Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 1 presented on 9/19/10
Shaykh Amin presents an introduction to Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, contextualizing it within the ‘sīrah’ (biography) of the Prophet ﷺ. The session proceeds with a profound analysis of the opening words of this Sūrah, and then goes on to reference the various signs of Allah ﷻ that were shown the Prophet ﷺ during his night journey.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 2-5 presented on 9/26/10
In this session, Shaykh Amin dwells on the significant impact that the night journey (al-Isrāʾ) had on the lives of the Muslims. He shares subtle insights into the comparable experiences of the Banī Isrāʾīl (Children of Israel) and the Banī Ismāʿīl (Children of Ishmael), as well as sheds light on the immediate consequences of the journey.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 5-12 presented on 10/3/10
In this session, Shaykh Amin elaborates on the cycle of power that Allah tested the Children of Israel with, giving them dominion and then taking it away, and then repeating that process. The message is clear to man: “you might seem down trodden now, but that might be a short-lived trial provided you fulfill your covenant with Allah ﷻ”. The session proceeds with an insight into the gradual night-and-day cycle, relating it to the gradual process of ease that follows a period of difficulty.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 13-22 presented on 10/10/10
We apologize for the unavailability of the video recording of this session. “No souls bears the burden of another” In this session, Shaykh Amin talks about the predicament that man finds himself in when his book of deeds is handed to him. The second half of this session explores the fall of past civilizations that were given to a hedonistic lifestyle. Muslim civilizations thrived as long as there was an individual, as well as a collective, sense of responsibility towards the needy.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 23-28 presented on 10/17/10
Shaykh Amin expands on verse 23 of the Sūrah, reconciling the theory and practice of every believer’s obligation towards his/her parents. And in the verses that follow, he extends the concept to encompass the obligation towards relatives in general, and finally towards the needy and the traveler.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 29-36 presented on 10/31/10
Allah’s ﷻ Knowledge and Wisdom encompasses all things, and the servant of Allah ﷻ is always cognizant of this, no matter what his/her state may be.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 37-43 presented on 11/7/10
Who decides what is moral? It is Allah’s ﷻ prerogative to decide morality, not the individual’s. The same applies to ethics. Individuals, civilizations, etc. are all subject to Allah’s ﷻ rules. We are not free to theorize and implement our own ‘aḥkām’ (rules); these have already been determined by Allah ﷻ through revelation. Interfering with Allah’s ﷻ prerogatives will only lead to false conclusions.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 54-59 presented on 12/5/10
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We have to be careful that we do not measure humanness in accordance with the superfluous; moral excellence and perfection of character are central to every Prophet’s (AS) persona. The tone of the session shifts into the realm of intermediaries and the extreme caution that must be exercised by worshippers with respect to what they ascribe to such intermediaries, because one wrong step can lead to <i>shirk</i>. Shaykh Amin ends the session with a discussion of the stupidity in man that causes him to spend less time in preparing for the hour.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 60-64 presented on 12/12/10
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Allah’s ﷻ Power encompasses all things. By Allah’s ﷻ leave, the Prophet ﷺ could instill fear in the minds of aggressors without any manifest show of strength, and that is from Allah’s <i>Qadr</i>. The Sūrah switches its focus to when Allah ﷻ commands the angels to bown down before Adam (AS). Man is expected to obey first and then justify the state of obedience, as was manifested by the angels. Shaykh Amin expands on these verses that examines the hollow justifications of Iblis in disobeying Allah ﷻ.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 65-72 presented on 12/19/10
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Allah ﷻ has endowed man with an inner strength and will that makes him fully capable of overpowering the demonic influences that he is subjected to in his life. Shaykh Amin elaborates on these verses that remind us that security comes from a conviction that Allah ﷻ is our Supreme Guardian no matter what calamity may befall us. Allah ﷻ has bestowed Adam (AS) with an innate dignity, and the children of Adam (AS) all inherit that element of dignity.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 73-79 presented on 12/26/10
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These first few verses refer to the many attempts of the Quraysh to thwart the efforts of the Prophet ﷺ by offering him something in return for a compromise in matters of ‘dīn’ (religion). In the verses that follow, Shaykh Amin expands on the high virtue in reciting from the Qurʾān in the Fajr prayer. It is through <i>Ṣalāh</i> that the Prophet ﷺ established a link with Allah ﷻ. The nature of the communication between Allah ﷻ and the Prophet ﷺ is revelation (<i>waḥy</i>) (revelation), and the transport for it is the <i>Ṣalāh</i>.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 80-83 presented on 1/9/11
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In presenting the ‘tafsīr’ (exegesis) of these verses, Shaykh Amin extends the discussion of the ‘Maqām al-Maḥmūd’, that is, the praised station into the realm of authoritative leadership. It is only through uprightness and truthfulness that an individual in a position of authority and strength can hope to receive divine assistance and support.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 83-85 presented on 1/16/11
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Every individual has a ‘shākilah’ (persona) which is his or her blueprint that defines his or her specific personality. Guidance comes to all who seek it by the leave of Allah ﷻ and the ‘shākilah‘ of each seeker may well remain intact despite the process of reformation. The rest of the session revolves around a discussion of the ‘rūḥ’ (soul).
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 96-102 presented on 1/30/11
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The pitiful state of denying Allah ﷻ comes with severe consequences. If man does not acknowledge that Allah ﷻ is the One who gave him the faculties of speech, sight and hearing, then man will face the predicament of not being able to speak, see and hear on the day when it all matters the most. The ability of the prophets (AS) to spend is an immeasurable one, generous as they were in wealth, time and assistance.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 86-95 presented on 1/23/11
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In this session, Shaykh Amin shares some valuable insights into the nature of the ‘rūḥ’ (soul). In this world, the ‘rūḥ’ is subordinate to the body and hence the body manifests itself in accordance with its state in the world. On the day of judgment, the process is flipped, and the body becomes subordinate to the ‘rūḥ’. On that day, a healthy ‘rūḥ’ is manifested in a healthy body, and an unhealthy ‘rūḥ’ is manifested in an unhealthy body.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 102-109 presented on 2/6/11
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A profound and fascinating parallel is drawn here between the journey of the Prophet ﷺ journey mentioned in the first verse of this Sūrah, and that of the Children of Israel, mentioned towards the conclusion of the Sūrah. On one hand, there is the difficult and arduous journey of the Children of Israel to Jerusalem – a journey that spanned forty years – and on the other, is the blessed journey of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that took but a few brief moments.
Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, Chapter 17 Verse(s): 109-111 presented on 2/13/11
This session concludes the ‘tafsīr’ (exegesis) of Sūrat al-Isrāʾ. The Prophet ﷺ said, Ṣalāh is the ‘Miʿrāj’ (ascension) of the believer. Allah ﷻ has given every believer the same means to access Him ﷻ that he gave to his Prophet ﷺ. The more a believer knows, the more he submits – that is the state of being blessed with true knowledge and belief.