Sunday Tafsīr with Shaykh Amin Kholwadia

Surah Sad (38:21-26). Although it has many stories and references to historical accounts, the Qurʾān must not be read like a storybook or a book of history; rather it must read as a book of dhikr as mentioned at the beginning of this Sūrah. In this lecture: the story of the two disputants; the burden of judging between people; identifying the test and common pitfalls in tafsīr; the governance of t...

Surah Sad (38:12-20). Allah (S) is not pleased with those who exploit the trust of Allah for their personal gain. He has placed individuals in the ummah of Muhammad (S) who collectively exhibit the attributes of those who belied previous messengers. In this lecture: the disbelief of the people of Nuh (AS); the military prowess of the 'Aad; the engineering feats of Fir'awn; the people of the forest...

Surah Sad (38:1-11). The Quran is revealed in a pristine Arabic. Although the Quraysh knew and understood it, they yet had an aversion to receiving its message and remembering Allah (S). In this lecture: the state of denial and disbelief; studying past civilizations as a means of dhikr; turning to Allah as the primary source of help; the Quraysh’s brutal rejection of the prophet’s da’wah; the awe-...

Surah Al-Saffat (37:167-182). The ultimate destiny of man is Jannah. In this lecture: wahy is unconstrained; the greatest of triumphs; shahaadah (martyrdom); witnessing divine punishment; observing the Haqq; Rabbul 'Izzah; the Prophet (S) as the final authority; Salaam as a code of governance; order within and across the worlds; conclusive comments.

Surah Al-Saffat (37:149-166). Angels are a genderless, intelligent creation, arranged in ranks in the order of their commission and committed to fulfilling it. In this lecture: the Quraysh’s belief in angels; accountability for jinnkind; the two-step process of purification; Divine selection; the authority of a Nabi; the ultimate influencing; the throne-bearers; Jibreel (AS); Bait-al-Ma’moor; Mika...

Surah Al-Saffat (37:112-148). Deliverance and Divine assistance come in many different ways, through the order inherent in the ranks of angels, and this is best manifested in how Allah (S) delivered his dearest prophets from their tests and tribulations. In this lecture: Ibrahim (AS) and his children, and the legacy of nubuwwah they left behind; Musa (AS) and Haroon (AS), and their deliverance fro...

Surah Al-Saffat (37:100-111). Shaykh Amin explains the Islamic understanding of what comprises a family. The family of Ibrahim gives us a prototype and code for sacrifice. In this lecture: children as a gift from Allah (S); Ibrahim’s (AS) prayer; the dream of Ibrahim (AS); submission and confirmation; a divine paradox; Allah’s (S) Fadl upon Ibrahim (AS); the infallibility of prophets.

Surah Al-Saffat (37:75-99). Allah (S) recognizes the incredible stamina shown by Nuh (AS) through the many centuries of his prophethood. His message was global, but restricted to his time on earth. In this lecture: the family of believers; Nuh (AS) as a prototype for Salaam; the culture that surrounded Ibrahim (AS); his wit and abilities; the constancy of a sound heart; the angelic elements of res...

Surah Al-Saffat (37:27-74). The prophet always confirms the truth and the prophethood of all the messengers who came before. In this lecture: the fate of those who belie the messenger; the fruits of Paradise and its enlivening wines among its countless pleasures; the social setting in Jannah; the greatest triumph; the tree of zaqqum.

Surah Al-Saffat (37:11-26). Surah Fatir (37:11-26). Allah (S) encourages His messenger to compare and contrast the natures of all His creation, and to make an observation. In this lecture: the reality of the Day of Judgment; the transience of the dunya; the transportation of minds across worlds; dzulm in theology; the sorting of souls; the turmoil of the questioned.

Surah Al-Saffat (37:1-10). Angelic order exemplifies the order of and in the heavens, and points toward Allah's Oneness. In this lecture: the nature of the oaths of Allah (S); the three groups of angels invoked in the opening oath; the terrestrial and the celestial; the intervention of devils; wahy and science.

Surah Yasin (36:71-83). Allah (S), the Mun'im, calls attention to His blessings in making animals subservient to man among His other manifestations of divine creativity. In this lecture: societal roles and gratitude; the origins of man and resurrection; evidences of tauheed; man's unsophisticated process of creation as a sign of Allah's creativity; Al-Khallaaq; the divine command behind the proces...

