بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
17-6-1438H
The Qur'an is the Speech of Allah, which He revealed to the Prophet ﷺ. It is unlike any other Book; It is the Book of Allah. There are etiquettes to be followed when reciting it, and it requires both inward and outward preparation. It requires purification of both the soul and body.
We should not deal with it as we deal with any other Book; we have to deal with it in a different way, starting with the actions of the heart;- whilst having magnification of Allah and magnification of His Speech. This comes when you believe in the Qur'an.
In Surah Al-Fatihah we ask Allah for Guidance (الهداية). Immediately, Allah says in the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah, that if you believe in the unseen, establish the prayer, spend from what Allah has provided you with, believe in what was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ, believe in the previously revealed books, and believe in the Day of Judgement with certainty:
"They are on (true) guidance from their Lord, and they are the successful."
Guidance begins with belief. We have to ask ourselves: Do we really believe in the Quran as we should? Do we believe in it with detailed belief - or is our belief superficial? Do we really believe that its news is the truth? That its rulings are just and based on wisdom? Or do we have doubts regarding it? Do we really believe in the recompense mentioned? Do we really believe in all what Allah mentioned of His Names and Attributes?
In four positions in Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah mentioned that we have to believe in the Qur'an. Then in the same Surah, Allah told us about Bani Israeel, how Allah made them successors on earth, gave them the Torah, and sent them Musa عليه السلام, and how they behaved and dealt with their Book. Allah warns us from being like them.
How Bani Israeel dealt with their Book from Surah Al-Baqarah
This refers to Bani Israeel generally, and the Jews who lived in Madinah specifically, because they were the first who heard the Qur'an from the Prophet ﷺ.
Position #1:- Verses 40 to 44
"O Children of Israel! Remember My Favour which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill (your obligations to) My Covenant (with you) so that I fulfill (My Obligations to) your covenant (with Me), and fear none but Me."
"أوفوا بعهدي"
As is mentioned in other verses in the Qur'an, Allah took a covenant with Bani Israeel to believe in His Messengers, His Books, in Him, to establish the Religion, etc.
"أوف بعهدكم"
If you fulfill your covenant with Allah, Allah will fulfill His covenant with you by recompensing you for what you do.
What will make you fulfill your covenant with Allah? "و إياي فارهبون" - The Fear of Allah
"And believe in what I have sent down (this Quran), confirming that which is with you, [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], and be not the first to disbelieve therein, and buy not with My Verses [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] a small price (i.e. getting a small gain by selling My Verses), and fear Me and Me Alone."
"و ءامنوا بما أنتزلت مصدقا لما معكم"
Believe in the Qur'an, which confirms what is in the Torah.
"و لا تكونوا أول كافر به"
Allah addresses the Jews in Madinah, to not be the first of Bani Israeel who disbelieve in the Qur'an or in the Prophet ﷺ. The Description of the Prophet ﷺ was mentioned in the Torah and Injeel; this was not something new to them.
"و لا تشتروا بئاياتي ثمنا قليلا"
Although this verse is addressed to Bani Israeel, it applies to all the Muslims who recite the Qur'an.
Ibn Katheer said in his explanation of this part of the verse, "Do not substitute faith in my Ayat and belief in My Prophet with the life of this world and its lusts which are minute and bound to end"
Bani Israel were afraid to lose the life of this world, which is why they rejected. This is like the person whom Islam is presented to, but he does not accept it out of fear of his family, loss of money, etc.
They rejected Paradise because of small, worldly, perishable gain of the Dunya. This was the attitude of Bani Israeel, and Allah is warning us not to be like them. Many Muslims, due to the issue of terrorism, try their best to show that they are not Muslims. They skip some verses in the Quran which talk about Al-Walaa wal Baraa because they do not want to be called terorrists; trying to please the disbelievers. Although the name of the Religion الإسلام means Peace. They want to please the people and not Allah.
This could also take the form of a person issuing a wrong Fatwa or giving a false testimony just to please people or get worldly gain.
Do not think that we are not meant by this verse. We may be, especially amongst students of knowledge, who know the verses of the Quran. They may use verses in the Quran to justify their wrong actions, when something comes contrary to their desire.
E.g. A husband invites guests all the time, and his wife, because she is tired, quotes the verse [in 17:27]:
"Verily, spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayatin (devils), and the Shaitan (Devil - Satan) is ever ungrateful to his Lord."
