Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 1-7 presented on 2/7/10
Shaykh Amin introduces this Sūrah, gleaning its theme from the word ‘Amr’ (command) used in the opening verse. This Sūrah is about Allah’s ﷻ command, and the way Allah ﷻ wants Muslims to organize themselves. When Muslims respond to this command, assistance comes from the Angelic realm.
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 8-13 presented on 2/14/10
Man’s limited creativity is only possible within Allah’s ﷻ limitless and perpetual creativity. It is only in pondering the magnitude of Allah’s ﷻ power of creation that man can truly qualify his achievements.
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 14-21 presented on 2/21/10
Shaykh Amin elaborates on the powerful imagery conjured up by these verses that magnify the creativity of Allah ﷻ manifested in the marine world.
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 22-34 presented on 2/28/10
In these verses, Allah ﷻ mentions the strong causal relationship between disbelief in the hereafter and the vanity in man. Shaykh Amin teases out the divinely subtle messages interwoven into these verses. “When hearts do not concede to the truth, there is an element of arrogance”
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 35-43 presented on 3/7/10
In these next few verses that talk of the commandments of Allah ﷻ, Shaykh Amin highlights the mindset prescribed for the ‘Ṣaḥābah’ (Companions), and by extension, for Muslims in general. Patience, and the suppression of the <i>nafs</i> (carnal self), are critical elements to a sincere struggle for the establishment of justice.
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 43-44 presented on 3/14/10
“Knowledge of salvation must come through <i>waḥy</i> (revelation)…” In this session, Shaykh Amin explains why it is a <i>‘niʿmah’</i> (bounty) of Allah ﷻ to have amidst us people of knowledge. The onus of seeking knowledge lies on the seeker who is commanded to ask the People of <i>dhikr</i> (remembrance).
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 45-60 presented on 3/21/10
In the first few verses, Allah ﷻ reminds man of his dominion over all creation, thus forming a foundation for the following verses that reinforce the importance of ‘tawḥīd’ (monotheism); is the greatest form of oppression – if you see God ﷻ as divisible, you will see human beings as divisible…”
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 61-65 presented on 4/4/10
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 66-70 presented on 4/11/10
Shaykh Amin elaborates on the fascinating similes used in these verses and builds up the discussion to its zenith in the sixty-eighth verse that serves as the central and pivotal verse capturing the theme and message of this Sūrah.
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 71-75 presented on 4/11/10
In the next few verses, Shaykh Amin dwells on the supreme wisdom of Allah ﷻ in what He has ordained as <i>rizq</i> (sustenance) to individuals, as well as the divinely-ordained disparity in the level of <i>rizq</i> (sustenance) between people. The session circulates around the theme (as put by Shaykh Amin): “The sum of your knowledge is that you do not know, and the sum of Allah’s ﷻ knowledge is that He knows”<br/>The session ends with an insightful and detailed analysis of the similitude presented in verse 75.
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 76-81 presented on 4/25/10
The session begins with a reminder to believers that preparation for the hour is more important than conjecture around its coming. The other take-away points from the session hinge around the ideas that: <br/>”<i>Learning for the sake of learning is not the purpose, learning for the sake of appreciating the One ﷻ Who taught you how to learn is the real purpose. </i>”, and <br/> “<i>The definition of good living is to have sukūn (peace).</i> ”
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 82-89 presented on 5/2/10
“On the Day of Judgment, each <i>ummah</i> will bear witness that the message was conveyed”. Shaykh Amin clarifies the definition of <i>balāghah</i> (conveyance) and the unequivocal testimony that every nation will bear on the Day Of Judgment. The session ends with a fascinating discussion on how despicable it is to argue over the Qurʾān.
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 90 presented on 5/9/10
ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿūd is known to have called verse 90 of Sūrat al-Naḥl the <i>most comprehensive ayah of the Qurʾān</i>. Shaykh Amin devotes the entire session to analyzing the profoundness of this verse.
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 91-97 presented on 5/16/10
Rebellion and Anarchy against an established order are prohibited to believers. Shaykh Amin comments on these verses to highlight the importance of keeping to our covenants and oaths.
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 98-100 presented on 5/23/10
In this session, Shaykh Amin clarifies the definition of a true <i>‘qirāʾah’</i> (reading), and then goes on to elaborate on the ‘ādāb’ (etiquettes) of seeking refuge from the devil before beginning a reading of the Qurʾān.
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 101-110 presented on 5/30/10
Speaking the truth in the face of hardship is a lofty ideal, Allah ﷻ is merciful to those who conceal their belief out of fear of persecution.
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 111-115 presented on 6/27/10
The take-away message from this session can be summed up in the following quote: “The purpose of Allah ﷻ giving you gifts is for you to appreciate the <i>‘Munʿim’</i> (Benefactor ﷻ) and not just stop at appreciating the <i>‘niʿmah’</i> itself.”
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 116-119 presented on 7/11/10
Shaykh Amin carries out a profound interpretation of these verses that talk of the ill effects of twisting the permitted and prohibited in Islam, as well as the importance of exerting ourselves to ensuring we do our best to consume only that which is ‘ḥalāl’ (permissible). The discussion ends in a general exhortation to have a good opinion of Allah ﷻ. “There is no place for a pessimist in Islam.”
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 120-124 presented on 7/18/10
In this session, Shaykh Amin clarifies the definition of ‘hasanah’ as it is used in verse 121. “(True ) ‘ḥasanah’ (good deeds) in the dunya is the means by which you gain ‘dunyā’ (worldly life) in the ‘ākhirah’ (hereafter).
Sūrat al-Naḥl , Chapter 16 Verse(s): 125-128 presented on 7/25/10
Shaykh Amin concludes the tafsīr of this Sūrah with a commentary on the art and etiquettes of ‘daʿwah’ (propagation of faith) and religious debate.