Introduction and Point Competition
Subscribe to the channel. I had promised you that we would shorten the sessions, but today we realized that we will not continue with "Journey of Certainty" and will not publish anything new in it until after Eid, God willing. Therefore, today we have prepared for you eight questions, one of which is worth three points. If you notice, there is a strong competition, praise be to God, and the sisters are leading in a very noticeable way; the top three positions are for the sisters, and then come the brothers, so the field of competition is still open.
Clarification Regarding Point Calculation
Regarding the points, we noticed an objection from some of the brothers and sisters. We have tried hard to be fair, and I attribute any shortcomings to myself. I ask everyone who has an objection to review the videos in which they won and contact us to clarify the method of calculating points and add any differences if found. We ask for your forgiveness for the shortcomings, and God willing, any differences will be added within the next two days.
Question One: Misinterpretation of a Verse in the Prophets' Call
Question: Mention a verse that may be misinterpreted to imply that there is no remnant of the prophets' calls, peace be upon them, among the polytheists in the time of the Prophet peace be upon him.
Correct Answer: His saying, may He be exalted: {Bring me a book before this or some trace of knowledge} [Al-Ahqaf: 4].
The brothers who answered with His saying, may He be exalted: {Say, "I am not an innovator among the messengers"}, the verse informs that the Messenger, peace be upon him, is like the other messengers, but it does not indicate the issue of the remnants of the previous prophets' calls. As for the correct answer, it was brought by the sister "Ibaa Al-Aqsa".
I spoke two days ago about the methodology of one of the known scholars, and a comment came to me saying that the hadith of the Prophet's prohibition of seeking forgiveness for his mother contradicts something certain, which is that the polytheists before the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not have knowledge of revelation, so they are excused. I responded that the polytheists before the mission were "people of a period" in two states:
- Those who were not reached by the call: these are not blamed for their ignorance.
- Those who were reached by the remnants of the call: and there are many indications, such as "Zaid bin Amr bin Nufail" who was a believer, and "Amr bin Lahi" about whom the Prophet, peace be upon him, said that he saw him dragging his forelock in the fire.
The verse in its context: {Say, "Have you seen what you call upon besides Allah? Show me what of the earth they have created... Bring me a book before this"} i.e., the books that you acknowledge, did they command the worship of idols? {Or some trace of knowledge} Ibn Ashur said: "The meaning is or a remnant that remained with you which you narrate from the previous scholars not written in the books." Allah challenges them to bring evidence from previous books or narrated knowledge that permits the worship of idols. The verse confirms the existence of books and traces of knowledge, but it denies that there is evidence of shirk in them, and it does not deny the existence of the origin of monotheism.
Question Two: The Letter "Alif Lam" Meaning "About"
Question: Mention a "lam" in today's portion that came meaning "about".
Correct Answer: The saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime: {And those who disbelieved said to those who believed, "If it had been good, they would have preceded us to it"} [Al-Ahqaf: 11].
Linguistic Explanation
In our colloquial language, we say "I said to him" meaning I addressed him, but in classical Arabic, "I said to him" can mean "I said about him." The meaning here: And those who disbelieved said "about" those who believed (or about this faith), if it had been good, they would have preceded us to it. This is not a forced interpretation, but it is from the breadth of the Arabic language and its evidence in pre-Islamic poetry and the Quran is abundant. Reading the Mu'allaqat and ancient poetry corrects the tongue and makes such uses familiar.
Question Three: Applying Verses of Warning to Oneself
Question: It is not a condition that the Quranic text in the disbelievers or hypocrites should apply to us in all its details for one to feel that it is addressing him. Mention a verse from today's portion that one of the companions used to admonish a Muslim who is enjoying worldly pleasures despite his sins.
Correct Answer: His saying, may He be exalted: {You have consumed the good things of this worldly life and enjoyed them} [Al-Ahqaf: 20].
Educational Benefit
The sister "Du'aa Rajab" from Egypt answered. The benefit here is that the Quranic text, even if it was revealed about the disbelievers, addresses the Muslim to the extent that he has those characteristics.
The story is that "Ibn Amr" was enjoying himself, so when "Saad bin Abi Waqqas," may God be pleased with him, sought permission to see him, he ordered the silk curtains to be raised in honor of Saad. Saad entered and said to him, "You are a good man, O Ibn Amr, if you are not one of those whom Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said about them: {You have consumed the good things of this worldly life and enjoyed them}." Although the verse begins with His saying: {And the Day the disbelievers are presented to the Fire}, Saad admonished him with it for his resemblance to them in the aspect of excessive enjoyment. Similarly, scholars use the verses of Sakhr to warn those Muslims who abandon prayer, even if they do not deny the Day of Judgment.
Question Four: The Veil That Hides Understanding of the Quran
Question: A verse from today's portion that comes with the meaning of His saying, may He be exalted, in Surah Al-Isra: {And when you recite the Quran, We have placed between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter a concealed veil. And We have placed over their hearts coverings lest they should understand it, and in their ears deafness}.
Correct Answer: His saying, may He be exalted: {And among them are those who listen to you, but when they go out from you, they say to those who were given knowledge, "What did he say just now?" Those are the ones upon whose hearts Allah has placed a seal, and they have followed their desires} [Muhammad: 16].
