Darul Qasim Sunday Tafseer: Recent Episodes
Shaykh Mohammed Amin Kholwadia
The Sunday Tafsir is a weekly tafseer session with Darul Qasim Director, Shaykh Mohammed Amin Kholwadia. This course is open to the larger community and broadcast live every Sunday at 11 AM Central Time. Visit darulqasim.org to join the webcast. Shaykh Amin reads from chapters of the Quran Al-Kareem, interpreting verses and presenting valuable insights into their meanings. The views expressed in these media are the sole property of Darul Qasim. Explicit permission must be obtained from Darul Qasim before these media may be distributed online or referenced in any works.
Allah reminds us that there were powerful people before us who were destroyed despite their authority and dominion. So that is not the nature of the power we should pursue in our lives. In this session: conclusory comments; Taqwa as a means of harnessing power in Jannah; the mirages of worldly pursuits; Al-Muqtadir; a simple, not simplistic, formula for success.
Allah Subhanahu showed to the people of Fir’awn through His signs that Fir’awn was not their Lord. In this session: the trial of locusts; Allah’s control encompasses the celestial and the terrestrial; verse 43 taking the Quraysh to task; the far-reaching impact of Dajjal; Withstanding the Day of Judgment; the right of the Divine; the mu’jizah is in the language and then the meaning; Divine order unlimited by the laws of cause-and-effect.
This Surah is a prelude to the literary brilliance of Surah Al-Rahman. In this session: denying the Nabi; the resilience of messengers; the prophet’s deference to Divine commands over their innate nature; the prophetic mission to save animals.
The overarching theme of the Surah is to look beyond what we perceive. In this session: the splitting of the moon; respecting the means; the effect of miracles; a prophet’s concern for his people.
Surah Al-Najm (53:13-26). The steadily increasing nūr that powered the ascent of the Messenger reached its climax at the Lote tree. The surah is a sign for those who increase in their 'ibādah when they receive Divine Fadl. In this lecture: absolute purity and the inevitability of Jannah; mi'rāj as an unparalleled incident; a higher level of perfection in prophethood; false appropriation by the Quraysh; sultān - power and authority; integrity in presenting knowledge; Tauhīd versus doubt and speculation; Divine qismah and being content with it.
Surah Al-Najm (53:1-12). The system of the stars remains uninterrupted in how they guide the traveller even through their rising and falling. In this lecture: to be lost on a path versus taking the wrong path; the means of inspiration; the knowledge of Jibraīl 'alayhisSalām; the intellect of the prophet (S); the transference of messenger energy; the heightening effect of wahy on the senses; power, integrity and trustworthiness as the core traits of every prophet; honoring the source of knowledge.
Surah Al-Tur (52:40-49). The believer ties everything back to the Divine. In this lecture: the subtle shirk among believers; taking on the Nūr of the āyah; the purpose of the Nabi versus the mission of the devil; a plan for tablīgh; the Muslim role; Badr; the Muhajirūn as a blueprint and standard for īmān; tasbīh and tahmīd as vehicles for Divine assistance and rahmah; the mildest and supreme forms of rahmah.
Surah Al-Tur (52:29-39). The system of wahy based purely on Divine Fadl is inaccessible to humans except those favored. In this lecture: submitting to the higher authority of the Nabi; money as a corrupting driver of enterprise; the fallacy of control; insights in charitable giving.
Surah Al-Tur (52:13-28). Entry into Jannah is not based on one’s deeds, but rather on Allah’s Fadl. In this lecture: the rewards of deeds in Jannah; the ambience and decor in Jannah; an understanding of Divine Fadl; the company and food of Jannah; drinks and the social milieu.
Surah Al-Dhariyat (51:38-46). brahim (AS) is the representation of one who overpowers world leaders without weaponry. He is proof that intellectual superiority is a by-product of keeping the fitrah. In this lecture: - Sultān, the self-evident power; - The prophets engaged in reforming those in power, not replacing them; - Mu’jizah; - The annihilation of Fir’awn, the Ād and the Thamūd; - The winds of change and the destructive power of sound; - The repertoire of Nūh (AS)
Surah Al-Dhariyat (51:14-21). The essence of taqwa is to believe in Allāh (S) and to believe in what Allāh (S) promises. In this lecture:Tests, consistency and constancy; Growth and tarbiyyah in Jannah; Anticipating reward for good deeds; The highest level of Ihsan and Iman; Experiencing the Nur of Allāh (S) at blessed times; Part of Ihsan is seeing people as entitled to access Allah's Fadl.
Surah Al-Dhariyat (51:1-11). The more we study and appreciate the creations which are sworn by in the oaths of the Qurʾān, the more we will appreciate the Creator. In this lecture:The reason why Allāh swears by oaths; What our approach should be towards oaths in the Qurʾān; The different systems of Allāh by which the world runs; The potential dangers of deep, unregulated speculation
Surah Qaf (50:37-45). Ṣabr is a dormant ability within every believer which Allāh seeks that he awaken and utilize, especially in calling others towards good. In this lecture: the power of ṣabr in the arsenal of the believer; the necessity of combining outward tasbīḥ with inward patience; how to plan for success factoring in multiple phases of existence; the importance of acknowledging the truth and adhering to it; how this sūrah comes around full circle with how it began.
Surah Qaf (50:30-37). It is not as if Allah doesn’t know you commit sins. It is in your imperfection that you must make tawbah and come to Him, as awwāb.rstood anything. Pause. And think. In this lecture: Jahannam; the bringing forward of Jannah by the Divine; the awwāb; the Rahmān; acclimatizing ourselves to eternity; Khallāq: the limitless Creativity of Allah ﷻ; stabilizing the alternating qalb.
Surah Qaf (50:17-29). Human being find it hard to bear that someone else has more knowledge regarding the affairs of what happens to us after death. In this lecture: we are never alone; the angels who record everything; the knowledge of the anbiyaa; the reality of the pangs of death; reflecting upon death; the power of the Trumpet; the plain of Arafaat and the return of our senses amplified; developing an existential agenda; the mureeb and the qareen; disbelief as rebellion.
Surah Qaf (50:9-16). The point of revelation is to learn to love Allāh, to have the comfort of knowing Him and knowing that He knows me, and that He will take care of me. In this lecture: The far-reaching effects of Allāh’s mercy through water; The means of rizq V.S. rizq that is consumed; The innovation of divorcing the Messenger from Islam; The ‘renewal’ found in all aspects of a Muslim’s life; The beginning of Iḥsān, and the false dichotomy of knowledge and spirituality.
Surah Qaf (50:1-8). The human nafs is the same, whether it is Ādam or Dajjāl. The difference is that Allah's Fadl ﷻ comes to Ādam, but it does not come to Dajjāl. So who is in control? Allah. In this lecture: the Quraysh's reservations with the Rasūl ﷺ; the Divine use of power; the world of the unseen; wahy and its expanding effect on human perception in the presence of imān; amr marīj (a confused state); the addictive state of confusion amid the seduction of kufr.
Surah Al-Hujurat (49:14-18). Belief in Allah and His Messenger is the greatest commodity in existence, which will accompany us beyond death; it is a tremendous disservice to ourselves that we allow our beliefs to become corrupted. In this lecture: The mannerism which Muslims should have with Allah The steps for progression in Iman The role of sacrifice (Mujahadah) in a believer’s development The importance of humility in seeking knowledge as a hallmark of our tradition.
Surah Al-Hujurat (49:12-13). Giving up on the ummah is the greatest pollutant among Muslims. In this lecture: ⁃ the evil of ghībah; ⁃ the language of wahy; ⁃ the methodical dismantlement of the Qurayshi aristocracy in Makkah; ⁃ the norms of human behavior and what Islam adds to it.
Surah Al-Hujurat (49:10-12). True freedom gievs you security. In this lecture: the evil of ridiculing people; accommodating those you don't agree with and collaborating for a greater good; the fabric of unity and neglecting micro-values such as having a good opinion of others; a higher standard for Muslims; aman (security) and the nafs al-ammārah.
Surah Al-Hujurat (49:9-10). It is a part of human nature to quarrel and fight and the Quran recognizes this frailty.In this lecture:the myth that Muslims do not fight; the categories of two conflicting Muslim groups; maintaining peace and stability once it is achieved; gray areas and room for negotiation; the spirit of the law; taqwā at the center of service; reconciling differences under the amīr.
Surah Al-Hujurat (49:6-9). The greater among the sahābah came to understand how the Rasūl ﷺ thinks and analyzes information. Simply being with the Rasūl ﷺ wasn't enough; they had to exercise tremendous effort to observe and study the ways of the Rasūl ﷺ.In this lecture:validating news and informationthe science of hadiththe discipline Allah ﷻ desired for the sahābahthe need for due diligencelove for Īmān as a gift from Allah ﷻthe murād of the Divine, and the sincere submission of the Rasūl ﷺ
Surah Al-Hujurat (49:1-5). Your Islam is determined by how much you accept the prophet'sﷺ authority in your life. In this lecture: the adab of being around the Messenger; the mindset of a Muslim; the event that brought down the second verse, a proof of the obedience of the sahabah; the civilizational value of adab for leadership; commentary on adab with the Quran, the masjid, the fast; ihsān over 'adl.
Surah Fath (48:29-29). The key to Islam is that it must be apparent, not hidden. In this lecture:public and private prayerthe mention of the companions in the Torahthe story of Umar (R) in Jerusalemthe standards of ibādah
Surah Fath (48:27-29). Allah ﷻ confirms that His prophet's dream ﷺ is true as it based on truthfulness. In this lecture:seeing Hudaybiyyah as a victoryactualizing the true dīnMuhammad RasulAllah ﷺ - the Rasul within and without timefool-proofing 'aqīdah through strictness against bid'ātthe all-or-nothingness of Īmāna pluralistic legal system built upon tolerance in fiqh, diversity and intellectual accommodationcoexistence without integration
Surah Fath (48:18-26). Divine sakīnah is an active state that makes you stronger, not weaker. In this lecture: sakīnah; the many facets of sirāt al-mustaqīm; self-restraint and cowardice; the goal of establishing security in the land; being aware and conscious of Allah ﷺ as a deterrent from sin; the code of taqwa; the elevated status of the sahābah at Hudaybiyyah; the intent in jihād; the weight of the ihrām
Surah Fath (48:10-17). While we can control our own decisions and actions, Allah ﷺ controls everything and decides everything. Our will is subordinate to His. In this lecture:the hijrah; the state of the munāfiq; the Divine prerogative of punishment and forgiveness; the ideal of perfection; the despicable act of making tafīr; mukhallafūn - the ones who lagged behind; the indispensability of sīrah in undertanding Quran; the two types of wahy; the victory in Hudaybiyyah; the communal responsibilities of Muslims.
