2:22:30 MashaAlallah, Sheiks enormous library....don't know of any individual who has such a library. 30 ayahs and 3hrs....soon I realized there were tons of points to take away. 67:22 "Siratimmustaqeem" understood the depth of it's meaning today. 67:5 lower heaven with lamps and "rujumal-shayatin" - stars misused by humans for speculating future 67:7 the imagery when reading The Study Quran is different from the another translation I have....always comparing translations. InshaAllah, the learning continues.
Q&A SESSION 2:56:22 how do the different Ayat stating "so you may be grateful/worship/which of you will be better in deeds" etc fit together? 3:01:35 some context in relation to the historical and modern attempt to co-opt the chapter's title (al-Mulk/Sovereignty) to permit tyranny. 3:06:45 why does Ayah #1 mention "in His/whose hands" when Allah is beyond the material world? 3:09:55 what is the Dhikr/remembrance for the Surah? 3:10:10 what do you think the most challenging delusions are for the Muslims in the West that have to be combatted? How does it manifest in the choices we make in our society? 3:23:02 do you think that part of the problem is, as per the lecture the Professor gave at the ICSC about the Romanisation of Christianity, the gutting of religion to make people acquiescent to power transforming it into something that is just a personal comfort rather than establishing it as a mission in life? 3:25:28 is the point in the chapter concerning the seven heavens allegorical? 3:28:39 what is the difference between reason and rationale/rationality?
TIMESTAMPS [Preamble on the unique qualities of the Usuli Institute and appreciation of Professor Abou el-Fadl until 9:48] Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem 11:30 Surah al-Mulk/Sovereignty, #67; likely occurrence and positioning in the revelation; theme. 22:00 different reported names for the chapter. 27:00 a report emanating from ibn Abbas to his student about Surah al-Mulk emphasising its importance. 31:34 Ayah #1: "tabaraka alladhee biyadihi al-mul'ku wahoowa ala kulli shayin qadeer" (Blessed is He in whose hand is the sovereignty, and Who has power over everything) - the theological problem with translating Tabaraka as "blessed" due to the lack of a frame of reference in relation to God. 45:19 Ayah #2: "alladhee khalaqa al-mawta wal-hayata liyabloowakum ayyukum ahsanu amala wahoowa al-'azeezu al-ghafoor" (He who created death and life-to test you-as to which of you is better in conduct. He is the Almighty, the Forgiving) - the purpose of one's creation outlined in Ayah #2. The state of death highlighted in the Ayah being the subject of much discussion and analysis. 52:26 two different versions of a Prophetic Hadith reported in relation to Ayah #2 - version #1 = best of people with Aql/understanding. 56:10 version #2 - most fearful of God and best in understanding what Allah has forbidden and commands even with fewer extra prayers and less fasting. 1:03:23 the Professor: "it is not a matter of just executing laws regardless of the consequences, that's not Taqwa. Taqwa is understanding the objective, the wisdom of what Allah was telling us and teaching us. And internalising it. And embodying it". 1:04:53 Ayah #3: "alladhee khalaqa sab'a samawatin tibaqa ma tara fi khalqi ar-rahmani min tafawut far'ji'ee al-basara hal tara min futoor" (He who created seven heavens in layers. You see no discrepancy in the creation of the Compassionate. Look again. Can you see any cracks?). 1:05:00 Ayah #4: "thumma ir'ji'ee al-basara karratayni yanqalib ilayka al-basaru khasi-an wahoowa haseer" (Then look again, and again, and your sight will return to you dazzled and exhausted). 1:14:46 Ayah #5: "walaqad zayyanna as-samaa ad-dun'ya bimasabeeha waja'alnaha rujooman lishayateen wa-a'tadna lahum adhaba as-sa'eer" (We have adorned the lower heaven with lanterns, and made them missiles against the devils; and We have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze). 1:14:57 Ayah #6: "walilladheena kafaroo birabbihim adhabu jahannama wabi'sa al-maseer" (For those who reject their Lord, there is the torment of Hell. What an evil destination!). 