Jaihoon’s thoughts & notes during Holy Quran commentary lectures by Simsarul Haq Hudawi

November 21 2008

“There is a Surah which will plead for its reciter till it causes him to enter paradise” (Tabarakalladhi Biyadihil Mulk). [Tabrani]

Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) said that one of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)’s companions set up his tent over a grave without realising that it was a grave and it contained a man who was reciting the Surah Tabarakallahi Biyadihil Mulk up to the end. He went and told the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) who said, ‘It is The Defender; it is The Protector which safeguards from Allah Ta’ala’s punishment’ [at-Tirmidhi]

Ibn Abbas radhia Allahu anhu advised believers to teach this Sura to their wives, children and neighbors

Three things if not there, man wouldn’t lower his head – disease, death and poverty. (Hadith)

67:2 Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed

‘Death is the most certain reality of life. Nevertheless, it is also the least mentioned topic among people. Media ignores it. Celebrities avoid it. Politicians forget it. Scientists deny it. Lovers disregard it. Poets belittle it. But it’s real, more than life. A thought of realities of death is suffice to stop man from sins. It will prevent him from committing atrocities against fellow human beings.’

All comforts found on the surface of earth today, be it luxury cars or splendid costumes to cars to airplanes to nuclear warplanes, were once buried inside earth by Allah. Nothing is brought from the skies. The ingredients of all things are from earth only, including Man.

67:5 And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin, and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.

Imam Qatada says that stars are crated for three purposes:

67:6 And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.

Once a man asked Imam Abu Hanifa as to how jinns, who are created of fire, would feel pain when they are put in hell-fire (both elements being same). The wise Imam threw stones at the man who began to cry out of pain. He then explained that although man and stone were both out of soil, the stoning created pain. The same is not difficult for Allah

67:7 When they are cast therein, they will hear its Shahiq while it is simmering.

The Hell would receive its dwellers with a sound of eagerness just as a donkey would scream eagerly when given food to eat. Ath-Thawri said, “It will boil them just as a small number of seeds are boiled in a lot of water.”

67:10 And they will say: “Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!”

One’s intellectual capabilities cannot be accepted if it fails to recognize the Creator. A non-believer can be anything but intelligent because he is blind or indifferent to the Omnipotent Being whose signs throughout the universe.

67:11 Then they will confess their sin.

The non-believer is in hell, because he or she did not use her intelligence. The term ‘sin’ may refer to this single fault of NOT using their intelligence rather than general misdeeds. Recognition of Creator, at least, may suffice to save one from hell.

Be it philosophers or scientists, poets and thinkers, failure to accept the Creator reduces their thoughts and discoveries to heap of dust. They cannot be called intellectuals.

Additionally, this also explains why God forbids anything which hampers the intellect of man including consumption of alcohol or other intoxicants. Also interesting is that the Beloved of God sallallahu alaihi wa sallam discouraged prayers in a sleepy state of mind, owing to the weak nature of intellect in such situation.