Surah Fath (48:7-9). It was in the interest of the prophetic mission for the Prophet ﷺ to motivate those around him with glad tidings. In this lecture:bashārah; indhār; a parallel in parenting; the underlying purpose in loving the prophet ﷺ; the umbrella of īmān; making tasbīh of Allah ﷺ; the paradoxical reason for 'ibādah; a different level of dhikr
Surah Muhammad (48:3-6). The more Muslims are purified, the more Islam will spread. In this lecture: tazkiyah; the force of sakīnah; the test in Hudaybiyya of the companions' love for the prophet ﷺ; the armies of Allah ﷺ; the expansive effect of Imān upon knowledge; cleansing to be eligible for Jannah
Surah Muhammad (48:1-2). The hadith and sīrah are necessary to understand the Quran. In this lecture: the happenings at Hudaybiyyah;the dream;a definition of true victory;seeking forgiveness;perpetual versus short-term benefit;the toolkit for the rightly guided
Surah Muhammad (47:34-38). We spend in the path of Allah ﷻ toward a communal infrastructure, to get away from a self-centric and self-serving mindset. In this lecture: thinking collectively;the effects of stinginess;surviving as a Muslim through sacrifice;the Quran as a shifa (prescription)
Surah Muhammad (47:34-38). We spend in the path of Allah ﷻ toward a communal infrastructure, to get away from a self-centric and self-serving mindset. In this lecture: thinking collectively;the effects of stinginess;surviving as a Muslim through sacrifice;the Quran as a shifa (prescription)
Surah Muhammad (47:27-33). The premise for a healthy ummah is for believers to assume a good opinion of each other, but red flags must still be heeded. In this lecture: hypocrites and their deception; wisdom in tests and trials; the permanence of kufr; shāqqa; the prophet's intense grief at Abu Talib's fate and his perfect submission to Divine will
Surah Muhammad (47:20-26). The need for active participation on the battlefield separated the hypocrites from the believers. In this lecture: spiritual confirmation and submission; peace and security built upon family values; spiritual deafness and blindness as effects; subjective tadabbur; the instigations of the devil; exposing Islam by knowing Islam; gradual reformation.
Surah Muhammad (47:16-19). The munafiqūn in Madinah listened to the prophet’s words and posed questions to the companions as a mockery of the Messenger and the message. In this lecture: knowledge and yaqīn; sealed hearts; elements of Divine Kalām; The Hour and its signs; Giving each other wasiyya for the Haqq; Good deeds as deterrents for The Hour; refreshing our īmān; Istighfār and human imperfection.
Surah Muhammad (47:12-15). The effect of Īmān and good deeds is to have everlasting security. In this lecture: security in this world as a prelude to security in the Hereafter; the objective of entering Jannah; intellectual jihād; the ranks of Jannah; the rivers of Jannah; contemplating (tadabbur) the āyāt of the Quran; the sifah of the Fire.
Surah Muhammad (47:7-11). The sharia does not permit indiscriminate killing, and thus its rules cannot be applied to modern day warfare. In this lecture: the war machine; prisoners of war; the root issue of violence; legal responsibility; sa’ee (effort) is the rule for accomplishments; the station of the Khulafā Al-Rashidīn; guidance in warfare; the scent of Jannah.
Surah Muhammad (47:4-6). The sharia does not permit indiscriminate killing, and thus its rules cannot be applied to modern day warfare. In this lecture: the war machine; prisoners of war; the root issue of violence; legal responsibility; sa’ee (effort) is the rule for accomplishments; the station of the Khulafā Al-Rashidīn; guidance in warfare; the scent of Jannah.
Surah Muhammad (47:1-6). Surah Muhammad is also called Surah Al-Qitāl because through it, Allah ﷻ brings out the imperative to fight those who prevent believers from believing and professing their faith. In this lecture: freedom to worship; the pivot of dīn: there is no īman if we don't believe in the Messenger; governance through the lens of RasūlAllah; sukūn: the acontextual effect of following the Messenger; all about 'ilm; the toolkit of nubuwwah.
Surah Al-Ahqāf (46:27-35). The idea of engaging with the world to procure resources for ourselves at the expense of others is wrong, but we also do not disengage from the world. The big picture is more sophisticated and has to do with not bartering the Hereafter for the life of this world. In this lecture: the perceived invincibility of the Ād; understanding and the tiers of knowledge; the human mill of sabr; the destruction of the Ād; hearts and the inner ability to think; Divine eloquence that mesmerized the poets among the Quraysh.
Surah Al-Ahqāf (46:19-25). The idea of engaging with the world to procure resources for ourselves at the expense of others is wrong, but we also do not disengage from the world. The big picture is more sophisticated and has to do with not bartering the Hereafter for the life of this world. In this lecture: the perceived invincibility of the Ād; understanding and the tiers of knowledge; the human mill of sabr; the destruction of the Ād; hearts and the inner ability to think; Divine eloquence that mesmerized the poets among the Quraysh.
Surah Al-Ahqāf (46:15-18). Parents are highlighted in the Quran many times to teach us an appreciation for life in all phases of existence. In this talk: Ihsān is above ‘Adl; maternal turmoil and sacrifice; honoring parents for Allah; spiritual maturity; earning the genuine respect of children; Du’ā made in absentia; Positivity; Disrespecting parents is a state of loss; raising children to be self-sufficient in the Hereafter; peer pressure.
Surah Al-Ahqāf (46:10-14). One of the primary functions of the Quran and the Messenger is to confirm the Truth that came before. In this lecture: the sophistication of the Quraysh; 'ifk qadīm; the need for organization and planning; rubūbiyyah and role models; the meaning of istiqāmah; companions of Jannah
Surah Al-Ahqāf (46:1-10). The beauty and the wisdom through which Allah ﷻ creates is beyond the finite and material limits of our understanding. In this lecture: Quraysh with their lack of epistemology; the ploy of discrediting the messenger; the false basis and low-down allegation of sihr; the grit and determination of prophets; the abnormality in shirk; Muslim self-confidence and security; the Nabi reveals all that is revealed to him.
Surah Al-Jathiyah (45:25-37). Allah ﷻ has supreme absolute dominion, absolute power, and absolute control, and the Day of Judgement has its own rules, regulations and proceedings, but most don't know. In this lecture: reformation is ultimately in the Divine plan of Allah ﷻ; self-preservation for the reformer; Al-Murīd; the Kingdom and Majesty of Allah ﷻ; the mind of the Nabi as proof of his intellectual superiority; the mu'jizah of Divine kalām and the mu'jizah of the Nabi's kalām; the book of deeds; the manifestation of spiritual and theological crimes; Al-Qawiyyu Al-Matīn.
Surah Al-Jathiyah (45:18-24). The innately evil are blind to the nūr of the Messenger. Only Allah ﷻ can guide them. In this lecture: bashīr and nadhīr; mockery and derision, coming from blind hearts, attracts humiliation in addition to punishment;the despair that results from the adoption of shirk; the gravity of receiving wahy and then repeating it to the masses; hearing but not listening, looking but not seeing; guidance is internal.
Surah Al-Jathiyah (45:7-17). Allah ﷻ is forgiving but cannot be taken for granted. In this lecture: the blindness of the innately evil; different types of punishment; the ni’maat of sea and air travel and beyond; the rule for Muslims living in modern times; Knowledge that unites and knowledge that divides.
Surah Al-Jāthiyah (45:1-6). We cannot be detached from creation or reality because we are part of it. In this lecture: Al-‘Azīz, Al-Hakīm; Observing creation, thinking about it and developing human creativity; Belief and certainty; Day and night; Being in sync with creation and staying connected to the Creator.
Surah Al-Dukhan (44:43-59). Fearing Allah ﷻ in the world leads to having no fear in the Hereafter. Immense security and peace is the share of those who have taqwa. In this lecture: zaqqūm; fear as motivation; the garments of Jannah; companionship in the Garden; the fruits of Jannah; actions and consequences; measure of success for a prophet.
Surah Al-Dukhan (44:25-42). The pious soul gives a sense of security to the environment around them, and their demise has a detrimental effect. In this lecture: the interconnectedness of matter; Fir'awn; the intellectual outlook of the Banī Israīl; the Banī Israīl as a prototype for those who go astray; Jannah and its indiscriminate pleasures; Rahmah and its Divine apportionment.
Surah Al-Dukhan (44:1-24). You understand the order when you understand the system in which the order is followed. In this lecture: Divine order; Yaqīn; Phases of human development; The warning to the Quraysh; Clear explanation; the two sides of revelation; Al-Nabiyy Al-Karīm; the story of Musa (AS).
Surah Zukhruf (43:65-89). True friends exhort each other to truth and patience. In this lecture: higher reasons for friendship; worldly and spiritual ornaments; Wilayah; Jannah, its sensory delights, its fruits, and its community; speculative knowledge and finding the Truth.
Zukhruf (43:57-65). Allah's servants are always honored by Allah ﷻ because they serve Him. In this lecture: the rules of argumentation and being true to the rules of the worlds; the coming of Īsa and the Day of Judgment; preoccupation with the Mahdi and the traps of Shaytān; the reward of a mujtahid notwithstanding the correctness of their ijtihād; unity upon the five pillars.
Zukhruf (43:38-56). The dhikr helps the prophet raise his standards, and it helps his followers raise their standards. In this lecture: the punishment sent to the Pharaoh's people; the artifice of the Pharaoh; reassurance for the Nabi; Divine intervention in the face of unabating rejection.
Zukhruf (43:26-37). Life and the means of living in this world is a Rahmah from Allah ﷻ and it must be seen as such. Allah's rahmah is in the dhikr of the Rahman. In this lecture: the two cities; the Divine distribution of Rahmah, both worldly and spiritual; zukhruf; deception and disbelief; the remembrance of the Rahman; introspection (muhāsabah)
Zukhruf (43:15-25). Theological injustices impact the psyche and ultimately the abilities of an individual. In this lecture: the effects of ornamentation; bayān (clear expression); volition and gender; the nature of angels; opulence and hedonism; Al-Muntaqim; the prupose in the appeal of the dunya.