1:17:43 traditionally, critics of the Qur'an focused on Ayah #5 to attack it [some still do]. 1:21:40 the real reason why we are told about these things - to signal an end to the previous age of fortune telling, sooth saying etc. 1:23:42 another close but different, figurative understanding of Ayah #5 in relation to fortune tellers lying about the future. 1:26:43 Ayah #6: "walilladheena kafaroo birabbihim adhabu jahannama wabi'sa al-maseer" (For those who reject their Lord, there is the torment of Hell. What an evil destination!). 1:26:50 Ayah #7: "idha ul'qu feeha sami'oo laha shahiqan wahiya tafoor" (When they are thrown into it, they will hear it roaring, as it seethes) Ayah #8: "takadu tamayyazu mina al-ghaythi kullama ul'qiya feeha fawjun sa-alahum khazanatuha alam yatikum nadheer" (It almost bursts with fury. Every time a batch is thrown into it, its keepers will ask them, "Has no warner come to you?"). 1:27:02 Ayah #9: "qalu bala qad jaana nadheerun fakadhabna waqul'na ma nazzala al-laahu min shay in antum illa fi dalalin kabeer" (They will say, "Yes, a warner did come to us, but we disbelieved, and said, 'God did not send down anything; you are very much mistaken' "). 1:27:11 Ayah #10: "waqaloo law kunna nasmau aw na'qilu ma kunna fi ashabi as-sa'eer" (And they will say, "Had we listened or reasoned, we would not have been among the inmates of the Blaze"). 1:27:16 Ayah #11: "fa'tarafoo bidhanbihim fasuh'qan li-ashabi as-sa'eer" (So they will acknowledge their sins. So away with the inmates of the Blaze). 1:34:50 theological debate around the nature of the message of Islam being available, whether borne by a prophet or a suitable teacher or otherwise via intuition/innately. 1:40:00 is proper listening a requirement for proper comprehension? The failure to respond to Islamophobia and how this works for the non-Muslims (to absolve them) and against the Muslims (for not discharging their duty). 1:44:20 the obliviousness of current Muslim scholars/theologians to this phenomenon. 1:49:00 the phenomenon of Muslim prosletisers sent to Muslims not non-Muslims (as required). 1:52:42 Ayah #12: "inna alladheena yakhshawna rabbahum bil-ghaybi lahum maghfiratun wa-ajrun kabeer" (As for those who fear their Lord in secret-for them is forgiveness and a great reward) Ayah #13: "wa-asirru qawlakum awi ij'haroo bihi innahu alimun bidhati as-sudoor" (Whether you keep your words secret, or declare them-He is Aware of the inner thoughts) Ayah #14: "ala ya'lamu man khalaqa wahoowa al-latifu al-khabeer" (Would He not know, He Who created? He is the Refined, the Expert) - profound statement worthy of deep reflection to affirm the existence of a Creator. 1:58:15 Ayah #15: "hoowa alladhee ja'ala lakumu al-arda dhalulan fam'shoo fi manakibiha wakulu min riz'qihi wa-ilayhi an-nushur" (It is He who made the earth manageable for you, so travel its regions, and eat of His provisions. To Him is the Resurgence). 2:01:10 novel usage of the word Manakiba/travel on its natural passageways (facilitated by God) in Ayah #15. 2:03:28 Ayah #16: "a-amintum man fi as-samai ay yakhsifa bikumu al-arda fa-idha hiya tamoor" (Are you confident that the One in heaven will not cause the earth to collapse beneath you as it spins?) Ayah #17: "am amintum man fi as-samai an yur'sila alaykum hasiban fasata'lamoona kayfa nadheer" (Or are you confident that the One in Heaven will not unleash against you a violent storm? Then you will know what My warning is like). 2:11:18 Jafar al-Saddiq's opinion about Ayah #17 disputing the different heretical views. 2:16:15 Ayah #18: "walaqad kadhaba alladheena min qablihim fakayfa kana nakeer" (Those before them also denied the truth; and how was My disapproval?) - prior to the Qur'an the writing of history being a virtually non-existent genre, yet modern Muslims are the worst historians today. 