا ضيقا مقرنين دعوا هنالك ثبورا لا تدعوا اليوم ثبورا واحدا وادعوا ثبورا كثيراWrite the book of My servant in Sijjin
اكتبوا كتاب عبدي في سجينIn the lowest of the seven earths.
في الأرض السابعة السفلىSo Sijjin is the lowest part of the earth, which is the abode of the Fire, we seek refuge with Allah from it. So this record is in Sijjin.
Then Allah Mighty and Majestic magnified this Sijjin by saying:
And what will inform you what Sijjin is?
وما أدراك ما سجينMagnification may be for the greatness of a thing in elevation, or it may be for the greatness of a thing in descent. This magnification regarding Sijjin is not for its elevation and height, but for its lowness and descent. Then He said the Exalted:
A written record.
كتاب مرقومNo! Indeed, the record of the wicked
كلا إن كتاب الفجارA written record.
كتاب مرقوم(9) It is [their destination recorded in] a register inscribed. (10) Woe, that Day, to the deniers,
كتاب مرقوم ويل يومئذ للمكذبين(10) Woe, that Day, to the deniers, (11) Who deny the Day of Recompense.
ويل يومئذ للمكذبين الذين يكذبون بيوم الدينThese are the ones who deny the Day of Judgment, and Allah threatens them with woe, because these deniers of the Day of Judgment cannot be upright upon the Shari'ah of Allah. No one is upright upon the Shari'ah of Allah except one who believes in the Day of Judgment, because whoever does not believe in it has only believed in this life. So he does not care about what is beyond it, nor does he work for it, but he remains like the cattle:
enjoy themselves and eat as grazing livestock eat, and the Fire will be a residence for them.
يتمتعون ويأكلون كما تأكل الأنعام والنار مثوى لهمTherefore, I think you know with me that Allah always couples belief in Him with belief in the Hereafter, because belief in Allah is the beginning, and belief in the Hereafter is the end. So you believe in Allah, then you work for the Hereafter, which is the abode.
So these, refuge with Allah from it, denied the Day of Judgment, and whoever denies it can never work for it, because action is based on belief. If you do not have belief, how can you work?
Therefore, He said:
And none deny it except every sinful transgressor.
وما يكذب به إلا كل معتد أثيمThe important point is that no one can deny the Day of Judgment except a man who is a transgressor, a sinner, a wrongdoer, one who acquires sins that lead him to the Fire of Hell, we seek refuge with Allah.
When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."
إذا تتلى عليه آياتنا قال أساطير الأولينIndeed 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 شهيدThe questioner : ... this does not follow, and I will not answer another question.
The Shaykh : No, bring the question you have, and do not consider what does not follow this as a question for you.