Explanation
The brother "Mohammed Al-Hayadra" from Syria answered. The verse speaks of a type of people who listen to the Prophet, peace be upon him, but they do not understand anything, not because the speech is unclear, but because Allah has sealed their hearts due to their following their desires. This "concealed veil" is a punishment from Allah for their deliberate turning away and negligence, to the extent that they reached a stage of inability to understand the Quran. And I advise here to review an episode titled "Understanding the Speech of Allah is a Blessing" from the series "With the Quran We Live".
Question Five: Answering the "Question of Evil"
Question: Mention a verse from today's portion that answers the "question of evil," especially regarding the corruption of those who disbelieved in the lands.
Correct Answer: His saying, may He be exalted: {That is so. And if Allah willed, He could have punished them, but that He might test some of you by means of others} [Muhammad: 4].
Explanation
The sister "Ibaa Al-Aqsa" answered. The question of evil (why does injustice, corruption, and oppression exist?) is clearly answered by this verse; Allah is able to suppress the disbelievers with the word "be," but He has made their existence a test for the believers. There are great heart and physical acts of worship that cannot be achieved except by the existence of this conflict, such as reliance, sacrifice, patience, and jihad. And I advise here with a lecture by Dr. "Jeffrey Lang" titled (The Purpose of Life - The Purpose of Life) and his book "Even the Angels Ask," for he has excelled in explaining this point.
Question Six: Obeying Those Who Hate What God Has Revealed
Question: Mention two consecutive verses from Juz' Amma with the meaning of His saying, "And if you obey them, indeed, you would be polytheists."
Correct Answer: His saying, "Indeed, those who have turned back on their heels after what has been made clear to them - Satan made their deeds pleasing to them and delayed them. That is because they said to those who hated what Allah had sent down, 'We will obey you in part of the matter.'" [Muhammad: 25-26].
Explanation
Brother "Ahmed Qasim" and sister "Ibaa Al-Aqsa" answered. In Surah Al-An'am, Allah explains that obeying the polytheists in doubting the rulings of the religion (such as the prohibition of carrion) is polytheism. Ibn Ashur mentioned a precious meaning: that criticizing the rulings of Islam is equivalent to polytheism.
In Surah Muhammad, we find that those who said to those who hated what Allah had revealed, "We will obey you in part of the matter," ended up apostatizing. This is a message to those who ally with forces that hate the Shariah and agree with them in agreements that contradict the constants of the religion; for the matter begins with obedience in "part of the matter" and ends with apostasy, because this bad character spreads and lures man away from the truth.
Question Seven: God's Kindness to the Companions in Financial Obligations
Question: Mention a verse that indicates that if it were not for God's kindness to the Companions in financial obligations, something would have emerged from them that would corrupt their religion.
Correct Answer: His saying, "If they ask you for it, it will impose on you, and they will say, 'You are stingy.'" [Muhammad: 37].
Explanation
Brother "Hamzah Rafad" from Texas answered. The verse shows that Allah did not burden the Companions with giving all their money out of mercy for them, for if He had "imposed on them" (i.e., demanded all the money), they would have been stingy, and their grudges would have come out.
The grudges here, as Ibn Ashur explains, are not grudges against Allah or His Messenger, but grudges among themselves; if some were stingy and some responded and became poor, grudges might arise in the hearts against those who were stingy and remained rich. So, it is out of Allah's mercy that He did not burden them with what would be difficult for them, protecting their hearts and their unity. The Companions were human, and they were the best of humans, but they were not infallible angels, and the Quran teaches us to be just to them and understand their humanity, which Allah has purified.
Question Eight: The Miracle of the Structure in Fighting the Prophets
Question: A verse mentioned a past action of the People of the Book in the present tense (for renewal and abhorrence), and in the middle of it are two words that cut off their ambitions in doing that with the Prophet ﷺ and reassure his heart. What are these two words?
Correct Answer: The two words are "before." In His saying, "Say, 'Then why do you kill the prophets of Allah before if you are believers?'" [Al-Baqarah: 91].
Explanation
Sister "Hanan" answered. The verse used the present tense "you kill" to indicate that those addressed in the time of the Prophet ﷺ are participants in the crime by approving of the actions of their predecessors. But the word "before" came to break this present tense context and cut them off; that is, this killing was in the past and will not be repeated with you, O Muhammad ﷺ, for Allah protects you from them. This is one of the miracles of the structure that scholars such as Dr. "Mohammed Abdullah Draz" in his book "The Great News" and Sheikh Al-Sha'rawi have stopped at.
Conclusion and Suggestion: Project on Logical Fallacies in the Quran
I conclude with a suggestion to extract "logical fallacies" from the Quran and compare them with modern ignorance. The Quran gives us insights to uncover psychological tricks, such as:
- Fallacy of demanding irrelevant miracles: "Bring back our fathers if you are truthful," what is the relevance of reviving the fathers to the truth of the clear signs?
- Fallacy of focusing on the messenger: "Why was this Quran not sent down to a man from the two great cities?" They discuss the Prophet's wealth and do not discuss the message itself.
- Fallacy of superiority: "If it had been good, they would have preceded us to it."
This science (logical fallacies), if connected to the Quran, will open great horizons for us in understanding our reality. We will meet tomorrow, God willing, and peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.