2:24:00 Ayah #19: "awalam yaraw ila al-tayri fawqahum saffatin wayaqbid'n ma yum'sikuhunna illa ar-rahman innahu bikulli shayin baseer" (Have they not seen the birds above them, spreading their wings, and folding them? None holds them except the Compassionate. He is Perceiver of everything) - Mulla Sadra's view that the laws of nature (physics) require Allah to maintain them consistently for them to persist. 2:29:40 Ayah #20: "amman hadha alladhee huwa jundun lakum yansurukum min duni ar-rahmani ini al-kafiroona illa fi ghuroor" (Or where is your aid to protect you against the Compassionate? The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion). 2:30:07 Ayah #21: "amman hadha alladhee yarzuqukum in amsaka riz'qahu bal lajjoo fi utoowwi wanufoor" (Or who is this that will provide for you, if He withholds His provision? Yet they persist in defiance and aversion). 2:36:16 Ayah #22: "afaman yamshi mukibban ala wajhihi ahda amman yamshi sawiyyan ala siratin mus'taqeem" (Is he who walks bent on his own design better guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path?) - we are not free to go wherever we want because our egos blind and restrict our progress (by falling on our faces repeatedly) as opposed to others who see freely and walk on the straight path as a result. The implication here being the believer who ignores the obvious is not the one necessarily on the straight path. 2:41:22 Ayah #23: "qul huwa alladhee ansha-akum waja'ala lakumu as-sam'a wal-absara wal-afidata qaleelan ma tashkuroon" (Say, "It is He who produced you; and made for you the hearing, and the vision, and the organs. But rarely do you give thanks"). 2:42:02 Ayah #24: (Say, "It is He who scattered you on earth, and to Him you will be rounded up") Ayah #25: (And they say, "When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful?"). 2:42:20 Ayah #27: "falamma ra-awhu zul'fatan seeat wujoohu alladheena kafaroo waqila hadha alladhee kuntum bihi tadda'oon" (But when they see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieved will turn gloomy, and it will be said, "This is what you used to call for"). 2:43:54 Ayah #28: "qul ara-aytum in ahlakaniya al-laahu waman ma'iya aw rahimana faman yujeeru al-kafireena min adhabin aleem" (Say, "Have you considered? Should God make me perish, and those with me; or else He bestows His mercy on us; who will protect the disbelievers from an agonising torment?") - addressing the Prophet. Ayah #29: "qul hoowa ar-rahmanu amanna bihi wa'alayhi tawakkalna fasata'lamoona man hoowa fi dalalin mubeen" (Say, "He is the Compassionate. We have faith in Him, and in Him we trust. Soon you will know who is in evident error"). 2:45:50 Ayah #39: "qul ara-aytum in asbaha maookum ghawran faman yateekum bima'in ma'een" (Say, "Have you considered? If your water evaporates, who will bring you pure running water?") - a real cliffhanger of a ponderous ending to the chapter; an intricate balance of life on earth, particularly dependent on water. 2:50:45 the purpose of revealing Surah al-Mulk at that moment before the Hijrah/migration, but after the Isra'/night journey - critical society, state and civilisational building information. 2:55:31 Ameen
3:06 if well known institutes teach you to accept tyrants as God wants them to be in power, then surely, the ummah this time will be dumbed more than the colonial powers dumbed them down. I think people are getting smarter. They are learning and engaging with the Quran on their own. I don't mind listening a khutbah from a well read regular person than some popular imams who are good at taking you on a emotional roller coaster. Of course, there are still quite a large number of people who still want to hold somebody's hand and follow them blindly. The reason they give is that you need to go to a specialist to get your ailment checked....They forget that in matters of faith they need to reflect and are responsible for themselves. I think they mix up learning from the scholars and others with independent thinking.
Greetings. Your hijab needs to be worn completely sister. It is not worn half way. You either don't wear it or wear it fully. No such thing as a half deed in Islam. You either are or aren't. May God guide us all.