Surah Shūra (43:1-14). The Nabi’s effort is to clear the way for the revelation to become clear. In this lecture: the complexities in technical language versus the simplicity of Divine language; an understanding of the word book; the phases of revelation; the Preserved Tablet; eternity and eternal understanding; the Quran as a reminder; the need for stamina and resilience in a prophet’s portfolio.
Surah Shūra (42:44-53). The work of the Rasūl is to convey. In this lecture: the kingdom of Allah; the gift of children; the conventions of wahy; access to Nūr.
Surah Shūra (42:34-43). Muslims must have the worldview that the world is temporary. In this lecture: debate and consultation; responding to the call of the Lord; Harmony despite disagreement; Islamic politics and ethics; Authority.
Surah Shūra (42:27-33). The believer looks beyond the means of his sustenance to the Rāziq. In this lecture: Qābid; Bāsit; the expansion of the heavens; the constriction of the earth; the sea and a metaphor in navigation.
Surah Shūra (42:21-26). Jannah is a very dynamic place that has no equivalent in this world. In this lecture: Jannah and its produce; keeping family ties; Divine forgiveness and reward; ijtihād.
Surah Shūra (42:16-20). Our actions do have an impact on the world around us. In this lecture: Divine subtlety; the power and weight of Allah’s Nūr; the balance.
Surah Shūra (42:14-15). It is despicable in the eyes of Allah (S) that human beings reject the Truth even after it has been revealed to them. In this lecture: the unity of the ummah; a prelude to the idea of shūra; the prerogative to punish; justice in the social and Divine orders.
Surah Shūra (42:12-13). While the means of rizq are entirely in the Hands of Allah (S), the seeking of it is down to the slave. In this lecture: expansion and restriction of rizq; a definition of rizq; wahy and wasiyyah; the scope of shari’ah; Divine selection.
Surah Shūra (42:7-11). On the Day of Judgment, all of humanity is gathered together yet separated in accordance with their actions. In this lecture: the Mother of all cities; the basis for unity among human being; wilāyah; reviving the dead; insights into sunnah and sīrah; prototypes in creation.
Surah Shūra (42:1-6). The Rabb brings things to their perfection gradually. In this lecture: Al-‘Azīz and Al-Hakīm; ownership versus trusteeship; the greatest crime of shirk; the Throne of Allah (S); spiritual pollution.
Surah Fussilat (41:47-54). We are often blinded to the truth by self-imposed stipulations. The truth in revelation is plain for those who heed it. In this lecture: failure and rejection; the Arabic of the Quran; the Quran as a cure for intellectual deficiencies; the reformation of the nafs; Ikhtilāf that is celebrated and ikhtilāf that is detrimental; the role of the mujtahid; the double standard in conceding to expertise.
Surah Fussilat (41:43-45). We are often blinded to the truth by self-imposed stipulations. The truth in revelation is plain for those who heed it. In this lecture: failure and rejection; the Arabic of the Quran; the Quran as a cure for intellectual deficiencies; the reformation of the nafs; Ikhtilāf that is celebrated and ikhtilāf that is detrimental; the role of the mujtahid; the double standard in conceding to expertise.
Surah Fussilat (41:37-42). There are clear signs in creation of Allah’s existence (S). In this lecture: the sun and moon as means of measuring time; the earth and life-giving rain; recognizing The Creator behind creation; revelation as the final authority; the understanding of the sahabah.
Surah Fussilat (41:34-36). The source, form and effect of a good deed are different from those of a bad deed. In this lecture: hasanah and sayyi’ah; ihsān and ‘adl; true kindness; forgiving from a position of strength; effecting social change; the infallibility of prophets is despite their humanness.
Surah Fussilat (41:26-33). The negative forces that attempt to counter the positive force of the Quran are engaged in a futile struggle against the Divine. In this lecture: The Rahman, The Rahim; rejection by concealing or distorting revelation; the enemies of Allah (S); the constancy and steadfastness of believers; angels; the highest form of ni’mah in Jannah; prophets as the greatest benefactors to mankind.
Surah Fussilat (41:13-25). Allah (S) protects His Anbiyaa and those who believe as part of the order of this world. In this lecture: the punishment of this world and the punishment in the Akhirah; the choice of misguidance; the rules of the Day of Judgment; speech outside of time; the effects of companionship; the role played by the Jinn.
Surah Fussilat (41:9-12). There is a design, intent and purpose behind everything Allah (S) does and it is for the believer to ponder upon this. In this lecture: Yawm; the yield of the earth; Dukhān; understsanding and belief; the heavens, ma'ārij; the language and purpose of wahy.
Surah Fussilat (41:1-8). The Arabic language is the Divine choice for the last and final revelation for all times and peoples. In this lecture: note on translations; the versatility of Arabic; glad tidings and warnings; the tension between human volition and Divine injunction; consistency in observances and practices; perpetual reward for perpetuity in imān.
Surah Ghāfir (40:82-85). Human knowledge and intellect is limited to the five senses while prophets offer much more. In this lecture: travel for the right reasons; the limited pursuit of knowledge; the Divine as the first resort; life after death; repulsion by angels; necessary knowledge and its tools; kufr and loss; conclusion.
Surah Ghāfir (40:75-81). The believers are a source of tremendous assistance for the prophet (S). In this lecture: the prerequisites of da'wah; ṣabr as a shield on the battlefield of da'wah; the measure of a prophet's performance; the function of prophets within the bounds of cause and effect; 'aqidah al-Tahawiyyah; utilization and exploitation.
Surah Ghāfir (40:65-74). The human intellect is not capable of determining how the Supreme Creator wants to be worshipped. That can only come through a means of communication from the Creator to the created. In this lecture: the universal modes of worship; submitting to the Lord of the worlds; every world has a process and an order; the world of the womb; istikharah; the choice of kufr and the confusion in it; the sophistication with which Allah (S) creates.
Surah Ghāfir (40:59-64). The cycle of night and days is a natural gift from Allah ﷻ, and disrupting the cycle comes at a price. In this lecture: sukūn and the night; proofs of tawhīd; the disease of consumerism; the earth and the sky; multiplicity from the One; resurrection in the form of khuluq; 'aql, science-inspired versus Divine-inspired; tarbiyah and the Rabb.
Surah Ghāfir (40:52-58). Muslims doing the work of dīn today should not assume that they will not face resistance, rejection and trials along the way. In this lecture: huda and dhikrā; ṣabr in the face of rejection; the subjectivity of tawbah for prophets; the power of 'ibādah and the need to harness this power; the spiritual energy of the prophet (S); the tools and rules of debate.
Surah Ghāfir (40:46-51). Those who turn people away from Allah (S) are given to bickering and this condition plagues them in the Hereafter as well. In this lecture: the stability in following a madhab; the geography of Madina in the time of the prophet (S); the angels of Jahannam; the disease of secularizing Divine assistance;
Surah Ghāfir (40:36-45). The evil of Fir'awn's actions were made pleasing to him. In this lecture: the call of the mu'min to follow him; the meaning of matā'a; equal access to salvation; the ākhirah as a lens for legal theory; Al-Azīz Al-Ghaffār; the value of companionship (ṣuhbah).
Surah Ghāfir (40:28-35). The Mu’min presents a compelling defense of his Nabi. In this lecture: respecting authority; the Prophet (S) as the ultimate mu’jizah; belief finds expression; the ‘Aqidah of justice; the means of guidance and Divine guidance; the prerequisites of da’wah; xenophobia and the unifying force of Islam.
Surah Ghāfir (40:21-28). Allah (S) draws our attention to the man who hailed from the family of Fir'awn but hid his iman only to reveal it when an opportunity arose to defend his prophet. In this lecture: the destructive effects of sin; the mu'jizaat of the anbiyaa; Fir'awn, Haamaan and Qaroon; the apparent statesmanship of Fir'awn; disbelief in the aakhirah; help from an unexpected quarter; formal education under prophets.
Surah Ghāfir (40:16-20). The main task of the Nabi is to warn people of the Day of Meeting. In this lecture: exposure to the elements; the elements of the Day of Judgment; intercession; the language of warning; intentions and what hearts hide; Truth and Judgment.
Surah Ghāfir (40:10-15). Worshipping Allah (S) only because He bestows His favors upon you is not really worship. A Muslim cannot afford to worship God conditionally. In this lecture: Tauhīd, shirk, tanzīl, ikhlās; unconditional worship and shirk in intention; the whole point of worship; an understanding of success; the ranks of sincere worshippers and the Raiser of ranks.
Surah Ghāfir (40:7-9). The highest point of creation is the Throne of Allah and the prophets mirror the niżam of the angels who carry the Throne. In this lecture: the ‘Arsh of Allah; Maghfirah amd taubah; Rahmah and ‘Ilm; the primary function of prophets; the system of materialism; trials and taufīq; the reward of sabr.
Surah Ghāfir (40:4-6). The believer does not argue regarding the āyāt of the Qur’ān from a standpoint of skepticism and doubt. In this lecture: understanding and submission; the spread of Islam; the intellectual superiority of the Anbiyā; the companions of the Fire.
