PERSPECTIVES

It has been confirmed in Sahih Al-Bukhari from Ibn `Abbas that the Prophet Muhammad صلى ألله عليه و سلم  said, “There are no days in which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days,” meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

They said, “Not even Jihad in the way of Allah?”

He replied, “Not even Jihad in the way of Allah; except for a man who goes out with his self and his wealth, and does not return with either of those.” – Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Halaqah Tafsir – Al-Fajr 1-5

Dar-us-Salaam – October 30th, 2011.

Length: < 12 Minutes

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Muqatil and al-Kalbi said: “This Surah was revealed about two clans of Quraysh: Banu ‘Abd Manaf and Banu Sahm.

The two clans heaped abuses on each other and this led them to count the respective chiefs and leaders of each clan in order to see which one of them had more.

The Banu ‘Abd Manaf said: ‘We have more leaders, chiefs and members!’

The Banu Sahm said the same thing.

When it appeared that the Banu ‘Abd Manaf had more members, they said: ‘Let us also count the dead among us’.

They visited the graveyards and counted the dead, and concluded that the Banu Sahm were greater in number, for they were greater in number in the pre-Islamic period”.

And Qatadah said: “This Surah was revealed about the Jews who said: ‘We are greater in number than so-and-so, so-and-so and so-and-so’, and this claim distracted them until they died misguided”. - ‘Alī ibn Ahmad al-Wāhidī, Asbab al-Nuzul

Imam Ahmad recorded from `Abdullah bin Ash-Shikhkhir that he said, “I came to the Messenger of Allah while he was saying, The mutual increase diverts you.

The Son of Adam says, “My wealth, my wealth.” But do you get anything from your wealth except for that which you ate and you finished it, or that which you clothed yourself with and you wore it out, or that which you gave as charity and you have spent it.”

Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i also recorded this Hadith. – Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Halaqah Tafsir – At-Takathur 1-2

Dar-us-Salaam – October 23rd, 2011.

Length: < 18 Minutes

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The amazing story behind Surah Al-Kauthar is one that foretold the Abundance [Kauthar] gifted by Allah سبحانه تعالی to the Prophet صَلى أللهُ عَلَيهِ و سَلًّم .

Ibn ‘Abbas: “This Surah was revealed about al-’As ibn Wa’il.”

He met the Messenger of Allah صَلى أللهُ عَلَيهِ و سَلًّم as he was entering the Sacred Mosque while the Prophet was coming out of it.

They met at the gate of Banu Sahm and started talking to each other while the chiefs of Quraysh were sitting in the mosque.

When al-’As entered the mosque, they asked him: ‘Who were you talking to?‘

He said: ‘I was talking to that man without posterity‘, meaning the Messenger of Allah صَلى أللهُ عَلَيهِ و سَلًّم .

The Prophet صَلى أللهُ عَلَيهِ و سَلًّم had lost ‘Abd Allah, his son from Khadijah, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed this Surah”.

Yazid ibn Ruman said: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah صَلى أللهُ عَلَيهِ و سَلًّم was mentioned, al-’As ibn Wa’il al-Sahmi used to say: ‘Leave him be, he is just a man without posterity; he has no offspring: If he were to die, no one would mention him again and you will be rid of him‘.

And so Allah, exalted is He, revealed: Lo! We have given thee Abundance… to the end of the Surah”.

‘Ata’ reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “Al-’As ibn Wa’il used to pass by the Prophet صَلى أللهُ عَلَيهِ و سَلًّم and say: ‘Indeed I am insulting you, and truly you are without posterity, without no male offspring to survive you‘.

And so Allah, exalted is He, revealed Lo! it is thy insulter (i.e. al-’As) who is without posterity insofar as the good of this world and of the life to come are concerned”. *

Ahmad ibn Hanbal recorded from Anas bin Malik that a man said, “O Messenger of Allah! What is Al-Kawthar?” He replied, “It is a river in Paradise which my Lord has given me. It is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey.” *

Halaqah Tafsir – Al-Kauthar 1-3

Dar-us-Salaam – October 16th, 2011.

Length: < 21 Minutes

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