Explanation of the author's statement: And his saying: (They follow nothing but conjecture).
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : Allah the Exalted said: [Al-An'am 6:116] The sign that "in" means "nothing" is that "except" follows it. If "except" follows it, that is proof that it means "nothing." [Al-Anbya 21:3] [An-Najm 53:23] Meaning, they are nothing but names. [Al-An'am 6:116] And His saying, the Exalted: [An-Najm 53:23] What is the conjecture they follow? That they are gods, and that Allah has daughters and they have sons. On what basis is this built?
The student: Conjecture.
The Shaykh : It is based on conjecture. And conjecture, as Allah the Exalted said:[Yunus 10:36] Likewise, they also follow what the souls desire. What the souls desire is the most harmful thing for a person to follow. The person who worships Allah according to his desire does not worship Allah truly; rather, he worships his intellect and his desire. But the one who worships Allah according to guidance, not according to desire, is the one who is upon the truth. Allah the Exalted said: [An-Najm 53:23] Through whom? Through the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So it was more fitting for them to follow this guidance rather than desire. Now, what is the connection between the verse and the translation? What is the connection between the verse and the translation? It is that they believe that these idols benefit them and harm them. This is their belief. For this reason, they come to them, call upon them, sacrifice to them, and draw near to them. Perhaps a person may be tested, and may Allah protect us, a person may be tested and obtain what he wants through this shirk (associating partners with Allah), and what he dislikes may be averted from him through this shirk. This is a trial from Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and an examination. And this has precedents for us that Allah tests a person by facilitating the means of sin for him, so that He may know who fears Him in secret. He said, yes.
The student: Sultaan, and what is its meaning?
The Shaykh : Sultaan here means proof. The original meaning of sultaan in the Arabic language is that by which one has authority. If it is in the context of knowledge, it is knowledge. If it is in the context of power, it is power. If it is in the context of command and prohibition, it is the one who has the command and prohibition, according to the context.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : For example, we have the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Ar-Rahman 55:33] Meaning: with power and strength. And like [Yusuf 12:40] meaning from proof and evidence. And like the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Abi Dawud 2083Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning the one who has the management and execution.
They follow not except assumption
إن يتبعون إلا الظنThis is nothing but a noble angel
إن هذا إلا ملك كريمIs this [Prophet] except a human being like you? So would you approach magic
إن هذا إلا بشر مثلكم أفتأتون السحرThey are not but [mere] names
إن هي إلا أسماءThey follow not except assumption
إن يتبعون إلا الظنThey follow not except assumption and what [their] souls desire
إن يتبعون إلا الظن وما تهوى النفسThe student: Conjecture.
The Shaykh : It is based on conjecture. And conjecture, as Allah the Exalted said:
avails not against the truth at all
لا يغني من الحق شيئاًHave you seen the one who takes his desire as his god and whom Allah has led astray with knowledge
أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍand there has already come to them from their Lord guidance.
وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمُ الْهُدَىThe student: Sultaan, and what is its meaning?
The Shaykh : Sultaan here means proof. The original meaning of sultaan in the Arabic language is that by which one has authority. If it is in the context of knowledge, it is knowledge. If it is in the context of power, it is power. If it is in the context of command and prohibition, it is the one who has the command and prohibition, according to the context.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : For example, we have the saying of Allah the Exalted: