بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The Prophet ﷺ said:
خيركم من تعلم القرآن و علمه
The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it to others. [Bukhari]
And he ﷺ also said:
إِنَّ مِنْ إِجْلَالِ اللَّهِ : إِكْرَامَ ذِي الشَّيْبَةِ الْمُسْلِمِ ، وَحَامِلِ الْقُرْآنِ غَيْرِ الْغَالِي فِيهِ وَالْجَافِي عَنْهُ ، وَإِكْرَامَ ذِي السُّلْطَانِ الْمُقْسِطِ
It is from the glorification of Allah to respect and honour the grey haired Muslim, the bearer of the Quran who is neither extreme nor turns away from it, and to honour and respect the just ruler. [Abu Dawud #4843]
Allah particularized certain people among His servants with certain attributes and gave them rights. If you truly magnify and glorify Allah, then a part of it is to respect the aforementioned people.
Who is حامل القرآن (Bearer of the Qur'an)?
The one who memorizes the Qur'an and acts upon its rulings without transgression nor turning away from it.
E.g. Some focus on articulating the letters so much they put undue hardship on themselves and neglect acting upon and understanding it. These are not bearers of the Qur'an.
E.g. There are people who turn away from the recitation of the Quran, or understanding the Quran, or acting upon the Quran. These are all forms of turning away from the Qur'an.
Moderation is required in all of our affairs. We are a moderate nation, contrary to the Christians who went to an extreme, and unlike the Jews who turned away.
Allah did not send down the Qur'an, except لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ - that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember
The Names الواحد القهار العزيز الغفار (Al-Wahid Al-Qahhar Al-Aziz Al-Ghaffar)
The names الواحد القهار (Al-Wahid Al-Qahhar) correct the Tawheed of the person. It makes him attached to Allah who is One; unique in His names. attributes, and actions. If you have a need, you do not have except One to resort to. He is the One controlling the whole world and the affairs of the people. The need which you want to fulfill is in Allah's Hand; who is الواحد القهار (Al-Wahid Al-Qahhar).
Allah is العزيز الغفار (Al-Aziz Al-Ghaffar). He is the Almighty who created the heavens and the earth with His power and strength. No one can overpower Allah, regardless of how powerful they are. No one can repel His command; if He says Be to something, it will be.
Benefits from Surah Sad
Surah Sad is about المخاصمة بالباطل (Disputing with Falsehood). Allah began this Surah with the example of the مخاصمة of the Quraish; how they disputed with the Prophet ﷺ regarding the Qur'an and the message of the Prophet ﷺ. Because they did not want to accept the call of the Prophet ﷺ, the disputed by bringing false and weak evidences.
At the end of the Surah, Allah gave the example of Iblees. He disputed with Allah with falsehood. The example of the disbelievers of the Quraish are like the example of Iblees.
#1 - Rejecting the truth with the excuse that others are plotting against them is the accusation that all the disbelieving nations used.
E.g. Pharoah said as mentioned in Surah Al-A'raf [7:123]:
"Fir'aun (Pharaoh) said: "You have believed in him [Musa (Moses)] before I give you permission. Surely, this is a plot which you have plotted in the city to drive out its people, but you shall come to know."
#2 - Do not let the disputes, differences, and problems between you and your Muslim brothers affect your relationship. This is concluded when the two litigants came to Dawud عليه السلام disputing, and one of them said,
"Verily, this my brother..."
He wanted to emphasize two matters:
a) The transgression that comes from a brother is more grievous than transgression from someone else
b) That even if he had a problem with his brother, it would not affect the brotherhood between them.
This is a lesson we should learn from the Qur'an and act upon it.
Note: There are more benefits related to the story of Dawud عليه السلام in As-Sa'di رحمه الله's Tafseer
#3 - No matter how high ones status is, when he is given advice he should accept it with a good heart, thank the one who gave him the advice, and not feel any malice in his heart towards the person who gave it to him. This is concluded when the two litigants said to Dawud عليه السلام, as mentioned in Verse 22:
"When they entered in upon Dawud (David), he was terrified of them, they said: "Fear not! (We are) two litigants, one of whom has wronged the other, therefore judge between us with truth, and treat us not with injustice, and guide us to the Right Way."
And Dawud عليه السلام did not rebuke them although he was able to.
#4 - Excessive association with people usually results in conflict. This is exactly what happened with the two litigants who came to Dawud عليه السلام.
We should use At-Taqwa (Fear of Allah) in our dealings with people. This will prevent a person from transgressing against others.
#5 - From the story of Sulayman عليه السلام we learn that one of the manners we should follow before we ask the Lord of the 'Alameen to fulfill our request is to ask forgiveness, as Sulayman عليه السلام did (as mentioned in Verse 35):
He said: "My Lord! Forgive me, and bestow upon me a kingdom such as shall not belong to any other after me: Verily, You are the Bestower."
#6 - Surah Sad began talking about the dispute of the Quraish. What prevented the Quraish from accepting the call of the Prophet ﷺ? Their high status in the community. Dawud and Sulayman عليهما السلام owned the kingdom of the earth and were richer than the Quraish, but when the truth came to them, they accepted it.
They were أواب; They returned to Allah in repentance, love, fear, deification, submission.
#7 - One of the means of healing of sicknesses, as mentioned in the story of Ayyub عليه السلام, is to drink and wash with cold water.
#8 - Allah particularized the Prophets and Messengers with a special attribute in Verse 46:
"Verily, We did choose them by granting them (a good thing, i.e.) the remembrance of the home [in the Hereafter and they used to make the people remember it, and also they used to invite the people to obey Allah and to do good deeds for the Hereafter]."
This is not something easy to be done. The entire concern and thoughts of the Prophets and Messengers was about the Hereafter. The Hereafter was always in front of their eyes.
This verse has many meanings:
a) Allah made the remembrance of the abode of the Hereafter in their hearts
b) They dedicated all their time to working for that Day.
c) Their permenant attribute is الإخلاص (sincerity) and مراقبة الله (being observant of Allah's watchfulness)
d) Since they always think about the Hereafter, they are always reminding others of it.
e) When the people see them, they will remember the Hereafter.
We have to struggle hard to always remember the Hereafter. We have to continuously ask ourselves the purpose behind our actions.
Surah az-Zumar (Chapter 39)
The Title of the Surah: الزمر (Az-Zumar)
This is mentioned in Verse 71 and 73 of the Surah:
And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till, when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened (suddenly like a prison at the arrival of the prisoners). And its keepers will say, "Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Verses of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say: "Yes, but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers!"
And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salamun 'Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein."
We only have two groups in the end: The People of Hell and the People of Paradise
The Connection between the Beginning of the Surah and the End of Surah Sad:
Surah Sad Verses 87-88:
"It (this Quran) is only a Reminder for all the 'Alamin (mankind and jinns)."
"And you shall certainly know the truth of it after a while."
The Qur'an is just a reminder.
Surah Zumar Verse 1:
"The revelation of this Book (the Quran) is from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise."
This reminder, which the people of Quraish reject, is a revelation from العزيز الحكيم (Al-'Aziz Al-Hakeem)
The Connection between the Beginning and End of the Surah:
a) Verse 3:
"Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only. And those who take Auliya' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah." Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever."
إن الله يحكم بينهم - Verily, Allah will judge between them
Verse 75:
"And you will see the angels surrounding the Throne (of Allah) from all round, glorifying the praises of their Lord (Allah). And they (all the creatures) will be judged with truth, and it will be said. All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)."
و قضي بينهم بالحق - And they (all the creatures) will be judged with truth,
b) Verse 1:
"The revelation of this Book (the Quran) is from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise."
Verse 75:
"And you will see the angels surrounding the Throne (of Allah) from all round, glorifying the praises of their Lord (Allah). And they (all the creatures) will be judged with truth, and it will be said. All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)."
Allah sent the Qur'an in truth, comprising of the truth, leading you to the truth, and on the Day of Judgement Allah will judge among you with truth.
Theme of the Surah: To Worship Allah with Sincerity; I.e. Tawheed and its opposite Shirk and the end of both groups of People.
إخلاص (Sincerity) is repeated throughout the Surah:
In Verse 2:
"Verily, We have sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad) in truth: So worship Allah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only, (and not to show-off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship)."
In Verse 3:
"Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only. And those who take Auliya' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah." Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever."
In Verse 11:
"Say (O Muhammad): "Verily, I am commanded to worship Allah (Alone) by obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship;"
In Verse 14:
"Say (O Muhammad) "Allah Alone I worship by doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only and not to show-off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship."
The Connection between Surah Sad and Surah az-Zumar:
-> In Surah Sad Allah mentions the Mushrikeen (polytheists) who do not worship Allah alone. In the beginning of Surah Zumar, Allah mentions about إخلاص (sincerity).
-> Surah Sad ended with the story of the creation of Adam عليه السلام. Surah Zumar tells us how we, the sons of Adam عليه السلام, are created in the wombs of our mother, then He talks about our death, then the end - Paradise or Hell. The beginning of the story of creation thus starts from Surah Sad and the end of the story of creation ends in Surah Zumar.
The Topics of the Surah:
-> The Surah began with the command of pure Tawheed in four verses. Allah even commanded the Prophet ﷺ to say that he is commanded to worship Allah alone. If he is our example, we are even more deserving of being monotheists.
In Surah Zumar Allah gives evidences of His oneness; of His Ruboobiya:
Verse 5:
"He has created the heavens and the earth with truth. He makes the night to go in the day and makes the day to go in the night. And He has subjected the sun and the moon. Each running (on a fixed course) for an appointed term. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving."
Actions of Allah:
1) خلق - Allah creates
2) يكور - He makes the night enter the day and the day enter the night
3) سخر - He subjected the sun and moon
Isn't this evidence that only Allah deserves to be worshipped?
Verse 6:
"He created you (all) from a single person (Adam); then made from him his wife [Hawwa' (Eve)]. And He has sent down for you of cattle eight pairs (of the sheep, two, male and female; of the goats, two, male and female; of the oxen, two, male and female; and of the camels, two, male and female). He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation in three veils of darkness, such is Allah your Lord. His is the kingdom, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turned away?"
1) خلقكم - He created you from Adam عليه السلام
2) جعل - He made his wife Eve from him
3) أنزل - Allah sent down
4) يخلقكم - Allah creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after a creation.
Who did that? No one but Allah. So does He not deserve to be worshipped alone?
Verse 21:
"See you not, that Allah sends down water (rain) from the sky, and causes it to penetrate the earth, (and then makes it to spring up) as water-springs and afterward thereby produces crops of different colours, and afterward they wither and you see them turn yellow, then He makes them dry and broken pieces. Verily, in this, is a Reminder for men of understanding."
Actions of Allah:
1) أنزل
2) فسلكه
3) يخرجه
4) يجعله
Only the people of understand, who reflect over the signs of Allah, will come to the conclusion that only Allah deserves their love, hope, worship, reliance, etc.
-> But the evidences are not limited to universal evidences. Allah also mentioned intellectual evidences:
Verse 4:
"Had Allah willed to take a son (or offspring or children), He could have chosen whom He pleased out of those whom He created. But glory be to Him! (He is above such things). He is Allah, the One, the Irresistible."
Allah is الواحد (One); there is no one like Him. If there is a partner, the partner should be like Him.
And He is القهار (al-Qahhar). If there is a partner, he will be subdued by Allah. It is impossible to have more than one Qahhar.
Verse 8:
And when some hurt touches man, he cries to his Lord (Allah Alone), turning to Him in repentance, but when He bestows a favour upon him from Himself, he forgets that for which he cried for before, and he sets up rivals to Allah, in order to mislead others from His Path. Say: "Take pleasure in your disbelief for a while: surely, you are (one) of the dwellers of the Fire!"
Whenever the person is in distress, the فطرة (natural disposition) shows and he directs himself to Allah alone. But when Allah removes the distress, the person makes rivals with Allah.
Even the Sufis who claim that Allah is everywhere, raise their hands up and look up to the sky when they are in distress. This is their natural disposition telling them that their Creator is up.
Verse 29:
"Allah puts forth a similitude: a (slave) man belonging to many partners (like those who worship others along with Allah) disputing with one another, and a (slave) man belonging entirely to one master, (like those who worship Allah Alone). Are those two equal in comparison? All the praises and thanks be to Allah! But most of them know not."
Any parable that is mentioned in the Surah emphasizes the theme of the Surah. A parable compares a tangible matter to a intangible matter in order to emphasizs the intangible matter.
