As we began Surah Al-Anbiyaa', the Shaykh directed our attention to the relationship between its beginning and the end of Surah Ta Ha.
Ta Ha ends with: "Say, "Each [of us] is waiting; so wait. For you will know who are the companions of the sound path and who is guided." [20:135]
And Al-Anbiyaa' begins with "[The time of] their account has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away." [21:1]
As the Shaykh mentioned, there's a deliberate connection. The end of Surah Ta Ha instructs the Prophet to challenge those who reject faith to wait and see what happens, while the beginning of the next surah calls to mind that in fact while they are waiting in their stubborn disbelief the Day of Judgement continues to approach rapidly. This is to emphasize that the character of their waiting is not that of actual impartiality or not being convinced, but of mockery, arrogance, and refusal to come to their senses.
Regretfully, it is a common misconception that the order of Surahs in the Quran is haphazard or was done later in the process of compilation and not actually a part of the revelation itself. On the contrary, the order of the Surahs is deliberate and part of the revelation itself, and often has, as in this case, significance.
"And We did not make the prophets forms not eating food, nor were they immortal [on earth]." [21:8]
Regretfully there are many Muslims in the world who believe that the Prophet Muhammad was made of light, or the Khadr is still alive, or a myriad of other things about the prophets that have no basis in the Quran nor the Sunnah. As we passed by this verse, the Shaykh mentioned that this is one of the strongest, most explicit refutations against such allegations.
"Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah , they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allah, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe." [21:22]
The Shaykh paused at this verse to point out the weight of the argument advanced by Allah. Throughout the universe we see nothing but complex systems of order both at the microscopic and macroscopic levels. Cell reproduction is orderly and uniform, organs, tissues, and muscles are organized within bodies, each organ in itself suited to its independent function, the movement of weather and the flow of rivers, the cycle of nutrients through the soil, the movement of planets within solar systems and solar systems within galaxies....everything, although stunningly complex, has discernible order to it. Much too much order to be created randomly or spontaneously, but also too orderly to have multiple architects.
One might ask, why couldn't there be two or more gods that agreed on everything? And the answer is in the verse, independent will is one of the principle characteristics that distinguishes between entities. To suggest that two gods might agree on everything renders meaningless the distinction between the two, since they would effectively have the same will and to be considered two separate entities they must have different wills. If they had different wills, eventually there would be some sort of disagreement or difference and thus rupture in the order of creation. When you look at the creation, you find no such rupture. Glory be to Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth!
In this section of Surah Al-Anbiyaa', Allah repeatedly asks "Or have they taken gods besides Him?" It's worth noting that Allah alone has the power to deem something sacred, holy, or divine. Secularism has desensitized us to this important distinction as it has given people the role of deciding this for themselves. Similarly, Islam is what is legislated by Allah, not the aggregate practice of Muslims around the world. If we allow others to shape our definition of what Islam is, then there is no doubt that we will lose it.
Say: I warn you only by revelation; and the deaf do not hear the call whenever they are warned.
Say: O Muhammad, to all the people: I only warn you by the Revelation. Meaning, indeed I am only a prophet, I do not come to you with anything from myself, nor are the treasures of Allah all will me, nor do I know the unseen, neither do I claim to be an angel — Indeed I am only warning you by that which Allah has revealed to me
So if you respond, then you have responded to Allah ; and He will reward you for that. But if you deny and turn away; then nothing of the affair is in my hand, indeed the order and control of affairs is only with Allah, and destiny in its entirety is only controlled by Allah.
[But the deaf person does not hear the call] the deaf person hears no sound because his hearing has been curropted and is defective. And “listening” has been made a condition along with voice, because there is a place of acceptance for it.
Similarly Revelation is the cause for light of the hearts and souls, and the way to attain deep understanding about Allah. But if the heart is not attentive nor receptive to hear the guidance, then his Imaan and guidance he obtains will be like that of the deaf person.
Hence the Polytheists were to the guidance of the revelation like deaf people. Thus it is no surprised they were left misguided, especially in the state they were in - the punishment had not yet come nor were they yet afflicted by any pain.
-Summarized Translation-
Reflect: SubhanAllah. Let us all revise our state of minds during the recitation of the Quran the Book of guidance — are we like a deaf person not benefiting from it ?! Or do we listen with attentive hearts? Our attainment of guidance will be accordingly. May Allah not prevent us from being guided by His Book. Ameen
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“There are not enough hours in the day!” “I am behind in all my work.” “We can't handle all the problems that come our way.” Ibraaheem ibn Abdil-Waahid al-Maqdisee said, whilst advising Ad-Diyaa al-Maqdisee who intended to go out on a journey to seek knowledge: "Recite much Qur’an and do not abandon it, for verily that which you want to learn will become easier in accordance with how much you recite." Ad-Diyaa said: "So I noticed this and experienced it *a lot*. If I recited a lot of Qur’an then listening to many ahaadeeth (prophetic narrations) and writing all of them down would be easy for me, and if I didn't recite then it would become difficult. وَهَذَا ذِكْرٌ مُبَارَكٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ “And this [Qur'an] is a blessed message which We have sent down.” (Qur’an 21:50) The more you give Qur’an from your time, the more it will pour blessings into it for you. Try it for yourself. Gems From The Quran Facebook: tinyurl.com/FB-gftq Telegram: tinyurl.com/TG-gftq Instagram: tinyurl.com/Insta-gftq
A person acknowledging Tawḥīd of Allah and recognizing his shortcomings is among the greatest causes for bringing relief to his anguish and removing his worries. Yūnus said:
{ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ } “There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” [Al-Anbiyā’ 21:87]
إقرار الإنسان بالتوحيد واعترافه بتقصيره من أعظم أسباب تفريج كروبه وإزالة همومه، قال يونس (لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمين) Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al-Tarefe