Surah Ghāfir (40:1-3). With respect to the Qur’ān, its utility is ‘ibādah, and the ‘ibādah is in its recitation. In this lecture: eternal reward; lessons for poets; the letters of revelation and their components; tanzīl; the inimitability of the Qur’ān; sins and taubah; the Names of Allah.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:70-75). It is from the niżam of Allah (S) that He does not send His punishment without warning and without time to heed it. In this lecture: arrogance in rejecting prophets; the gates of Jannah; the phenomenon of constant praise in Jannah; maqām and visitations in Jannah; the ‘Arsh of the Rahmān and the angels around it; energizing Tasbīh; the futility of analyzing inevitable truths; submission through acceptance.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:65-70). By the principles of tawhīd, no matter how many good deeds a person does, if they commit shirk,then they become ineligible for salvation. In this lecture: wahy-based knowledge; after death; ‘ibādah and shukr; seeing the Divine above all creation; intellectual freedom; the trumpet; Shafaa’ah.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:60-64). Allah (S) protects us from the fire if we protect ourselves from sin. In this lecture: the preservation of the Quran; the treasures of the heavens; rizq and du’ā; Tawhīd as the essence of intelligence; stupidity as the essence of shirk.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:52-59). We must ever keep God‘s will in the back of our minds and bring it to the forefront as and when things come to pass. In this lecture: acquiescence in submission; reconciling āyāt in tafsīr; taufīq for taubah; organization in revelation;
Surah Al-Zumar (39:46-51). In the view of the servant, the shahādah is a testimony that Allah (S) knows everything there is to know, whether the servant knows it or not. In this lecture: resolution and closure in the ākhirah; tauhīd and ethics; the resilience and stamina of prophets; the pursuit of eternal happiness; the test in a ni'mah; a result-independent definition of success.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:39-45). Those who seek guidance or misguidance do so only to their own individual benefit or detriment. In this lecture: seeking the Truth amid tribal and societal affiliations; faith as an independent choice; sleep and death; the destructive psyche of resenting the mention of Allah; dhikr brings bashārah.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:32-38). Arrogance and pride often stop human beings from accepting the Truth. In this lecture: universal truths; the role of the Siddīq; a mindset of looking for the Truth; servanthood; seeking solutions with tawakkul.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:27-31). Human beings can't match the Speech of Allah (S) because their knowledge and imagination is limited. In this lecture: Eternal Speech; the coining of similitudes; Arabic as the Divine choice for Quran; Taqwā and intellectual submission as a prerequisite to understanding.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:23-25). Allah (S) reveals and the prophet (S) repeats. And when the prophet (S) repeats, Allah (S) responds to his recitation. In this lecture: the best of discourses; the effects of recitation; khashyah; punishment as an effect of sin; active submission.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:19-22). The Quran encourages and exhorts human beings to goodness. Honor for those who heed Allah’s (S) promise is in this life and the Hereafter. In this lecture: the promise of Allah (S); creation as a vehicle to reach the Creator (S); true intellectual freedom; Tawḥīd in telling the Artist from the art; the mood and mode of submission; dhikr and ghaflah; the most active act of submission.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:11-18). The objective of creation is to serve the human being. This is something that the human being must observe. In this lecture: the purpose of man; Al-Ghaffār; submitting the intellect; creation in Jannah and creation on earth; acknowledging Tawḥīd; intellectual night and day.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:7-10). The objective of creation is to serve the human being. This is something that the human being must observe. In this lecture: the purpose of man; Al-Ghaffār; submitting the intellect; creation in Jannah and creation on earth; acknowledging Tawḥīd; intellectual night and day.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:5-6). The objective of creation is to serve the human being. This is something that the human being must observe. In this lecture: the purpose of man; Al-Ghaffār; submitting the intellect; creation in Jannah and creation on earth; acknowledging Tawḥīd; intellectual night and day.
Surah Al-Zumar (39:1-4). There is nothing in Islamic forms and modes of worship that does not lead you to Allah (S). ‘Ibādah in Islam is equal-opportunity. In this lecture: Al-Din al-khālis; the ābid and the ma’būd; finding inner peace; Al-Wāhid; Al-Qahhār; the Word of Allah and its recipient.
Surah Sad (38:86-88). It is not in the nature of prophets to expect something in return for what they do. In this lecture: the mukhlas; family ties; the dhikr of the prophets; the dhikr of the cosmos; the path of nubuwwah; measuring the success of the prophets and understanding the maqām mahmood; appreciating the role model that is Muhammad (S); the dhaakirūn as benefactors of mankind.
Surah Sad (38:73-85). It is not always in the rejection of God that one becomes a kāfir. Kufr can also come about by the rejection of God’s command. In this lecture: istikbār and kufr; the hukm and its rationale; the myopia of Iblīs; rajm and rajīm; the evil genius of Iblīs, his stratagems and his insinuations: al-nafs al-lawwāmah; the apparatus of dhikr; the Haqq as the reason for every ‘why’.
Surah Sad (38:65-72). Being the Rabb means that Allah (S) organizes the system and the rules that govern the working of the seven heavens and the earth. In this lecture: Divine command, control and participation; sins and the environment; the higher council of angels; the nizām of nubuwwah; the perception of angels; the creation of Ādam.
Surah Sad (38:55-65). Allah (S) addresses the arrogant with a description of the sordid sustenance given to the dwellers of Jahannam that enables them to withstand the suffering there. In this lecture: sin and punishment; earning Jannah; insights into revelation; submission and rejection; the words of indhār and the words of bashārah.
Surah Sad (38:45-54). The Qurān is a book that is above the intellect. It encompasses every phase of human existence. In this lecture: the effect of wahy on a person; branches the two of Ibrahīm’s descendants (AS); the language of the Qurān as the language of dhikr; the continuum of life; the gardens of everlasting bliss; rizq.
Surah Sad (38:41-44). The minds of prophets area always engaged in the dhikr of Allah (S). They follow Allah’s lead in all affairs. In this lecture: horses likened to the arwāḥ; the awareness of Dawūd and Sulaymān (AS), and how they responded to their tests; understanding wahaba; the kingdom and authority of Sulaymān (AS); Sulaymān (AS) as a role model for those engaged in and with the world; a higher ʿadab.
Surah Sad (38:31-40). The minds of prophets area always engaged in the dhikr of Allah (S). They follow Allah’s lead in all affairs. In this lecture: horses likened to the arwāḥ; the awareness of Dawūd and Sulaymān (AS), and how they responded to their tests; understanding wahaba; the kingdom and authority of Sulaymān (AS); Sulaymān (AS) as a role model for those engaged in and with the world; a higher ʿadab.
Surah Sad (38:27-30). The heavens and the earth are true, and the purpose of their existence is also true. In this lecture: relating creation to Creator, and being in harmony with nature; the far-reaching individual and societal effects of disbelief; the nature of barakah, and the perpetual blessings of the Qur’ān; tadabbur (the rules of thinking); Sulaymān (AS) as awwāb.
Surah Sad (38:21-26). Although it has many stories and references to historical accounts, the Qurʾān must not be read like a storybook or a book of history; rather it must read as a book of dhikr as mentioned at the beginning of this Sūrah. In this lecture: the story of the two disputants; the burden of judging between people; identifying the test and common pitfalls in tafsīr; the governance of the Khalīfah of Allah (S); the rapport of the prophets with nature; the elevated stature of prophets (AS).
Surah Sad (38:12-20). Allah (S) is not pleased with those who exploit the trust of Allah for their personal gain. He has placed individuals in the ummah of Muhammad (S) who collectively exhibit the attributes of those who belied previous messengers. In this lecture: the disbelief of the people of Nuh (AS); the military prowess of the 'Aad; the engineering feats of Fir'awn; the people of the forest, and the power of their economy; the code of messengers; fawaaq; the patience of RasulAllah (S), and Dawud (AS) as an example in patience; the miracle of Dawud's voice (AS); power, and its forms.
Surah Sad (38:1-11). The Quran is revealed in a pristine Arabic. Although the Quraysh knew and understood it, they yet had an aversion to receiving its message and remembering Allah (S). In this lecture: the state of denial and disbelief; studying past civilizations as a means of dhikr; turning to Allah as the primary source of help; the Quraysh’s brutal rejection of the prophet’s da’wah; the awe-inspiring Oneness and Omnipotence of Allah (S), the Sustainer of all the worlds; the strategy of the Quraysh to counter the message of RasulAllah (S); the endurance of RasulAllah (S) in his mission; how Divine selection works; Al- Wahhab.
Surah Al-Saffat (37:167-182). The ultimate destiny of man is Jannah. In this lecture: wahy is unconstrained; the greatest of triumphs; shahaadah (martyrdom); witnessing divine punishment; observing the Haqq; Rabbul 'Izzah; the Prophet (S) as the final authority; Salaam as a code of governance; order within and across the worlds; conclusive comments.
Surah Al-Saffat (37:149-166). Angels are a genderless, intelligent creation, arranged in ranks in the order of their commission and committed to fulfilling it. In this lecture: the Quraysh’s belief in angels; accountability for jinnkind; the two-step process of purification; Divine selection; the authority of a Nabi; the ultimate influencing; the throne-bearers; Jibreel (AS); Bait-al-Ma’moor; Mikaail (AS) Izraeel (AS); the actions of Bani Aadam have consequences.
Surah Al-Saffat (37:112-148). Deliverance and Divine assistance come in many different ways, through the order inherent in the ranks of angels, and this is best manifested in how Allah (S) delivered his dearest prophets from their tests and tribulations. In this lecture: Ibrahim (AS) and his children, and the legacy of nubuwwah they left behind; Musa (AS) and Haroon (AS), and their deliverance from Fir'awn; the laws of the Torah revealed in a desert; guidance for a Nabi; Dawud (AS) and Sulayman (AS) applied the Torah in their administrations; the story of Ilyas (AS); the message of Lut (AS); the story of Yunus (AS).
Surah Al-Saffat (37:100-111). Shaykh Amin explains the Islamic understanding of what comprises a family. The family of Ibrahim gives us a prototype and code for sacrifice. In this lecture: children as a gift from Allah (S); Ibrahim’s (AS) prayer; the dream of Ibrahim (AS); submission and confirmation; a divine paradox; Allah’s (S) Fadl upon Ibrahim (AS); the infallibility of prophets.
Surah Al-Saffat (37:75-99). Allah (S) recognizes the incredible stamina shown by Nuh (AS) through the many centuries of his prophethood. His message was global, but restricted to his time on earth. In this lecture: the family of believers; Nuh (AS) as a prototype for Salaam; the culture that surrounded Ibrahim (AS); his wit and abilities; the constancy of a sound heart; the angelic elements of rescue in the surah.
Surah Al-Saffat (37:27-74). The prophet always confirms the truth and the prophethood of all the messengers who came before. In this lecture: the fate of those who belie the messenger; the fruits of Paradise and its enlivening wines among its countless pleasures; the social setting in Jannah; the greatest triumph; the tree of zaqqum.
Surah Al-Saffat (37:11-26). Surah Fatir (37:11-26). Allah (S) encourages His messenger to compare and contrast the natures of all His creation, and to make an observation. In this lecture: the reality of the Day of Judgment; the transience of the dunya; the transportation of minds across worlds; dzulm in theology; the sorting of souls; the turmoil of the questioned.
Surah Al-Saffat (37:1-10). Angelic order exemplifies the order of and in the heavens, and points toward Allah's Oneness. In this lecture: the nature of the oaths of Allah (S); the three groups of angels invoked in the opening oath; the terrestrial and the celestial; the intervention of devils; wahy and science.
Surah Yasin (36:71-83). Allah (S), the Mun'im, calls attention to His blessings in making animals subservient to man among His other manifestations of divine creativity. In this lecture: societal roles and gratitude; the origins of man and resurrection; evidences of tauheed; man's unsophisticated process of creation as a sign of Allah's creativity; Al-Khallaaq; the divine command behind the process of creation; conclusory comments.