Tangible Matter: A slave that belongs to one master and a slave that belongs to many masters who do not agree on one matter. This slave does not know whether to please the first, or the second, or the third. The slave of one master, however, is at peace of mind. He knows what His master likes and dislikes and he obeys Him. The other slave is distracted, tired, does not have peace of mind, and does not know who to please. Apply this to the Monotheist and the Mushrik (Polytheist).
There was a man that was told his daughter was sick. He was told that if he wanted his daughter to be cured, he had to offer a sacrifice at a certain shrine. He did that and his daughter was not cured. He went back complaining that it did not work, so the man told him that the other Wali was upset because he sacrificed to that grave and not his, so he travelled all the way to the other shrine to please the other Wali. This is the state of the Mushrik (polytheist); he tires himself out, and in the end he does not get anything.
That is why in the end, Allah says, "الحمد لله" (All Praise to Allah)
This is the greatest blessing upon us that we need to thank Allah for; that He made us monotheists.
"بل أكثرهم لا يعلمون" (But most of them know not)
Verse 38:
And verily, if you ask them: "Who created the heavens and the earth?" Surely, they will say: "Allah (has created them)." Say: "Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allah, if Allah intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm, or if He (Allah) intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His Mercy?" Say : "Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him those who trust (i.e. believers) must put their trust."
If these gods cannot do anything; neither prevent the mercy of Allah nor remove harm, why are you worshipping them? Allah is النافع الضار (The One who Brings Benefit and Causes Harm)
Verse 42:
"It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply."
Actions of Allah:
1) يتوفى
Who caused the death of these dead people whom they worship? If these dead people had the power to remove harm, they would have repelled death from themselves. But Allah, Al-Qaahir, subdued His creation with death.
2) يمسك
2) يرسل
Your sleep is a minor form of death. Allah takes our souls during our sleep. Do your deities يمسك or يرسل souls?
-> In this Surah, Allah also warned against Shirk. In Verses 64 to 65, the Prophet ﷺ is commanded to say:
"Say (O Muhammad to the polytheists, etc.): "Do you order me to worship other than Allah O you fools ?"
"And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad), as it was to those (Allah's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers."
If a person is condemned of Major Shirk, regardless of all the good he did, nothing of his good deeds will be accepted and he will be one of the losers on the Day of Judgement. And whoever is condemned of Minor Shirk, the reward of the deed which he committed Shirk in will be nullified.
Does Allah forgive Minor Shirk if a person dies upon it? No, if a person dies without repentance, his Minor Shirk will not be weighed with his good deeds. He has to be punished in Hellfire for sometime, then he will be brought out.
-> Allah also denies the actions of the Mushrikeen. In Verse 8:
"And when some hurt touches man, he cries to his Lord (Allah Alone), turning to Him in repentance, but when He bestows a favour upon him from Himself, he forgets that for which he cried for before, and he sets up rivals to Allah, in order to mislead others from His Path. Say: "Take pleasure in your disbelief for a while: surely, you are (one) of the dwellers of the Fire!"
"تمتع بكفرك"
Kufr could either be Minor Kufr or Major Kufr.
Minor Kufr is attributing the blessing to other than Allah.
E.g. A person was sick and cured by Allah then attributes the healing to the doctor, medicine, etc.
Major Kufr are those who abscribe partners with Allah
"إنك من أصحاب النار"
Whoever does that is one of the People of Hell.
In Verses 25-26:
"Those before them belied, and so the torment came on them from directions they perceived not."
"So Allah made them to taste the disgrace in the present life, but greater is the torment of the Hereafter if they only knew!"
In Verses 43-44:
"Have they taken others as intercessors besides Allah? Say: "Even if they have power over nothing whatever and have no intelligence?"
"Say: "To Allah belongs all intercession. His is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, then to Him you shall be brought back."
In Verse 49:
"When harm touches man, he calls to Us (for help), then when We have (rescued him from that harm and) changed it into a favour from Us, he says: "Only because of knowledge (that I possess) I obtained it." Nay, it is only a trial, but most of them know not!"
This is exactly like Qarun.