Surah Yasin (36:68-70). Human longevity as decreed by Allah (S) culminates in the reduction of man to nothing. In this lecture: the intellect of the unlettered Nabi who depicts reality through reality; dhikr transcends time and space; the Companions’ intuitive and instantaneous grasp of the beauty of the Quran; the Quran’s eternal as well as residual effects on those who recite it.

Surah Yasin (36:58-67). The devil is ever working to misguide the children of Aadam (A) because Aadam (A) was the reason for the devil’s expulsion. In this lecture: the fallacy of an “easy life” for Muslims; daily worship as a shield against the devil; appreciating the Names of Allah (S); the irrefutable testimony on the Day of Judgment; the devil inspires mutation.

Surah Yasin (36:45-58). The da’wah of a Muslim, who represents Yasin, is enough evidence of a sign from Allah. In this lecture: da’wah in Muslim and non-Muslim countries; taqwa and altruism as Muslim civilizational values; Resurrection and the Day of Judgment; the People of Jannah as an involved community with unimaginable preoccupations; shade in Jannah and its many forms and dimensions.

Surah Yasin (36:30-42). Yasin is the heart of the Quran, and it strengthens the heart of the Messenger with reassurances. In this lecture: signs of resurrection; Divine creativity and human industry; the mercy in opposites; night and day; the sun and its movement; the moon and its cycle, a sign for new beginnings; a sign and ni'mah in marine transportation.

Surah Yasin (36:13-29). The messengers believe in their mission and are not too concerned about whether people believe in them or not. In this lecture: the three components of risalah; the tools of da'wah; israaf; positive thinking; the aakhirah and the pleasures of this world; the unconditional da'wah of a nabi; insights into fitrah.

Surah Yasin (36:1-12). Introduction to Surah Yasin. The Quran continually reassures the prophet that he is indeed the Messenger of Allah (S). Also in this lecture: the overwhelming language of the Quran; the forms of revelation, tanzeel; representing the last Messenger; a prototype for a Muslim community; the mu’jizah; intention and effort as standards of nubuwwah; being in awe of Al-Rahman.

Surah Fatir (35:40-45). Human actions can adversely affect the heavens and the earth, and it is only by the Grace of Allah (S) that cosmological order is maintained. In this lecture: Divine tolerance and clemency; insights into studying Quran; human resistance to guidance; the Sunnah of Allah; the end of past civilizations; conclusory comments.

Surah Fatir (35:36-39). Disbelief in the Faatir attracts punishment without end. In this lecture: opportunity for human introspection and reflection; the layers of diversity from a source of indivisible Oneness; the All-Knowing essence of the Faatir; knowledge in Jannah; Iman spanning the cosmos; insights into successorship; the myth that faith negates tribulation.

Surah Fatir (35:29-35). A total and comprehensive understanding of diversity comes to those who apply their understanding in their lives and manifest it in their worship. In this lecture: Al-Shakur; the reward of a good intent; the Quran as a musaddiq; knowledge as prophetic inheritance; the grades of Allah’s Fadl; diversity in creativity.

Surah Fatir (35:25-28). A plurality or diversity in creation does not imply a plurality in Divinity, rather it is a proof of Divine Oneness (Tauheed). In this lecture: Allah's Divine Creativity manifest in the diveristy found in nature around man, as well as in the diversity amongst and within men; a category of men and women commended by Allah (S); khashyah; arrogance and humbleness; appreciating...

Surah Fatir (35:14-24). Allah (S) has subjugated everything He has created to human beings, and human beings must subjugate themselves to His Will. In this lecture: man's dependence (al-fuqaraa'); Al-Hamid; individual responsibility and accountability (in both worlds); commentary on parenting and child-development; four similitudes; nadheer

Surah Fatir (35:8-13). Allah (S) reminds us that He is the originator of creation, all of which He has created without a blueprint. In this lecture: life-giving rain and life-giving faith; Allah's all-encompassing might; Good words and good deeds; the creation of Adam contrasted with the creation of his offspring; barakah and longevity; provisions from the sea; the cycle of night and day; Divine S...

Surah Fatir (35:2-7). Do not be consumed by your blessings to the point that you forget the One who gave them to you. In this lecture: rejection and ingratitude; insights into accountability; shukr in the fitrah; contrasting the fitrah of the devil with that of angels and humans; recognizing the enemy within; using the Quran and sunnah as a rahmah, not as a weapon; Al-Karim, Al-Ghaniyy.