Surah Yasin (36:68-70). Human longevity as decreed by Allah (S) culminates in the reduction of man to nothing. In this lecture: the intellect of the unlettered Nabi who depicts reality through reality; dhikr transcends time and space; the Companions’ intuitive and instantaneous grasp of the beauty of the Quran; the Quran’s eternal as well as residual effects on those who recite it.
Surah Yasin (36:58-67). The devil is ever working to misguide the children of Aadam (A) because Aadam (A) was the reason for the devil’s expulsion. In this lecture: the fallacy of an “easy life” for Muslims; daily worship as a shield against the devil; appreciating the Names of Allah (S); the irrefutable testimony on the Day of Judgment; the devil inspires mutation.
Surah Yasin (36:45-58). The da’wah of a Muslim, who represents Yasin, is enough evidence of a sign from Allah. In this lecture: da’wah in Muslim and non-Muslim countries; taqwa and altruism as Muslim civilizational values; Resurrection and the Day of Judgment; the People of Jannah as an involved community with unimaginable preoccupations; shade in Jannah and its many forms and dimensions.
Surah Yasin (36:30-42). Yasin is the heart of the Quran, and it strengthens the heart of the Messenger with reassurances. In this lecture: signs of resurrection; Divine creativity and human industry; the mercy in opposites; night and day; the sun and its movement; the moon and its cycle, a sign for new beginnings; a sign and ni'mah in marine transportation.
Surah Yasin (36:13-29). The messengers believe in their mission and are not too concerned about whether people believe in them or not. In this lecture: the three components of risalah; the tools of da'wah; israaf; positive thinking; the aakhirah and the pleasures of this world; the unconditional da'wah of a nabi; insights into fitrah.
Surah Yasin (36:1-12). Introduction to Surah Yasin. The Quran continually reassures the prophet that he is indeed the Messenger of Allah (S). Also in this lecture: the overwhelming language of the Quran; the forms of revelation, tanzeel; representing the last Messenger; a prototype for a Muslim community; the mu’jizah; intention and effort as standards of nubuwwah; being in awe of Al-Rahman.
Surah Fatir (35:40-45). Human actions can adversely affect the heavens and the earth, and it is only by the Grace of Allah (S) that cosmological order is maintained. In this lecture: Divine tolerance and clemency; insights into studying Quran; human resistance to guidance; the Sunnah of Allah; the end of past civilizations; conclusory comments.
Surah Fatir (35:36-39). Disbelief in the Faatir attracts punishment without end. In this lecture: opportunity for human introspection and reflection; the layers of diversity from a source of indivisible Oneness; the All-Knowing essence of the Faatir; knowledge in Jannah; Iman spanning the cosmos; insights into successorship; the myth that faith negates tribulation.
Surah Fatir (35:29-35). A total and comprehensive understanding of diversity comes to those who apply their understanding in their lives and manifest it in their worship. In this lecture: Al-Shakur; the reward of a good intent; the Quran as a musaddiq; knowledge as prophetic inheritance; the grades of Allah’s Fadl; diversity in creativity.
Surah Fatir (35:25-28). A plurality or diversity in creation does not imply a plurality in Divinity, rather it is a proof of Divine Oneness (Tauheed). In this lecture: Allah's Divine Creativity manifest in the diveristy found in nature around man, as well as in the diversity amongst and within men; a category of men and women commended by Allah (S); khashyah; arrogance and humbleness; appreciating diversity as Muslims.
Surah Fatir (35:14-24). Allah (S) has subjugated everything He has created to human beings, and human beings must subjugate themselves to His Will. In this lecture: man's dependence (al-fuqaraa'); Al-Hamid; individual responsibility and accountability (in both worlds); commentary on parenting and child-development; four similitudes; nadheer
Surah Fatir (35:8-13). Allah (S) reminds us that He is the originator of creation, all of which He has created without a blueprint. In this lecture: life-giving rain and life-giving faith; Allah's all-encompassing might; Good words and good deeds; the creation of Adam contrasted with the creation of his offspring; barakah and longevity; provisions from the sea; the cycle of night and day; Divine Sovereignty; nusrah and planning.
Surah Fatir (35:2-7). Do not be consumed by your blessings to the point that you forget the One who gave them to you. In this lecture: rejection and ingratitude; insights into accountability; shukr in the fitrah; contrasting the fitrah of the devil with that of angels and humans; recognizing the enemy within; using the Quran and sunnah as a rahmah, not as a weapon; Al-Karim, Al-Ghaniyy.
Surah Fatir (35:1-2). It's a sign of the Day of Judgment when what is against the fitrah becomes the norm. In this lecture: insights into fitrah; the communicative role of angels; being in sync with the cosmos and the world of the angels; the code of Alhamdulillah; a Nabi's depth of perception.
Surah Saba (34:53-54). The aakhirah is an extension of this world. What we do here is reflected in the next on a grander scale. In this lecture: Allah's eternal knowledge of everything; the parable of Saba; a wahy-based civilization; the resources accessible to Dawud (AS) and Sulaymaan (AS); Nur illuminates the structure of the cosmos; balad cross-references.
Surah Saba (34:48-53). Allah (S) grants knowledge to the Anbiyaa that other human beings do not have access to. In this lecture: definitions of al-ghayb; al-Haqq; kalimah insights; guidance and misguidance.
Surah Saba (34:42-47). The arguments of those opposed to Islam in any time are akin to the arguments of the Quraish against the Prophet (S). In this lecture: the super-rational nature of truth; standards in verifying the truth; the mission of a Nabi; the rights of Allah; proof of nubuwwah.
Surah Saba (34:38-42). When Muslims become Allah's servants in Ramadan, Allah reciprocates by expanding their rizq and gives them the best food. In this lecture: a formula to increase rizq; infaaq versus israaf; insights into tauheed and the theory of ownership and deputization; the devil promises poverty.
Surah Saba (34:32-37). The punishment for istikbaar (arrogance) is humiliation. In this lecture: implications of disbelief; the primary targets of wahy; the Quran as the source of truth; maal versus rizq; wealth and children; attributing prosperity to the Mun'im; an outlook of positivity and hamd.
Surah Saba (34:27-31). Victory and success transcend this world. In this lecture: a prophet for all peoples in all times and places; the hadith of shafa'a; a dual responsibility for Muslims; honest representation of both sides of the nabi: the bashir and the nadhir; insights into ethics of warfare; believing in the Ultimate Truth.
Surah Saba (34:22-26). Allah (S) owns and controls everything He has created. Shaykh Amin expounds on the relative insignificance of human capacity before the Divine. In this lecture: the insinuations of the devil; the need to speak up in the face of injustice; the Day of Judgment and insights into intercession; the purpose of religion; the shukr of Dawud (AS); true rizq; individual responsibility.
Surah Saba (34:16-21). The people of Saba were punished owing to their ingratitude for Allah's favors upon them. In this lecture: the kinds of dzulm, both open and subtle; ease of travel for the people of Saba; nourishment and security; comparing current events; if you care, you share; Allah's condemnation of Iblis; expanding our purpose in life to reject the devil; Al-Hafeedz.
Surah Saba (34:14-15). Allah gives knowledge to the extent He deems it sufficient. He withholds knowledge of the unseen for reasons He knows. Seeking knowledge from the ghayb is not from the sunnah. In this lecture: the bountiful land of Saba and its decline; the components of good living; insights into how Muslim psyche was shaped by these aayaat; rububiyyah and the role of the rabb in human development.
Surah Al-Ahzab (34:11-13). If you want to serve Allah (S) then you have to also serve Him through the actions that you perform, done out of shukr. In this lecture: a correct niyyah; service and hospitality with ihsan; Dawud and Sulayman (AS) as examples of grateful servants.
Surah Saba (34:9-11). The mindset of one who sees Allah as praiseworthy inclines towards a state of inaabah. Shaykh Amin keeps the theme of hamd central as he describes the gifts of Dawud (AS). In this lecture: Allah's innate praiseworthiness; gleaning positivity from the Qadr of Allah; insights into servanthood; the abilities of Dawud (AS); the prophetic ability to harness power creatively to represent Allah (S).
Surah Saba (34:3-8). True belief entails believing in Allah's ability to forgive you for your sins and Allah's ability to provide for you. In this lecture: God in the opinion of his servant; seeing the Nabi as a ni'mah, as more than 'just a human being; the hijab of man's arrogance; belief in the aakhirah clears the way; disbelief in accountability feeds into the adhaab of pessimism; two stories in this surah.
Surah Saba (34:1-3). An introduction to Surah Saba. Praise (hamd) for Allah (S) and His Rasul (S) pervades Quranic discourse and linguistics - both within the confines of time and space, and without. In this lecture: sabr and shukr arising out of hamd; an enduring and uncompromising optimism; weathering life in the light of Allah's Fadl; the Muslim's perception of good deeds; recognizing the Divine Nidzaam.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:73-73). Shaykh Amin provides additional insights into Surah Al-Ahzab in a short tafsir session to close out the Fall semester. Aligning our worldview with that of the Prophet (S) helps us carry the trust of volitional faith. In this lecture: iman and amaanah; the overwhelming rahmah of Allah (S); nifaq and kufr as consequences to the inability to bear the burden of trust; the greatest fear lies in shirking the burden; aligning our attainable ideals; preserving the institution of Muhammad (S).
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:69-73). Conclusion of Surah Al-Ahzab. In this lecture: the Bani Israeel as an irreverent people who under-appreciated their Nabi; a warning to the munafiqeen of Madinah; qawlan sadeedan; insights into marriage; the civilizational code of following the Nabi; the pervasiveness of intellect; seeing the trust through; aligning with the sunnah.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:62-68). The sunnah of the Rasul (S) is universal, but the sunnah of Allah (S) is His prerogative, more specific in its manifestation. In this lecture: the sunnah of Allah (S); the Day of Judgment; the risk of devaluing the life of the Rasul (S) and the civilizational value of loving him; taubah and istighfaar as a means of preservation and protection; a necessity to discuss and promote the finality of prophethood. We fear Allah (S) because of His prerogative to punish if He chooses to. The sunnah of the Rasul (S) is to avert the sunnah of Allah (S).
