Discussion of the interpretation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And they said, ‘Our hearts are wrapped in coverings from that to which you invite us, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a barrier. So work, for indeed, we are working.”
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The Shaykh : Well, I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from Satan, the accursed. We have advanced to the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: [Fussilat 41:5] to the end of it. We mentioned that the faculties of perception are .... Did the verse include the blocking of these faculties for them?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes .... Well done. What is the difference between the two expressions or ? Which is stronger than ? How is that?
The student: .... The barrier becomes stronger between them ..
The Shaykh : Meaning, the barrier extends from him to the Messenger, even if the distance is far. And in the second case?
The student: The barrier is between them ....
The Shaykh : The barrier is the slightest thing, even if the distance between them is far. Now, regarding His saying:[Fussilat 41:5], what is the intended meaning? Is it a challenge, as if we are saying, “We do not care about you; work, and we will work,” is that it? Now, what did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) establish regarding these people in their denial? That is, are they of a different kind, or what? What did the Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) establish regarding the denial of these people? Did he say that it is of a kind like the angels and the jinn, or what?
The student: They rejected that a human being like them should call them.
The Shaykh : No.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : He established that he is of their kind, a human being, but distinguished by the fact that revelation is sent to him. Now, what was revealed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The student:
The Shaykh : Do you mean tawhid (the oneness of Allah)? Now, is this what all the messengers came with?
The student: Yes, without a doubt.
The Shaykh : What is the evidence?
The student: .. His saying, the Exalted, meaning in Surat al-Nahl[Al-Anbya 21:25]
The Shaykh : Is this in Surat al-Nahl?
The student: No, no, it is in Surat ....... But in Surat al-Nahl there is a verse.
The Shaykh : Now, it is not necessary to specify the surah; wherever the verse is,[Al-Anbya 21:25] and what you want is in Surat al-Nahl [An-Nahl 16:36]. Now, may Allah reward you. We have finished up to here. Did we take the benefits? From the beginning, did we not take them?
The student: No, the verse[Al-Kahf 18:110]
The Shaykh : Now, if we postpone it.
And they say, "Our hearts are within coverings from that to which you invite us
وقالوا قلوبنا في أكنة مما تدعونا إليهThe student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes .... Well done. What is the difference between the two expressions
between us and you is a barrier
مِن بيننا وبينك حجابbetween us and you is a barrier
بيننا وبينك حجابand between us and you is a barrier
وبيننا وبينك حجابThe student: .... The barrier becomes stronger between them ..
The Shaykh : Meaning, the barrier extends from him to the Messenger, even if the distance is far. And in the second case?
The student: The barrier is between them ....
The Shaykh : The barrier is the slightest thing, even if the distance between them is far. Now, regarding His saying:
so work; indeed, we are working."
فاعمل إننا عاملونThe student: They rejected that a human being like them should call them.
The Shaykh : No.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : He established that he is of their kind, a human being, but distinguished by the fact that revelation is sent to him. Now, what was revealed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The student:
that your God is one God
أنما إلهكم إله واحدThe Shaykh : Do you mean tawhid (the oneness of Allah)? Now, is this what all the messengers came with?
The student: Yes, without a doubt.
The Shaykh : What is the evidence?
The student: .. His saying, the Exalted, meaning in Surat al-Nahl
We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me."
وما أرسلنا مِن رسول إلا نوحي إليه أن لا إله إلا أنا فاعبدونThe Shaykh : Is this in Surat al-Nahl?
The student: No, no, it is in Surat ....... But in Surat al-Nahl there is a verse.
The Shaykh : Now, it is not necessary to specify the surah; wherever the verse is,
And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me."
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِAnd We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taghut."
ولقد بعثنا في كل أمة رسولا أن اعبدوا الله واجتنبوا الطاغوتThe student: No, the verse
Say, "I am only a man like you
قل إنما أنا بشر مثلكمThe Shaykh : Now, if we postpone it.