-> Although the Surah is about Tawheed and Shirk, you find that Allah opens the gate of repentance in Verse 53:
"Say: "O 'Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Some Scholars called this the most hopeful verse in the Qur'an (أرجى آية).
"يا عبادي" - O my slaves
Allah says, "يا عبادي". He attributes the slaves who transgressed agains themselves to His Noble Self. Regardless of the sins you committed, regardless of how old you are, Allah forgives all sins. Many people, especially those who are old, say they spent their wholes lives in evil, they might as well die on it, and there is no use of turning to obedience. They despair in the mercy of Allah. This verse is a very important verse to tell them.
This is the impact of Allah's name الغفار (Al-Ghaffar)
-> At the end of the Surah, Allah mentions the state of the believers and disbelievers. In Verse 71-72:
"And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till, when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened (suddenly like a prison at the arrival of the prisoners). And its keepers will say, "Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Verses of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say: "Yes, but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers!"
"It will be said (to them): "Enter you the gates of Hell, to abide therein. And (indeed) what an evil abode of the arrogant!"
In Verse 73-74:
"And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salamun 'Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein."
And they will say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah Who has fulfilled His Promise to us and has made us inherit (this) land. We can dwell in Paradise where we will; how excellent a reward for the (pious good) workers!"
"فتحت أبوابها" (Its gates will be opened) with regards to Hellfire, and "و فتحت أبوابها" (And its gates will be opened) with regards to Paradise. This و (and) makes a big difference. When the disbelievers reach the gates of Hellfire, the doors will suddenly be opened for them. For the believers though, the doors were already opened and prepared to receive them.
Benefits from Surah az-Zumar
#1 - The most hopeful verse (أرجى أية) in the entire Qur'an is Verse 53:
"Say: "O 'Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
This verse gives hope for every sinner, regardless of the sin they committed. And Allah calls them 'His slaves'; He adds them to His Noble Self as an honour - that no matter what sin you commit, when you ask Allah for forgiveness, you will be honoured with Allah and your status after repentance will be better than your status before.
This verse teaches us to not despair of the mercy of Allah.
#2 - Every act of worship should have two forms; an outer form and an inner form. In Verse 9:
"Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)? Say: "Are those who know equal to those who know not?" It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allah's Signs and Verses)."
It was mentioned that this verse was revealed regarding Uthman رضي الله عنه because he used to stand in prayer at night reciting the entire Qur'an.
Many people the outer acts of worship whilst forgetting to bring in the inner act.
#3 - There is no one more generous than Allah when He recompenses His servants. This is clearly shown in Verse 33-35:
"And he (Muhammad) who has brought the truth (this Quran and Islamic Monotheism) and (those who) believed therein (i.e. the true believers of Islamic Monotheism), those are Al- Muttaqun"
"They shall have all that they will desire with their Lord. That is the reward of Muhsinun"
What was their state in this Dunya? They were Muttaqeen and Muhsineen.
How will Allah deal with them? In Verse 35:
"So that Allah may remit from them the evil of what they did and give them the reward, according to the best of what they used to do."
The companions were polytheists before Islam. After they embraced Islam, they became the best. Allah will overlook the worst that they did, and He will expiate that, and He will look at what the best they did of good deeds was and reward them according to it.
As-Sa'di رحمه الله said this verse indicates we have three types of actions:
1) Worst (أسوأ)
2) Best (أحسن)
3) Neither the worst nor the best (لا أسوأ و لا أحسن)
والقسم الأخير قسم المباحات وما لا يتعلق به ثواب ولا عقاب، والأسوأ، المعاصي كلها، والأحسن الطاعات كلها،
The last category is the category of allowable deeds, which are neither connected to a reward nor a punishment. As for the worst deeds, they are all sins. And as for the best deeds, they are all types of obedience.
It either means Allah will reward them with the best reward of their deeds, or He will look at the best of their deeds and reward them in accordance to that.
Al-Baghawi رحمه الله explained this verse saying:
يَجْزِيهِمْ بِالْمَحَاسِنِ مِنْ أَعْمَالِهِمْ وَلَا يَجْزِيهِمْ بِالْمَسَاوِئِ.
Allah will recompense them for their good deeds and He will not recompense them for their evil deeds.
Assignment:
Read Surah Ghafir
Find the other positions الواحد القهار is mentioned in the Quran.
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