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:56-61). The discussion continues with an enumeration of the merits of Salaat 'ala An-Nabi and the etiquette of expressing love for the Nabi. In this lecture: Salaat 'ala An-Nabi as an ibaadah; the love of the companions for the Prophet (S); an inverted understanding of maturity; modesty is in the heart first; building a moral infrastructure; behavior modeled after the sunnah.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:56-59). An exposition of verse 56, which encapsulates how Allah (S) and the angels see the Nabi. In this lecture: the role of gender relations in understanding this aayah; the three categories of salaat 'ala al-Nabiyy; individual najaat; subitting to what the Nabi submitted to; the greatest la'nah; the trap in justifying sin; manifesting salaat 'ala al-Nabi; the ripple effect of sin; the love of the Nabi for his ummah; a crying need for modesty.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:53-55). The prophets (AS) are not concerned about what happens in this world, rather they remain focused on human salvation in the Hereafter. In this lecture: preserving the office of the Rasul (S); the ahl of The Rasul (S); acknowledging human nature by recognizing due protocol and formalities; an example in Sayyidatina Aaisha (RA); a higher standard of taqwa; honoring ideals; the "comfort square" and a spirit of defense.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:49-53). It is part of our 'aqidah that there are certain privileges that Allah (S) affords to the Prophet (S) that do not extend to his followers. This is Allah's prerogative to give to His Nabi what He pleases, as He pleases. In this lecture: appreciating the legal authority of the Nabi (S) and his prerogative to exercise restraint; the Nabi's commitment to nubuwwah; reading the sirah through the lens of a believer; comments on the etiquette of visiting the Nabi (S); a cornerstone of taqwah for the Anbiyaa; modesty as the most pronounced attribute of the Anbiyaa; the status of the companions. Allah represents the Nabi when he does not represent himself.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:47-48). These verses are indispensable to an understanding of RasulAllah (S). A Muslim's passion for the Prophet (S) must be internalized and expressed. In this lecture: a witness for all people; acknowledging good and evil; the limitations of logic; love as the overriding attribute of the one who submits; the Fadhl of Allah (S) and the loss in misappropriating it.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:44-46). The Prophet (S) is positioned high on the mountain of nubuwwah from where he sees everything that can happen to one who does (not) submit to Allah (S). We cannot deny or reject anything that the Prophet (S) came to deliver as a Nabi. In this lecture: - the etymology of the word “Nabi”; the bearer of glad tidings; the warner; the obligation of true expertise; professing faith openly; the prophetic understanding of how the Divine works; a correct spirit of da’wah; the vocabulary of excellence.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:40-43). There is no greater favor than Islam, and being Muslim. In this lecture: additional insights into khatm al-Nabiyyeen, and the perpetuity of the the nubuwwah of Muhammad (S); a prophet for all creation; the inheritance of the 'ulamaa, its preservation and distribution; accessing teh Fadl of Allah (S); transparency in worship; the special focus of Allah (S) and his angels on the ummah; knowledge as an illuminating light; unity on the platform of khatm al-Nabiyyeen; the institution of Muhammad (S).
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:38-40). The companions had a refined understanding of Islam primarily because they internalized their recognition of Muhammad (S) as RasulAllah. In this lecture: the role of a Nabi is not limited tribal customs; an understanding of the conclusive; viewing seerah with the lens of submission; the staying power of Nubuwwah; addressing with honor; the legacy of Fiqh; Khaatim al-Nabiyyeen; the weight of qualified scholarship.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:36-37). Submission to Allah and following the Rasul is most required when it is hardest. In this lecture: implications of adoption; reformative function of prophethood; the Turner of hearts; societal impact of submission; the ni'maat of Allah (S) upon Zayd (R); Allah (S) as the officiator; the honoring of Zaynab (R).
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:35). Success in Islam is measured within a framework spanning this world and the Hereafter. In this lecture: salvation-based belief; ahkam through the lens of submission; obligations imposed upon men; devoutness with obedience; Sidq and Sabr; Khushoo' as a value worth striving for.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:28-34). How we see the Rasul (S) is crucial to a wholesome and complete understanding of our 'aqidah. In this lecture: the company of the impoverished; scope of the ahl-e-bayt; the Mothers of the Believers as role models in purity; equal access to Jannah. (We regret that only the first twenty minutes of this session are available due to an unexpected technical failure.)
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:25-27). Shaykh Amin provides a framework around the treason of Bani Qurayzah. He shares a few insights into the theory of waraathah and concludes the session by relating the relevance of Al-Ahzab to the Al-Fath.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:16-24). The true colors of a people come out in times of test and tribulation. In this lecture: the plight of hypocrites; insights into sirah and sunnah; miracles for believers; the Nabi shares in everything - ease and hardship; uswat-al-hasanah; an impetus to be grateful.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:9-16). Shaykh Amin describes the conditions leading up to the Battle of the Confederates. In this lecture: indispensability of hadith in understanding Quran; Salman's vision: glad tidings despite the odds; the sickness of the hypocrites in the face of tribulation and their calling; the sole guarantee of Muslims; the inviolability of treaties; historical amity amongst semites; the need for accurate presentation in the light of modern day Muslim insecurity; representing the Nabi transparently.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:7-8). We need Nubuwwah to understand anything about our lives before conception in our mothers' wombs and after our deaths. In this lecture: the first covenant; the world of spirits; taklif; the covenant of the Anbiyaa; Ibrahim (AS) as an ummah by himself; the burden of a Nabi and the proof of his Nubuwwah; the resolve of a Nabi transcends social reform.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:5-6). The prophet is an example to follow in worship as well as in intellectual discourse. The seal of prophethood is critical to understanding the accommodation of all Muslims without depriving them of their cultural identity. In this lecture: the prophet's closeness to a believer; the mothers of the believers; cultural accommodation in Islam; family values; the immense barakah in the blessings of parents.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:1-4). The sajdah (submission) of a nabi is much higher than that of a non-nabi. Only a nabi can express the command of Allah (S) the way that Allah (S) wants it expressed. The objective of a nabi is to convey, not to convert. In this lecture: the love of a nabi for his people; the signs of nifaq; fear and trust; the humanness of the Rasul; nubuwwah confirms the truth and denounces falsehood.
Surah Al-Sajdah (32:23-30). Revelation comes from above, and hence its content does not lend to being contextualized based on the needs of the community. In this lecture: the Torah, a book of guidance; leaders versus followers; leading requires patience and steadfastness; the nature of constitutional disagreements; a universal view of impostors; the pervasive theme of submission (sajdah); similes for revelation and guidance; the seed of skepticism; self-cultivation.
Surah Al-Sajdah (32:15-22). Allah's Fadl surpasses His justice and is the sole determinant of salvation. In this lecture: arrogance an obstacle to sajdah; holding God hostage to His justice; seeking guidance in life decisions; the garden of refuge; arguing with God; heedlessness versus rebellion.
Surah Al-Sajdah (32:9-14). Aadam and Hawwa (AS) lived in paradise where their faculties with perfected before they were sent to earth. In this lecture: the three modes of creation; the levels of denial; focusing on the destination; the womb of the earth; angelic determination; the existence of jahannam; the absolute non-emptiness of space; reading Quranic aayaat as an observer.
Surah Al-Sajdah (32:1-9). Shaykh Amin provides an introduction to Surah Al-Sajdah and comments on the comprehensive meaning of the word sajdah. In this lecture: the soundness of saying, “I do not understand” after understanding the wisdom of Luqman; sajdah as a representation of the universal submission of the intellect; how the worship of Allah (S) makes one more knowledgeable; the fallibility of knowledge that is not wahy-based; the purpose of revelation; understanding revelation secondary to submission; the transcending nature of prophetic sight; the inadequacies in transferring knowledge across worlds; Divine commands and time.
Surah Luqman (31:33-34). Fear has always been a positive agent for self-preservation. Shaykh Amin calls this reality into our attention in the concluding tafsir of Surah Luqman. In this lecture: fearing Allah; preparing for death; the guile of shaytaan; beneficial rain; linguistic insights; conclusory comments.
Surah Luqman (31:28-32). Human actions have an impact on the regulation of the universe. In this lecture: the unquantifiable knowledge of the Day of Judgment; Allah addressing His beloved; Allah's creativity and power manifested through the similitude of a ship at sea; Muslim attribution to Allah; the resilient and the grateful; hope through repentance; personalizing revelation.
Surah Luqman (31:23-27). The propagation of wahy weighs heavily on the Nabi, yet he fulfills his mission with purpose. In this lecture: the grit of a Nabi; Allah's all-encompassing control and dominion; Divine Constancy; Hadith Qudsi; creativity in words of remembrance; the mu'jizah of a Nabi.
Surah Luqman (31:20-22). Shaykh Amin shares some beautiful insights on what constitutes 'ibaadah and the blessing in learning and appreciating academic Islam. In this lecture: inaamaat: the outward and the inward; misplaced argumentation; ibaadah free of speculation; submission cannot be passive, it should be an active choice; the Muslim worldview; knowledge (the correct and the incorrect) carries over into the grave; the barakah in following academic soundness.
Surah Luqman (31:18-19). This session dwells on the fascinating universality in Luqman’s advice to his son. In this lecture: humility without humiliation; gratitude to Allah wards off depression; empowering children to become responsible for themselves; focusing on Allah (S), not on other human beings; Umar as a towering example in islaah.
Surah Luqman (31:16-17). Shaykh Amin shares the parental insights of Luqman underscoring the need to understand how Allah (S) works. In this lecture: Allah tests us, not the other way around; the purpose of Revelation; Al-Lateef, subtle and imperceptible growth essential to Allah's Nidzaam; Al-Khabeer, the inescapability of Allah's Knowledge; a formula to create leadership; the value of salaat; an understanding of ma'ruf; the societal need to enjoin good.
Surah Luqman (31:12-15). Wisdom is only good when it helps translate knowledge for the benefit of others. This is the hikmah that Allah (S) bestowed upon Luqman. In this lecture: Allah is above a need for gratitude; Luqman’s unique evaluation of Allah’s praiseworthiness; wisdom begins at home; shirk as a dzulm upon the self; insights into shifts in narrative; the universal value of appreciating one’s parents; struggling to fulfil the rights of God.
