Sūrat al-Rūm, Chapter 30 Verses 1-6 presented on 10/18/15 – Session 1
Introduction to Sūrat al-Rūm. In this lecture:
- Backdrop in ‘sīrah’ (the prophetic biography)
- Abū Bakr’s (RA) bet
- Muslim alignment with Christianity
- The two interpretative sciences: of abstract dreams and of tangible events
- Abū Bakr’s (RA) profound interpretative skills and depth of perception
- Insights into the science and art of dream interpretation
- ʿUmar’s (RA) genius at preempting Qurʾānic injunction
- The productive effects of prophetic ‘suḥbah’ (companionship)
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Sūrat al-Rūm, Chapter 30 Verses 6-10 presented on 10/18/15 – Session 2
History bears witness that Muslim civilization and leadership attached importance to the ‘dunyā’ (worldly life) and the ‘ākhirah’ (hereafter) with a clear preference for the latter. In this lecture:
- facilitating salvation
- planning for the ‘dunyā’ (worldly life) and the ‘ākhirah’
- Ibrāhīm (AS) as a model visionary
- true understanding as a product of outward observation and insight
- the human as a complete cosmos within the self
- the fate of those obsessed with the ‘dunyā’
- relevance to present-day Muslims preaching peace
- the fate of those who mock revelation
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Sūrat al-Rūm, Chapter 30 Verses 11-21 presented on 11/1/15 – Session 3
Faith and good deeds are the ultimate discriminators in the Hereafter. In this lecture:
- the unrighteous on the Day of reckoning
- ‘tasbīḥ’ (hymning the praises of Allah ﷻ) as a purification for the believer
- the dynamism of Arabic in gleaning commands from news
- the disinclination of the companions to analyze commands
- Ṣalāh and the order of angels
- human origination from dust as a sign for all humanity
- compatibility for ‘sukūn’ (tranquility) in marriage
- the many shades of ‘raḥmah’ (mercy) A Muslim’s perception of the truth transcends the confines of the first heaven.
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Sūrat al-Rūm, Chapter 30 Verses 21-27 presented on 11/8/15 – Session 4
- Diversity in creation must lead the seeker to One Creator ﷻ. In this lecture:
- mutual compassion makes a couple from individuals
- diversity in creation as proof of Allah’s existence
- ‘tawḥīd’ (monotheism) as a monolithic creed and the sunnah as a monolithic way of life for a diverse humanity
- an uncompromising yet inclusive lifestyle
- universal acknowledgement of Arabic as central to worship, and the petty confusion of ranks with roles
- sleep as a ‘niʿmah’ (bounty), a means of detaching from yourself
- lightning as a sign for the dual sensations of fear and hope
- submission as a cosmic order
- Allah ﷻ, the Sovereign Creator.
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Sūrat al-Rūm, Chapter 30 Verses 28-33 presented on 11/15/15 – Session 5
God’s ﷻ system of laws is never-faltering, ever above that of human systems.
In this lecture:
- an instance of Qurʾānic refutation by analogical reasoning (‘Qiyās’)
- human accountability, and Allah’s ﷻ guidance or misguidance within the realm of cause and effect
- ‘ʿibādah’ (worship) and seclusion as conducive to attracting Divine attention/guidance
- societal fiṭrah (disposition) and the effects of ‘suḥbah’ (companionship)
- the intolerance toward difference in what is conclusive, i.e. a monolithic understanding of who God ﷻ is
- the celebration of difference in what is inconclusive
- maintaining order above all
- the shirk in self-attribution and ingratitude
- Allah’s ﷻ ‘faḍl’ (grace) as universal and constant
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Sūrat al-Rūm, Chapter 30 Verses 34-41 presented on 11/22/15 – Session 6
These verses lead to a discussion of the phenomena of cause and effect that Allah ﷻ has subjected the cosmos to.
In this lecture:
- the rules of cause and effect governing sustenance
- seeing through the lens of ‘īmān’ (belief), or the lens of ‘kufr’ (disbelief)
- relinquishing control
- assisting or repelling the needy attracts or repels Allah’s ﷻ assistance
- note to those rejecting refugees
- greed as cause for poverty
- the genius of the early ‘Fuqahāʾ’ (jurists)
- neighborhood economics should come first
- the many causes of human suffering
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Sūrat al-Rūm, Chapter 30 Verses 42-53 presented on 12/6/15 – Session 7
‘Īmān’ (belief) comes from Allah ﷻ; belief is the prerogative of Allah ﷻ and comes only by ‘tawfīq’ (divinely granted ability), and is the greatest ‘raḥmah’ (mercy) upon the human heart.
In this lecture:
- the grave consequences of disbelief
- the indiscriminate ‘raḥmah’ (mercy) of God ﷻ
- seeking ‘faḍl’ (grace) and the higher levels of ‘raḥmah’
- order pervades the dispensation of ‘raḥmah’
- the similitude of knowledge and rain, and their life
- giving qualities by virtue of Allah’s ﷻ ‘Raḥmah’
- wind as a catalyst of ‘raḥmah’, or an accelerator of ‘ʿadhāb’ (divine punishment)
- the weight of actions over words
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Sūrat al-Rūm, Chapter 30 Verses 54-60 presented on 12/13/15 – Session 8
God’s ﷻ creation is an expression of His ﷻ Knowledge.
In this lecture:
- criminals on Judgment day, separated from the rest
- time appreciated by those who believe in the end of it
- ‘Īmān’ (belief) as an active submission
- the world of the graves
- rejection and denial inhibits spiritual development
- true knowledge accompanied by patience Imagination and creativity found in revelation must take the seeker from one state to a better state.
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Sūrat al-Rūm, Summary presented on 12/20/15 – Session 9
Shaykh Amin concludes the tTafsīr of Sūrat al-Rūm with a commentary on its relevance to present-day challenges faced by Muslims the world over. In this lecture:
In this lecture:
- historical significance of Muslims seeking asylum in a Christian land
- the need to recognize Christian nations that accommodate Islam and Muslims
- a methodology to interpret world events
- re-embracing the prophetic definition of Islam
- positivity accompanying ‘Īmān’ (belief)
- Abū Bakr (RA) as a role model in the affirmation of faith