She quotes the Quran out of desire. Do not use the Quran to go along with your desire, otherwise you will be like the Jews.
"And mix not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth [i.e. Muhammad Peace be upon him is Allah's Messenger and his qualities are written in your Scriptures, the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] while you know (the truth)."
This is a warning from Allah to the People of the Book, to not intentionally hide the truth and spread the opposite. Do not use the Qur'an to support or defend yourself, while the verse may have another meaning.
"And perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, and Irka' (i.e. bow down or submit yourselves with obedience to Allah) along with Ar-Raki'un."
"Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allah) on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves, while you recite the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah)]! Have you then no sense?"
البر encompasses all types of righteousness.
"أتأمرون الناس بالبر و تنسون أنفسكم"
This person tells others what to do, whilst he does not do it himself. He forgets himself and does not heed what he calls others to do.
"و أنتم تتلون الكتاب"
We read the Quran and tell people what to do and what not to do.
Ibn Masoud رضي الله عنه said that how many people recite the Quran while the Qur'an curses them. He reads the verse:
"أَلَا لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ" (No doubt, the curse of Allah is upon the Oppressors) and he is an oppressor.
Allah is telling us about Bani Israeel in order that we do not be like them.
However, Allah does not criticize people for enjoining good. We should enjoin good while being the first to apply it, as much as we can.
Ibn Othaimeen رحمه الله said that if the statement of the Scholar contradicts his action, he is worse than the ignorant. Whoever enjoins good and forbids evil and does not do it himself has resembled Bani Israeel.
Parents usually tell the children do this and that in the morning and evening, while contradicting their statements. They recite the Quran and forget themselves. Parents should be an example for their children. Our statements should conform with our actions and we should be the first to apply what we recite as much as we can.
Surah AlJinn - سورة الجن
The Stage of Preparation
When we study any Surah we have to prepare for it. In Islam, preparation for any great matter is a divine Sunnah. If you look into the biography of the Prophet ﷺ, you will find that before the Prophet ﷺ was commissioned for Prophethood, Allah prepared him for it through endearing meditation for him in the Cave of Hira. Another means of preparation was cutting his chest and washing his heart, and this happened twice - once when he was young, and the second time before Al-Israa wal-Mi'raj.
Step 1: Repeatedly Reciting and Listening to the Surah
Since the Qur'an is the Speech of Allah, we should prepare for it. We should prepare for the Quran with the Quran. This is why we have to repeatedly listen and recite the Surah many times. This was practiced by the Prophet ﷺ and the Salaf many times.
Jasrah bint Dijajah said: "I heard Abu Dharr say: 'The Prophet (ﷺ) stayed up all night repeating one verse. The verse was: 'If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily, You, only You, are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.'" [An-Nasaa'i]
One of the Tabi'een, Muhammed bin Ka'b Al-Qurathy said, "It is more dear to me to recite Surah Al-Zalzalah and Al-Qariah throughout the night until morning, reflecting over its meaning, than rushing through the whole Quran"
When you listen to the Quran, move your heart with it, because the Speech is directed to you. You are meant by it. Feel rejoice when you come across any glad tidings, and feel fear when you reach a punishment. Have feelings when you recite the Quran.
E.g. In such and such position you remember your sin, so ask Allah for forgiveness, etc.
Ibn Al-Atheer (born in the year 553H) said that whoever is concerned with knowing the meaning of the Quran needs a lot of study. The more he studies, the more the meanings of the Qur'an become apparent to him, which were not apparent before. He said that he experienced this personally. Whenever he recited one Surah (and this indicates that the Salaf studied Surahs, not Juz, or Hizb - and you can do this with Surah Al-A'raaf until the end. The Surahs before Surah Al-A'raaf are long and have a special way of studying), he would write down any meanings he did not understand on a seperate piece of paper. After he finished the Surah, he would analyze and try to understand them one by one, and he would not be content with that until he recited the Surah again, and did the same as he did the first time. And every time he did that, meanings which were not apparent before would become apparent
It would take him a long time, maybe months, to finish the Surah. The Quran is the Speech of Allah, and its wonders never come to an end or finish.
Step 2: Observation
We have to observe many things:
a) Articles of Faith
b) Tawheed and its proofs
c) Knowing Allah by His Names, Attributes, Actions
d) Rulings
e) Stories
f) Parables
Etc.
-> It is important to remember that when you are listening to the Surah, reading it many times, or writing down what you notice, you are worshipping Allah. This is an act of worship. You are not wasting your time when you are doing this. Also, do not be hasty to memorize the Surah or to know it's Tafseer. Do not jump to the Tafseer. All you have to do is notice in the beginning.
-> In the Arabic language we have:
1) حرف
2) إسم
3) فعل
We will not observe the حرف for the time being because we are just beginners. We should pay attention to the nouns and verbs.
-> Repeated Words
It's very important to understand the repeated words, because they are an indication of the theme of the Surah.
E.g. Surah al-Ikhlas
Repeated Words: الله x2
أحد x2
The first أحد does not have the same meaning as the second.
The first أحد means "Allah is One" - أحدية (Oneness).
The second أحد means any one; other than Allah.
Allah is One; there is no one like Him. This is what the Surah is about. The repeated words tell you the theme of the Surah.
E.g. Surah Al-Ahzab
The word "يؤذى, أَذًى، etc" (Harm) is mentioned many times in the Surah, and in the same Surah Allah mentions the hypocrites. The Surah mainly tells us that we are not supposed to harm Allah, the Messengers, the believers, and it is the hypocrites do that.
We did not even go to the Tafseer Book; you get it from reading and listening to it many time. You should read it in Arabic, because you would not come to know the repeated words in English.
-> We have to observe three things when we study any Surah:
I) The Topics
Belief in Allah, Belief in the Day of Judgement, Belief in the Angels, Rulings, Stories, etc.
ii) Repeated Words, Similar Words, Opposite Words.
iii) The Surah as a Whole; the link between this Surah and the previous and following one.
Belief in Allah
Why are we focusing on knowing Allah? If you do not know Allah, you will not be able to answer the question: "Who is your Lord?" In your grave. Allah mentioned about His Names, Attributes, Actions in the Quran in order to believe in Him, love Him, fear Him, etc, If you do that throughout your life you will be able to answer the question in the grave with My Lord is Allah; because you knew Allah in your life. And the source of knowing Allah is the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
Belief in Allah means that we need to know the Names, Attributes, and Actions of Allah.
شروط احصاء اسماء الله الحسنى
The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ اسْمَا مِائَةً إِلاَّ وَاحِدًا مَنْ أَحْصَاهَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
"Allah has ninety-nine names, i.e. one-hundred minus one, and whoever 'أحصاها' (counts them, knows their meaning, lives by them) will go to Paradise." [Bukhari]
Ibn Al-Qayyim divided Tawheed into two categories:
1) توحيد المعرفة و الإثبات
This is knowing Allah by His Names, Attributes and Actions, and affirming to Allah what He affirmed from Himself, and negating what He negated to himself.
2) توحيد القصد
This is what we call Tawheed Al-Uloohiyah.
-> Do not belittle writing when you study. Write down whatever you learn, because your hand will be a witness of you on the Day of Judgement, and whatever you write will be on your scale on the Day of Judgement. On the Day of Judgement a person will wish for a good deed equal to the weight of an atom that will save him from Hellfire. This writing could save you. You are writing, and the angel is writing with you.
Even when you are at home and write something when reading the Quran, remember it will be in your record, if there is a pure intention behind it. Also, when you are writing the articles of faith, you may come across some questions. Write it down.
-> The Names of Allah should be بالمطابقة (clearly) mentioned. It should not be a ضمير (pronoun).
How do you know if a Name is one of the 99 Names of Allah?
Condition #1- توقيفية
The only source for the Names of Allah is the Quran and the Authentic Sunnah.
Condition #2 - علمية الإسم (A Proper Noun)
How do you know if it is a proper noun? If you see a Tanween, or it is joined with ال (Alif + Laam), or it is preceded by a حرف جر (Preposition - e.g. من، إلى، على), or you can add ياء النداء to it (The ياء of calling someone)
Condition #3- الإطلاق (Unrestricted)
The Name should be unrestricted; it should not be joined with something else.
E.g. رب العالمين (The Lord of the World). This Name is joined; the Name الرب is restricted to the عالمين.
E.g. عالم الغيب
This Name is found in the Quran and Sunnah, is a proper noun, but it is مقيد (restricted) to the غيب.
If it is mentioned at least once in unrestricted form in the Quran, then it is one of the Names of Allah. الرب is not a restricted name, because it mentioned in unrestricted form in other positions in the Qur'an. In Surah Saba [34:15]:
"Indeed there was for Saba' (Sheba) a sign in their dwelling place, - two gardens on the right hand and on the left (and it was said to them) "Eat of the provision of your Lord, and be grateful to Him, a fair land and an OftForgiving Lord."
E.g. In Surah Ghafir [40:2-3]:
"The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from Allah the All-Mighty, the All-Knower."
"The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in punishment, the Bestower (of favours), La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), to Him is the final return."
"غافر الذنب" and "قابل التوب"
It is mentioned in this Quran
It is a proper noun
But it is مقيد, because it is joined with another noun.
So it is not a Name of Allah.
"شديد العقاب"
شديد cannot be a Name of Allah because it is restricted to العقاب.
Condition #4 - دلالة الاسم على الوصف (Every Name of Allah should imply an Attribute)
E.g. The Name of Allah العليم indicates the Attribute of العلم
The Name of Allah الغفور indicates the Attribute of مغفرة
The Names of Allah should imply a beautiful attribute, not an اسم جامد - where you can derive something from it.
E.g. Allah said in a Hadith Qudsi:
يَسُبُّ بَنُو آدَمَ الدَّهْرَ، وَأَنَا الدَّهْرُ، بِيَدِي اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ
The offspring of Adam abuse the Dahr (Time), and I am the Dahr; in My Hands are the night and the day. [Bukhari]
الدهر is not a Name of Allah because it is a اسم للوقت - name for a time. There is no attribute in it, so it cannot be a Name of Allah.
Condition #5 - أن يكون الوصف دل عليه الاسم في غاية الجمال و الكمال
(The Attribute should reach the height of perfection and beauty. There can be no possibility of deficiency. It has to be purely perfect)
E.g. كلام. Can I call Allah متكلم?
متكلم has the attribute of كلام, and Allah speaks with whatever He wills, whenever He wills, to whomever He wills.
This Name is not mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah so it cannot be a Name of Allah. كلام generally could be good, and could be bad. This attribute does not suit Allah, because it contains deficiency. It does not fit Allah to be called المتكلم; because كلام could be evil and it could be good.
E.g. Allah mentioned in the Quran that He "يستهزأ" the disbelievers and hypocrites. Can I call Allah المستهزء?
No. This is a restricted attribute; to only the disbelievers. It cannot be a Name of Allah, because it is a deficient attribute, therefore it does not suit Allah to be called المستهزء.
E.g. In Surah An-Nisa [4:142]:
"Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for As-Salat (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allah but little."
Can I call Allah المخادع? It is not a good attribute when we as humans deceive others. Since it takes both good and bad, we cannot call Allah by it.
E.g. Allah said in Surah Aal-Imran [3:54]:
"And they (disbelievers) plotted [to kill 'Iesa (Jesus) ], and Allah planned too. And Allah is the Best of the planners."
مكر could be good in certain situations and bad in other situations. Since it takes both good and bad, the Name الماكر cannot be a Name of Allah. It is a restricted attribute - Allah plots, but only with those who do so. Allah mocks, but not with everyone.
E.g. We cannot call Allah المنتقم. The attribute should have reached the height of perfection and beauty.
We have two types of Allah's Names:
1) Names which are included in the 99 Names of Allah
2) الأسماء المقيدة - Restricted Names
E.g. "والله المستعان على ما تصفون"
المستعان is restricted to على ما يصفون.
المستعان is the One whose help is sought, and is mentioned twice in Surah Yusuf, but both times it is restricted to something.
E.g. "فاطر السماوات و الأرض"
This is not one of the 99 Names, but it is a restricted Name of Allah, according to the aforementioned conditions.
This is where the Difference comes between the Scholars regarding the Names of Allah.
Note: You have to be sure the Name is referring to Allah. Yusuf عليه السلام said in Surah Yusuf [12:55]:
"[Yusuf (Joseph)] said: "Set me over the storehouses of the land; I will indeed guard them with full knowledge"
"إني حفيظ عليم"
This text is not referring to Allah.
Or in Surah Zukhruf [43:4]:
"And Verily, it (this Quran) is in the Mother of the Book (i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz), before Us, indeed Exalted, full of Wisdom."
"إنه"
This pronoun refers to the Qur'an.
Practice: Read the first 6 verses of Surah AlHadid, and distinguish the Names.
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