Surah Luqman (31:6-11). Modern day Muslims often contemporize the Quran’s universal criticisms, and miss the larger message warning against the human propensity for sin. In this lecture: the addiction of entertainment; societal norms facilitating the commission of sin; contrasting entertainment in this world with the possibilities in Jannah where creativity is unlimited; the deception in short-lived pleasures; the inertia of extended childhood; human creativity manifested through performing acts of worship; the perfection in Allah’s creation and artistry
Surah Luqman (31:1-5). Shaykh Amin introduces Suarah Luqman with a definition of wisdom and its many levels. A reader of the Quran benefits most in recognizing the phased approach in which Divine wisdom is revealed. In this lecture: the Quran as a reservoir of guidance; guidance as a rahmah both in its reception and its distribution; personalizing rahmah; Ihsaan is transitive; practice must precede representation; wisdom in repetition
Surah Al-Rum (Summary). Shaykh Amin concludes the tafsir of Surah Al-Rum with a commentary on its relevance to present-day challenges faced by Muslims the world over. In this lecture: historical significance of Muslims seeking asylum in a Christian land; the need to recognize Christian nations that accommodate Islam and Muslims; a methodology to interpret world events; re-embracing the prophetic definition of Islam; positivity accompanyig Iman; Abu Bakr(R) as a role model in the affirmation of faith.
Surah Al-Rum (30:54-60). God's creation is an expression of his knowledge. In this lecture: criminals on Judgment day, separated from the rest; time appreciated by those who believe in the end of it; Iman as an active submission; the world of the graves; rejection and denial inhibits spiritual development; true knowledge accompanied by patience; imagination and creativity found in revelation must take the seeker from one state to a better state.
Surah Al-Rum (30:42-53). Iman comes from Allah; belief is the prerogative of Allah and comes only by taufeeq, and is the greatest rahmah upon the human heart. In this lecture: the grave consequences of disbelief; the indiscriminate rahmah of God; seeking fadl and the higher levels of rahmah; order pervades the dispensation of rahmah; the similitude of knowledge and rain, and their life-giving qualities by virtue of Allah's rahmah; wind as a catalyst of rahmah, or an accelerator of adhaab; the weight of actions over words.
Surah Al-Rum (30:34-41). These verses lead to a discussion of the phenomena of cause and effect that Allah (S) has subjected the cosmos to. In this lecture: the rules of cause and effect governing sustenance; seeing through the lens of iman, or the lens of kufr; relinquishing control; assisting or repelling the needy attracts or repels Allah’s assistance; note to those rejecting refugees; greed as cause for poverty; the genius of the early fuqahaa; neighborhood economics should come first; the many causes of human suffering.
Surah Al-Rum (30:28-34). God’s system of laws is never-faltering, ever above that of human systems. In this lecture: an instance of Quranic refutation by analogical reasoning (qiyaas); human accountability, and Allah’s guidance or misguidance within the realm of cause and effect; ‘ibaadah and seclusion as conducive to attracting Divine attention/guidance; societal fitrah and the effects of sohbah; the intolerance toward difference in what is conclusive, i.e. a monolithic understanding of who God is; the celebration of difference in what is inconclusive; maintaining order above all; the shirk in self-attribution and ingratitude; Allah’s fadl as universal and constant.
Surah Al-Rum (30:21-27). Diversity in creation must lead the seeker to One Creator. In this lecture: mutual compassion makes a couple from individuals; diversity in creation as proof of Allah’s existence; tauheed as a monolithic creed and the sunnah as a monolithic way of life for a diverse humanity; an uncompromising yet inclusive lifestyle; universal acknowledgement of Arabic as central to worship, and the petty confusion of ranks with roles; sleep as a ni’mah, a means of detaching from yourself; lightning as a sign for the dual sensations of fear and hope; submission as a cosmic order; Allah (S), the Sovereign Creator.
Surah Al-Rum (30:11-21). Faith and good deeds are the ultimate discriminators in the Hereafter. In this lecture: the unrighteous on the Day of reckoning; tasbeeh as a purification for the believer; the dynamism of Arabic in gleaning commands from news; the disinclination of the companions to analyze commands; salaat and the order of angels; human origination from dust as a sign for all humanity; compatibility and sukoon in marriage; the many shades of rahmah. A Muslim's perception of the truth transcends the confines of the first heaven.
Surah Al-Rum (30:6-10). History bears witness that Muslim civilization and leadership attached importance to the dunya and the aakhirah with a clear preference for the latter. In this lecture: facilitating salvation; planning for the dunya and the aakhirah; Ibrahim (AS) as a model visionary; true understanding as a product of outward observation and insight; the human as a complete cosmos within the self; the fate of those obsessed with the dunya; relevance to present-day Muslims preaching peace; the fate of those who mock revelation.
Surah Al-Rum (30:1-6). Introduction to the Surah. In this lecture: a backdrop in Seerah; Abu Bakr's bet (radhi Allahu anhu); Muslim alignment with Christianity; the two interpretative sciences: of abstract dreams and of tangible events; Abu Bakr's profound interpretative skills and depth of perception; insights into the science and art of dream interpretation; Umar's genius at preempting Quranic injunction; the productive effects of prophetic sohbah.
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:61-69). Session 11 (29:61-69) Conclusion. Allah (S) is in control of all sustenance. In this lecture: The Creator at the macro and micro levels; the shocking sensation of eternity and the slaughter of time; man's selective reliance on Allah and self-attribution; insights into the Hijrah; the Ikhlaas of the sahaabah; the worst form of injustice as theological; reading revelation in the language of revelation; patience in the face of adversity.
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:52-62). Surah Al-Ankabut (29:52-62). True belief is belief in the Truth, and disbelief is belief in falsehood. In this lecture the following key-points were thoroughly discussed: disbelief as a punishment by itself; the aura of disbelief and its inescapable nature; the effects of Jahannum upon the damned; the effects of forbearance upon the guided; the Hijrah as a positive and deliberate move; both sustenance and constraint are from Allah
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:48-51). The Quran informs us that one component of the seerah that is often-overlooked is that the prophet (S) never read, and never wrote. Yet he went on to produce a civilization that read and wrote. The prophet (S) is the mu'jizah manifesting Allah's ability to create something from nothing. In this lecture: rationale for the unlettered prophet; the subtle irony in being the people of the book; wahy as the basis for prophethood; 'ulama as inheritors of the prophets; the piety of an 'aalim lies in his learning and his dispensation of knowledge; reading precedes understanding. The need of the hour is for Muslims to distinguish between the hukm and the hikmah.
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:46-47) It is part of our belief to prepare ourselves to partake in discussions of theism with members of other faiths. In this lecture: maintaining a level of readiness for religious interchange; the prophetic model for such preparedness, the training behind the success; the need for an academic response to whatever the challenge of the hour is; an exemplar of verse 46; the acceptance and affirmation of all wahy as a Muslim civilizational value.
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:44-45). This session has tremendous insights into prayer (salaat) as the ultimate vehicle that will carry the believer to unimaginable heights. In the list lecture: the order of ibaadah, and its comparability to the natural order in all creation, wahy as a foundation of salaat, aligning salaat with individual najaat, salaat as proof of submission, the body and spirit of salaat.
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:38-43). These verses call out the eight categories of men condemned for their rejection of the messenger sent to them. In this lecture: the effects of oppression; the obscure yet real injustice committed in denying Allah (S) and the imbalance it creates in the cosmos; the similitude between those who take other than Allah and the house of the spider, an intricate construction with a strong source yet weak manifestation; insights into the Islamic theory of economics being rooted in the fiqh of it. The breath of nubuwwah demolishes the intricate plans of those who reject it, no matter how strong its foundation may be.
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:26-37). The tests of the prophets are varied, but all difficult and severe. In this lecture: the blessed offspring of Ibrahim (AS), the tribulations of Lut (AS), the mission of Lut (AS), what is legal is not necessarily moral, the mission of Shu'ayb (AS). Lut (AS) was sent to address an aberration in the understanding of human nature. Shu'ayb (AS) was sent to address an aberration in the understanding of the nature of wealth. Their mission is compared and contrasted with that of Ibrahim (AS) and Nuh (AS) who were sent to address an aberration in the understanding of the nature of the Divine.
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:16-25). Truth evades those who submerge themselves in the pursuit of worldly pleasures. In this lecture: worshipping Allah (S) as a means of thanking Him, the pervasive phenomena of death and resurrection, the supreme intellect of prophets ('alayhimusSalaam), the inevitable meeting with Allah (S), the violent reaction of an intellectually defeated people, adopting a worldview of tauheed, Ibrahim (AS), as a shining example of one who was born into a community steeped in polytheism yet making the conscious choice of ascertaining and believing in Allah's Oneness. Allah (S) does not need to punish, but He has the prerogative to do so. It is from the Absolute and Sovereign essence of what makes God worthy of worshipping, unfettered by the limitations of human imagination and the impositions of finite thought.
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:11-15). Allah (S) wants believers to expose their belief and the manifest the Islamic code of conduct. In this lecture: the two levels of hypocrisy, the tafsir and wisdom behind the age of Nuh ('alayhisSalaam) and the vast knowledge he accumulated during his lifetime, the mu'jizah of Quranic brevity, the magnitude and quality of Nuh's ('alayhisSalaam) knowledge of Zoology, the ark as a marvel of engineering, individual accountability, and the role of society as an aid to life and living. Moral decadence is the flood of our times.
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:7-10). There is no obedience to creation in disobedience to the Creator. In this session, beauty and grace in dealing with parents, drawing the line between obedience and non-conformance, conclusive knowledge as critical to avoiding confusion in matters of religious and social obligation, recognizing our role in the distortion of social practices, a corollary example in the need to take a collective stance on facilitating marriage, the appropriate sense of al-saliheen, the fallacy of freedom in light of the violation of Divine rights. It is for Muslim society to create an ambience wherein Muslims can be Muslim.
Surah Al-Ankabut, verses 1 through 6. This surah was revealed at a time when Muslims (barely one hundred in number) were being persecuted for their beliefs. In this session: Surah Al-Qasas as a preface to this chapter, and Al-Qasas as a prelude to the hijrah; the need for faith despite trials; the fallacy that faith removes all trials, and that worldly success is a sign of God's pleasure with you; tribulation as preparation for what is to come; the understanding of mujahadah as a prerequisite to the understanding of jihaad; the sahabah as role models for the ansaar. Historically, no nation has thrived that has not engaged in mujahadah.
