We are in the month of Sha'ban. The Salaf used to call this the month of القراء (the recitors of the Quran). They would recite in preparation for Ramadan. The portion we read of the Quran should be more during this month. Some of the Salaf would close their shops to free themselves for the recitation of the Qur'an.
In order to benefit from ones recitation and study of the Qur'an, one should:
1) Practice الإستعاذة (Seeking refuge with Allah) and الإستعانة (Seeking help with Allah).
We should say أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم with our hearts, and not just our tongues. We have to believe that we have an enemy who whispers in our hearts, trying to prevent us and distract our minds from understanding the Qur'an.
الإستعانة is when we say بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم. We are seeking Allah's help in reciting the Qur'an. We will not be able to recite and understand the Qur'an without the help of Allah. It is Sunnah to say بسم الله before starting any action. When you say بسم الله you are saying, "With your help, O Allah, I can do this action. In Your Name, I want the Barakah to be sent upon the action I am performing."
2) We have to persistently ask Allah to bless our time, our lives, our hearing, our bodies; to bless everything He granted us. We have to ask Allah for البركة.
3) Truthfulness (الصدق)
When you recite Quran, attend classes, what is your intention? Ask yourself why you are coming, what you hope to get, for whose sake you are coming for. We have to be truthful with Allah. If you are truthful with Allah, Allah will be truthful with you. Ask Allah to make you truthful.
4) We have to free ourselves from worldly occupation. Worldly occupation eats our time and hearts. Whenever we indulge in a matter, we indulge with heart and body, and are so exhausted by the end of the day that we have no energy to worship Allah. We can work with our bodies while our hearts are with Allah, but the problem is that we use both, so nothing remains in our heart for Allah. We come to study the Quran without a heart; a heart that is distracted by the Dunya.
This affects us women especially, because of our weakness. That is why Allah commanded us in Surah Al-Ahzab [33:33]:
"And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform As-Salat (IqamatasSalat), and give Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove ArRijs (evil deeds and sins, etc.) from you, O members of the family (of the Prophet), and to purify you with a thorough purification."
This is better for us and our hearts. We have to free ourselves for the Quran.
Allah said in Surah Al-Mu'minoon [23:1-4]:
"Successful indeed are the believers."
"Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness."
"And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden)."
"And those who pay the Zakat."
"قد أفلح المؤمنون" - Succesful indeed are the believers
All of us are seeking success. Who are the believers?
"الذين هم في صلاتهم خاشعون" - Those who offer their prayer with all solemnity and full submissiveness
Ask yourself if you concentrate in your prayer, if you are submissive, if you are humiliating yourself to Allah, and understand what you say.
"والذين هُم عن اللغو معرضون" - And those who turn away from vain talk
This is another affliction - to be indulged in vain talk. From morning until now, how much have you talked? We have no control over our tongues.
This came between Salaat and Zakaat, which is usually mentioned together in the Quran. Although Zakat is an important pillar in Islam, Allah mentioned this first.
If we have to turn away from vain talk, then it is more deserving to turn away from sinful talking. This is not limited to our tongues, it extends to our hands and the messages we write - it includes اللغو in speech and in action.
The Prophet ﷺ said,
الْعِبَادَةُ فِي الْهَرْجِ كَهِجْرَةٍ إِلَىَّ
Worship during the time of bloodshed is like emigrating to me. [Ibn Majah]
هرج has two meanings:
1) Abundant Killing
2) Abundant Talking
If the people talk and you turn away and busy yourself remembering Allah, it is worshipping Allah during هرج and is equal to emigration to the Prophet ﷺ. You left evil, and emigrated. You left Makkah, and went to Madinah.
Ibn Aun said,
ثلاث أحبهن لنفسي و لإخواني: هاذه السنة أن يتعلموها و يسألوا عنها، و القرآن أن يتفهموه و يسألوا الناس عنه، و يدعوا الناس إلا من خير
Three things which I love for myself and for my brothers: This Sunnah, to learn and ask about; This Quran, to understand and ask about; and to leave the people except in good.
If you know that there is evil going to come out from you, stay away. It is a charity to keep your evil away from the people.
Whenever you are angry, do not talk or write. Just keep it for a while. Do not reply immediately when you receive something, and you will see how different your reply will be. This leads to malice and grudges in the heart, and this is what the Shaytan wants.
It is Thursday today, and the Prophet ﷺ said,
إِنَّ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِمَا لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ إِلاَّ مُهْتَجِرَيْنِ يَقُولُ دَعْهُمَا حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا
On Mondays and Thursdays Allah forgives every Muslim except two who have forsaken one another. He says: ‘Leave these two until they reconcile. [Ibn Majah]
سورة الجن - Surat AlJinn
The Stage of Study (الدراسة)
1) تفسير مجمل (Summarized Tafseer)
We need to use a concise Tafseer in this stage.
2) Detailed Study
Continuation: Verse 1 - 2:
What are the aims of the Qur'an? "يهدي إلى الرشد"
What is الرشد?
اسم جامع لكل ما يرشد الناس إلى مصالح دينهم و دنياهم
A comprehensive term that includes everything which leads humankind to their religious and worldly benefits
If you are seeking any benefit in your life or Religion, you will find it in the Quran. Some people complain that they do not find the solution in the Quran. The problem is not in the Quran, it is in their hearts. There is a ران (barrier) between them and getting guidance from the Quran.
If the person is really truthful in finding the solution for his problem in his religion or life, Allah will definitely guide him. Also, if you recite Surah Al-Fatihah with an attentive heart, Allah will guide you. In a Hadith Qudsi:
فَإِذَا قَالَ { اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ * صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ} . قَالَ هَذَا لِعَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ "
Then, when he (the worshipper) says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. [Muslim]
Say it while collecting your heart and understanding the meaning and with certainty that Allah will answer you, then Allah will answer you.
فجمعوا بين الإيمان الذي يدخل فيه جميع الأعمال الخير، و بين التقوى [المتضمنة لترك الشر]
How did the Sheikh deduce Taqwa from the verse?
"آمنا به" = Faith
"و لن نشرك بربنا أحدا" = Taqwa
You should not read the Tafseer like any other Book, you have to understand where the Sheikh got his words from. And every Muffasir has his own way of interpreting theQuran.
و جعلوا السبب الداعي لهم إلى الإيمان و توابعه ما علموه من إرشادات اقرآن و ما اشتمل عليه من المصالح و الفوائد و اجتنبات المضار فإن ذالك آية عظيمة و حجة قاطعة لمن استنار به و اهتدى بهديه
What was the source of the faith of the Jinn? إرشادات القرآن
The Jinn just listened attentively to the Quran, nothing else. The Prophet ﷺ did not explain the verses to the Jinn, they just listened and the truth reached their heart. If you are at home and do what they did, you will reach the Eeman of the Jinn.
Who is the Quran a great proof for? لمن استنار به و اهتدى بهديه - For those who are enlightened by it and guided by its guidance.
و هاذا الإيمان النافع المثمر كل خيرا المبني على هداية القرآن بخلاف إيمان العوائد، و المربي و الإلف و نحو ذالك، فإنه إيمان تقليد تحت خطر الشبهات و العوارض الكثيرة.
We have two types of faith:
1) الإيمان النافع - Beneficial Faith
2 إيمان العوائد و المربي - Inherited Faith
| Beneficial Faith | Inherited Faith |
| Based on the guidance of the Qur'an | Based on what we are brought up on; imitation |
| When exposed to doubts it stays firm | When exposed to doubts, it vanishes |
| It produces all good | It does not produce good |
The Eeman of the Jinn is الإيمان النافع المثمر. What about our faith?
If it is based on the Quran, it will be beneficial. If it is based on imitation, it will be blind following.
It is therefore important to raise our children on the guidance of the Quran; while explaining the meaning of the Quran.
Ask them: What did you study today?
They say: Surah so and so
Say: Do you know what this Surah is about?
E.g. Surat Al-Feel
Many teachers and mothers focus on the elephant. The whole story revolves around the elephant named Mahmoud. Focus on the actions of Allah; say: What did Allah do to the People of Abrahah who came to destroy the Ka'bah? Allah protected it and the people of Makkah. This indicates that Allah loves Makkah, and Allah protects whatever He loves. If Allah loves you, He will protect you.
The Ka'bah is honoured with Allah, therefore we should also honour it.
E.g. Surah Ad-Duha [93:4]:
Tell your child: The Prophet ﷺ was an orphan, and Allah took him into His shelter. He was unaware, and Allah guided him. He was poor, and Allah enriched him.
Wait, be patient, the end of every matter is better than the beginning.
This is how we raise our children upon the guidance of the Quran.
Verse 3:
What is the meaning of "جد ربنا"?
{و أنه تعالى جد ربنا} أي: تعالت عظمته و تقدست أسماؤه
Meaning: Glorified be His Greatness and blessed be His Names
{ما اتخذ صاحبة و لا ولدا} فعلموا من جد الله و عظمته ما دلهم على بطلان من يُزعم أن له صاحبة أو ولدا لأن له العظمة و الكمال في كل صفة كمال.
و اتخاذ الصاحبة و الولد ينافي ذالك، لأنه يضاد كمال الغنى
Allah is الغني; free of every need, so how then can He need a wife or son?
This indicates that the Jinn were intelligent and pure; they were on the natural disposition. They got it and the truth immediately reached their heart in just one listening of the Qur'an.
Verse 4:
What does the word شطط mean?
أي: قولا جائرا عن الصواب معتديا للحد
What made them say this about Allah?
و ما حمله على ذالك إلا سفهه و ضعف عقله و إلا فلو كان رزينا مطمئنة لعرف كيف يقول
Their foolishness and dimishined intellect. Whoever ascribes a wife or son to Allah is foolish in his mind and weak in intellect. This Surah is a very important evidence against those who claim Allah has a wife or son.
Verse 5:
أي: كنّا مغترين قبل ذالك
Who deceived them?
و غرنا القادة الرؤساء من الجن و الإنس
So what did they do?
فأحسن بهم الظن و ظنناهم لا يتجرأون على الكذب على الله فلذالك كنّا قبل هذا على طريقهم
The believers are explaining why they were on Shirk before. They thought good thoughts about their leaders; that they would never dare to lie about Allah, which is why they followed them.
فاليوم إذ بان لنا الحق رجعنا إليه وأنقدنا له و لم نبال بقول أحد مِم الناس يعارض الهدى
They were not debating with themselves about what to do, they immediately submitted to the truth. This is what beneficial faith does.
Today people give consideration to what their people will say. And yet the Jinn immediately submitted to the truth, regardless of what their people would say.
This statement of the Sheikh is mentioned in many verses in the Quran, that on the Day of Judgement, when Allah brings people, the leaders of Shirk and their followers will be brought together and argue in front of Allah. For example, in Surah Saba [34:31-33]:
"And those who disbelieve say: "We believe not in this Quran nor in that which was before it," but if you could see when the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.) will be made to stand before their Lord, how they will cast the (blaming) word one to another! Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Had it not been for you, we should certainly have been believers!"
"And those who were arrogant will say to those who were deemed weak: "Did we keep you back from guidance after it had come to you? Nay, but you were Mujrimun (polytheists, sinners, criminals, disobedient to Allah, etc.)."
"Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Nay, but it was your plotting by night and day, when you ordered us to disbelieve in Allah and set up rivals to Him!" And each of them (parties) will conceal their own regrets (for disobeying Allah during this worldly life), when they behold the torment. And We shall put iron collars round the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they requited aught except what they used to do?"
Did their blaming each other benefit them? No. Each of the parties will conceal their regret when they see the punishment.
Assignment: See Surah Al-Ahzab [33:64-68]
An example of مكر الليل و النهار (plotting in the night and day) nowadays is the media. It beautifies falsehood and uglifies the truth day and night. The leaders of evil are behind the media, who throw their evil to the people, and people accept it. There is no excuse for us in the hereafter. You cannot blame the media. If there is something wrong, you need to correct yourself. You need to follow the Quran and you will be guided.
What was the first wrong belief of the Jinn?
That Allah has a wife and son
What was the second wrong belief on the Jinn? In Verse 6:
Verse 6:
This Surah started with two forms of Shirk:
1) Shirk with ascribing a son to Allah
2) Shirk in Al-Istiaadhah
أي: كان الإنسان يعبدون الجن و يستعيذون بهم عند المخاوف و الأفزاع
Some humans would worship the Jinn and seek refuge with them during times of fear and distress
What then happened? Who increased who in رهق?
فزاد الإنس الجن رهقا
By doing so, humankind increased the Jinns arrogance and tyranny
What is رهق?
أي: طغيانا و تكبرا لما رأوْا الإنس يعبدونهم و يستعيذون بهم
و يحتمل أن الضمير في زادوهم يرجع إلى الجن ضمير الواو: زاد الجن الإنس ذعرا و تخويفا لما رأوهم يستعيذون بهم ليلجئوهم إلى الإستعاذة بهم
It could refer to both. Another possibility is that the Jinn increased the humans in fear. Both meanings are correct.
فكان الإنسي إذ نزل بواد مخوف قال: أعوذ بسيد هذا الوادي من سفهاء قومه
They used to seek refuge with the Master of Jinn from the other Jinn, and this increased the Jinn in arrogance.
When humans use the Jinn and the Jinn use the humans, it is called تمتع; they benefit from each other, as mentioned in Surah Al-An'am [6:128]:
"And on the Day when He will gather them (all) together (and say): "O you assembly of jinns! Many did you mislead of men," and their Auliya' (friends and helpers, etc.) amongst men will say: "Our Lord! We benefited one from the other, but now we have reached our appointed term which You did appoint for us." He will say: "The Fire be your dwelling-place, you will dwell therein forever, except as Allah may will. Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing."
This is a sickness in the heart called إرادة العلوا (The desire to be above others, to have the power and control over them). This is different from الكبر which is to reject the truth and contempt the people; to see that one has rights over everyone and no one has a right over him.
إرادة العلوا is hidden in the heart. The person may always like to always be sought, have power, and control people. He could even use his generosity and good deeds to hold people to himself.
Allah said regarding Pharoah in Surah Al-Qasas [28:4]:
"Verily, Fir'aun (Pharaoh) exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening (oppressing) a group (i.e. Children of Israel) among them, killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the Mufsidun (i.e. those who commit great sins and crimes, oppressors, tyrants, etc.)."
How did Pharoah practice this sickness? By dividing Bani Israeel into sects, fighting and killing each other. If they were united, they would be against him, and he would be the loser. Haughtiness has many ways where the person makes others not go to anyone else except himself. In the story of Musa عليه السلام, the man from his sect asked his help against the man from another sect.
The Jinn had this sickness. They would make the humans afraid in order for them to always seek refuge with them. This is how they had control over the humans.
When the Believing Jinn heard the Quran, it guided them to الرشد, and they admitted that they hs previously committed two crimes:
1) Believed that Allah had a wife and son
2) They enjoyed the Shirk of the humans
Fear is a natural feeling which Allah created us having. In Surah Al-Qasas [28:18]:
"So he became afraid, looking about in the city (waiting as to what will be the result of his crime of killing), when behold, the man who had sought his help the day before, called for his help (again). Musa (Moses) said to him: "Verily, you are a plain misleader!"
In Verse 21:
"So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear. He said: "My Lord! Save me from the people who are Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)!"
In Verse 31:
"And throw your stick!" But when he saw it moving as if it were a snake, he turned in flight, and looked not back. (It was said): "O Musa (Moses)! Draw near, and fear not. Verily, you are of those who are secure."
In Verse 33:
"He said: "My Lord! I have killed a man among them, and I fear that they will kill me."
In Verse 34:
"And my brother Harun (Aaron) he is more eloquent in speech than me so send him with me as a helper to confirm me. Verily! I fear that they will belie me."
In all these verses Allah mentions about خوف. When Musa عليه السلام did something wrong, he was afraid. When he saw the stick turn into a snake, he was afraid. No one can blame you for having natural fear.
But how did Musa عليه السلام deal with this fear when he became stronger? In Verse 21:
"So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear. He said: "My Lord! Save me from the people who are Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)!"
When you are afraid, you should supplicate to Allah ask Him to protect and help you. We humans naturally become afraid, but when we do, we should immediately resort to Allah.
Fear is one of the afflictions which people are afflicted with, and people differ in their reaction to it. The way you deal with it will either lead you to security or more fear.
If you are afraid and seek refuge with Allah, Allah will immediately give you security. If you are afraid and deal with it in the way the humans dealt with it with the Jinn, it will increase you more in fear. If you commit Shirk, you will increase more in fear. If you have Tawheed, you will increase in security.
Everyone of us has something we are afraid of in our lives. We fear our sickness, children, for the future, etc. How should you deal with it?
1) الإستعاذة - Seeking refuge with Allah
2) الإستعانة - Seeking help from Allah
3) Increase your belief in Allah. The more you increase your belief, the stronger you will be.
4) Do not speak and always think of the matter you are afraid of. Do not let the Shaytan overpower you with regards to your fear. When you allow yourself to think and think, your fear may reach the state of وسواس القهري; which you cannot repel anymore. This is serious, and you made yourself reach it by thinking about it all the time. Think about something else to forget the matter you are afraid of.
In the beginning the thought may come and go, but if you give it a chance to stay and do not hate yourself and repel it, it will stay. If you keep fighting it, the Shaytan will eventually leave, because he does not want you to say the supplications. But if you leave it, the Jinn and Shaytan will control you. وسواس القهري is a type of sickness.
Be patient, and seek refuge even for one hour, and you will pass this test. But do not surrender. The best remedy is belief in Allah.
Verse 7:
أي: فلما أنكروا البعث أقدموا على الشرك و الطغيان
As-Sa'di رحمه الله interprets "يبعث" as the Resurrection.
The English translation of the verse is different; this opinion is mentioned in other Tafseers.
The Sheikh did not mention who is thinking. So who does the pronoun refer to?
Verse 8:
{و انّا لمسنا السّماء} أي: أتيناها و اختبرناها
{فوجدناها ملئت حرسا شديدا} عن الوصول إلى أوجائها [والدنوا منها]،
{و شهبا} يرمى بها من استرق السمع و هذا بخلاف عادتنا الأولى، فإن كنّا نتمكن من الوصول إلى خبر السماء.
Verse 9:
{و أنا كنّا نقعد منها مقاعد للسمع} فيتلقف من أخبار السّماء ما شاء الله. {فمن يستمع الآن يجد له شهابا رصدا} أي: مرصدا له معدا لاتلافه و إحراقه، أي: و هذا له شأن عظيم و نبأ جسيم.
The Jinn never experienced such a situation before. All these years they did not have a problem listening, and just now something happened, so for sure Allah wills something great for the people of earth.
Verse 10:
و جزموا أن الله تعالى أراد أن يحدث في الأرض حادثا كبيرا، من خير أو شر، فلهذا قالوا {و أنا لا ندري أشر أريد بمن في الأرض أم أراد بهم ربهم رشدا} أي: لا بد من هذا أو هذا، لأنهم رأوْا الأمر تغير عليهم تغيرا أنكروه
For sure this change was for either one of these two reason: Good or Evil
فعرفوا بفطتنتهم أن هذا الأمر يريده الله و يحدثه في الأرض
The Sheikh wanted to emphasize the intelligence of this group of Jinn
و في هذا بيان لأدبهم، إذا أضافوا الخير إلى الله تعالى، و الشر حذفوا فاعله تأدبا مع الله
This verse shows us their good manners, because they attributed good to Allah while not directly ascribing evil to Him.
Description of this group of Jinn
1) Intelligent
2) Well Mannered
3) They do not have knowledge of the unseen
Whoever has good manners easily become Muslim.
Unanswered Questions:
Verse 1:
Q. The wisdom behind mentioning "نفر"
Q. What did they hear in the Quran which made them say "قرآنا عجبا"?
Verse 4:
Q. Who are the "سفيهنا"
Verse 6:
Q. What made the رجال from men take shelter with the Jinn? Do we have this nowadays?
Q. What is the wisdom behind the Jinn telling us this fact about them? What will we benefit from it?
Verse 7:
Q. "أنهم" refers to who?
Q. "ظنوا" refers to who?
Q. "ظننتم" refers to who?
Verse 8:
Q. When did this happen?
Verse 9:
Q. What is "مقاعد لسمع"
Q. "الآن" - When is this?
Q. Did the Jinn go back to eavesdropping after the death of the Prophet ﷺ or not? Did the state of being unable to listen remain permanently, or did it end with the death of the Prophet ﷺ
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