Surah Al-Qasas, verses 86 through 88. Conclusion and conclusory comments. Wahy is delivered to a nabi with no effort on the part of the recipient towards such Divine attraction. Wahy is from the grace and predestination of Allah (S), it is all about rahmah and has nothing to do in essence with social and moral standing or otherwise. In this lecture: a prophet's supremacy over human beings is by virtue of the intellectual abilities given to him by Allah (S); only a prophet can plan for eternity; the minor signs of Allah's creativity, rahmah and compassion that are accessible to all human beings, and the greater signs that are revealed only to His anbiyaa (such as the mi'raaj); the similarities between Musa (AS) and Muhammad (S), and Al-Qasas as a vehicle of Divine kalaam that bridges one story with the other; the universal code of Tauheed and the path to Allah; the preservation of man and his good deeds in Jannah; the deficiencies of poetry in contrast with the perfection in Kalaam-ul-Allah. The moral of The Story is "Lahu al-Hukmu" - that all authority belongs to Allah.
Surah Al-Qasas, verses 83 through 86. These verses sum up everything Muslims need to understand about political authority. Authority comes from Allah (S) and cannot be assumed by force. In this lecture: the fallacy of Islamic rule being essential to Islamic practice; the accessibility to taqwa with or without Islamic rule; the incomparable vastness of Jannah contrasted with this limited world; fanaticism and fundamentalism as consequences of attempting to render divine justice on earth; the indispensable message in Al-Qasas for those who strive to make sense of the grave crisis Muslims face today; the mission of the prophet (S) was guided by wahy, not human emotion; the authority of the prophet (S) over Makkah was purely for the fulfillment of the five pillars, political dominion was just a side effect. If you seek supremacy on earth, Allah (S) will deprive you of any authority in Jannah.
Surah Al-Qasas, verses 78 through 82. This session contrasts the example of Qaroun as a hoarder of wealth with that of Musa as a custodian of knowledge. In this lecture: Qaroun's false claim to knowledge as the source of his good fortune; the staggering amount of Qaroun's wealth is little compared with those who perished before him; limited wealth and lasting knowledge; wealth as a means for knowledge; the impact of a nabi upon the mindset of a disenfranchised people; the short-sighted beliefs of the disbeliever; the distribution of wealth as a Divine prerogative. Our wealth does not make us, rather we make our wealth. If we are good, then our wealth will be good. If we are consumed by our pursuits, then we will be drowned in them (much as Qaroun was swallowed up). We must strive to be free men and women, worshiping Allah free from the weight of our worldly pursuits.
Surah Al-Qasas, verses 71 through 80. Allah (S) is the Lord and Guardian of all who are subordinate to Him as well as those who are insubordinate to Him. In this lecture: Divine mercy in the alternation of day and night; using sensory perception to exercise shukr as the basis for loving Allah (S); the result of shukr and the result of arrogance; the wealth bestowed on Qaroon and his arrogance on account of it; the implicit command to speak out against social vices; the authority of prophets over their people; nobility in speech as the way of Allah (S) and the way he recommended to his prophets. If you have authority, then make sure you don't let your authority bring you disgrace.
Surah Al-Qasas (28:62-70). Human prerogatives are very limited while Allah's prerogatives are supreme. In this lecture: Allah's (S) ruboobiyyah extends to all creation, even the rebellious; Fir'aun was granted ample opportunity for repentance; human will, although free, is limited by what Allah (S) has ordained, this is embodied in the word Rabb; Allah (S) has a personal affiliation with every individual in the capacity of being one's Rabb; Allah (S) alleviates the intense sense of loss felt by the prophet (S) at Abu Talib's demise through the verses of this surah that present the many tribulations of Musa (A); the prophet's (S) love for Allah (S) increased in times of tribulation. True worship is independent of what the worshipped does, therein lies tauheed whereby the sources of good and bad are one and the same. Fluctuating in our love for Allah (S) subject to our times of ease and difficulty is a sign of shirk, i.e. perceiving separation in the source of all things.
28:57-61. It is only through the institution of prophethood that mankind still exists on this planet. In this lecture: Allah (S) being in total control of provisions for all creatures; the Kaaba as a source of security and economic prosperity for the Quraysh; the consequences of igniting the fire of shirk and rebellion against Allah's authority; Divine rules that govern the destruction of a people; faith and good deeds as the currency of the Hereafter; remembrance in the dunya yields fruits in Paradise. Allah's Rahmah overrides the angelic assessment of mankind's ineligibility for mercy.
28:51-56. Shaykh Amin discusses several practical ramifications of these verses applicable in our times of free speech and expression. In this lecture: the mindset of a believer, submitting to the ruboobiyyah of Allah (S); acknowledging you have a Rabb is a prerequisite to believing; rejection by the world not reason enough to reject the truth; the twofold reward of sincere believers: firstly for their belief, and secondly, for their resilient persistence in it; repelling evil with good from a position of strength; refrain from vain discourse as an attribute of steadfast believers; example in Musa (A) engaging Fir'awn in debate from a position of strength. The passion of the believer is to honor the prophet (S), follow his example, and hold true to the believer's code of conduct. The greatest insult one can levy against the prophet (S) is to deny he is the last Messenger.
28:43-49. Allah's Rahmah is ubiquitous, but it takes a discerning eye to recognize instances of it. In this lecture: the story of Musa (AS) as a backdrop to the mission of Muhammad (S); guidance as a consequence of correct observation; story-telling as an effective tool of the oral tradition; time-shift into the story of Shu'aib (AS), contrasting the economically-challenged Madyan that Musa encountered with its past glory; the daunting mission of Musa (AS) as a source of comfort for the last Messenger. Prophets are highly intellectual human beings and their intelligence was further enhanced by prophethood.
28:36-42. The signs of Musa (AS) are mu'jizaat that truly disarm his opponents as they reflect the very nature of the message he bore for Fir’awn. In this lecture: the limited authority of Fir'awn contrasted with the unlimited authority of Allah (S); Nubuwwah further elevates the supreme intellect of a Nabi; Fir'awn's rationale behind the tower, and the relevance of Haman; the Divine order in creation, and the consequences of disturbing it; the fate of those who lead astray and the dangers of seeking leadership for the dunya; insights into Islamic Political Science, and the need to include the Hereafter in such discourse. The prophet (S) said: The best form of jihaad is to speak the truth in the face of a tyrant.
28:29-35. After fulfilling his appointed term, Musa (AS) travels with his ahl (his wife) towards Egypt when he perceives a fire in the distance. Shaykh Amin dwells on the reference to the “right side” and Musa’s (AS) etiquette in his approach to the fire, among other things.Part of the symbolism in throwing down his staff lay in discarding any object or idea that Musa (AS) deemed a source of protection for himself. There is no other protector when in the presence of Allah (S). The reaction of Musa (AS) at the sight of the serpent is in line with the adab of being human. When a danger is perceived, then precautions must be taken, which is evident from Musa’s (AS) immediate attempt to flee from the reach of the serpent. A dub made without due preparation is futile. But when the command is explicit, the nabi obeys without fear or reservation, as manifested in Musa’s (AS) behavior when Allah (S) commands him to grab hold of the serpent, as described in a different ayah.
28:22-28. Shaykh Amin paints a mental state of Musa's (AS) mental state soon after his flight from Egypt. It is not possible for a Nabi to be pessimistic, and Musa (AS) puts his trust in Allah (S), acknowledging his own strengths and abilities even as he makes his way towards Madyan. His conversation with the two young ladies by the well stems from genuine concern, not from idle curiosity. Musa (AS) reflects the adab characteristic of a Nabi in that after he assists people, he turns aside from them and seeks help from Allah (S) instead. Prophets also separate Allah's fadl from their actions. They do not ascribe any good to themselves, rather they attribute all good to Allah (S) alone.
28:14-21. The upbringing of Musa (AS) is comparable to that of Yusuf (AS), except that Musa (AS) was raised a prince under the very eye of the emperor himself. Consequently, he was privy to the lives of the Egyptian aristocracy and the inner workings of the government machine. He was also well-equipped with the knowledge, skills and sophistication befitting a prince. Three women are included in the reach of the word, "muhsineen", in this verse: the mother and sister of Musa (AS), and the queen who raised him. Their reward lay in Musa (AS) becoming the wise, knowledgeable young man that he came to be, prepared to play the role that he was destined for. Shaykh Amin calls out the relevance of this verse to our lives as parents watching over and raising children in our times. Our motives must also be to raise children who do good. We must not pollute our motives with petty and self-serving intentions that for that would only deprive us, as children have a mind of their own. The following verses cover Musa's (AS) act that resulted in the death of a man, his expression of tawbah to Allah (S), and the events that led to his flight from Egypt. Shaykh Amin reminds us that Musa (AS) follows the sunnah of Aadam (AS) in seeing fault within himself and in the influences of shaytaan. This is the way of the pious. Whereas Yusuf (AS) was sent to prison (a confined space), Musa (AS) was sent into exile. This is a part of Musa's (AS) reflections on tawheed. Prophets will always choose a place that facilitiates their free worship of Allah (S) be it within the walls of a prison or the vast openness of the wilderness.
28:7-13. The session begins with a discussion of the word wahy and it's specific usage for the primoridal instinct of a mother to nurse her child. Wahy may come to certain individuals, but the reception of wahy does not make the recipient a Nabi. The distinction is that a Nabi is required to reveal the wahy received, while a non-Nabi is required to conceal it. The wisdom behind the inspiration that the mother of Musa (AS) received lies in the fact that ordinarily there would be no motivation to suckle a child that is destined to be slain by the police of the Fir'awn. But the mother of Musa (AS) was inspired to nurse him. And the rest of her actions that are borne by the wahy she received defiy all logic and rationale. Wahy is above all logic and rationale. It comes from a realm where the seemingly contradictory come together in perfect harmony. This verse embodies a universal parenting philosophy with the mother of Musa (AS) serving as a role model.
28:1-6. In this session, Shaykh Amin presents an introduction to Surah Al-Qasas. Where the preceding surah, Al-Naml, deals with the affairs of Sulayman (AS), a nabi who was privileged with dominion over man, beast and jinn, Surah Al-Qasas deals with the challenges of Musa (AS). Musa (AS) is the underprivileged Nabi who struggles with leading his tribes, a difficult and irreverent people, out of the clutches of Fir'aun. The Shaykh reiterates the wisdom behind our lack of undertanding of the harf al-muqatta'aat, the broken letters that begin certain chapters, of which Al-Qasas is one. Submission to the will of the Divine lies in the paradaox of the eloquent Arab who is able to comprehend compound words constructed with letters, yet is confounded by the meanings of the letters themselves when they are placed in Divine order. This is a mu'jizah of Allah (S).