Surah Sad (38:73-85). It is not always in the rejection of God that one becomes a kāfir. Kufr can also come about by the rejection of God’s command. In this lecture: istikbār and kufr; the hukm and its rationale; the myopia of Iblīs; rajm and rajīm; the evil genius of Iblīs, his stratagems and his insinuations: al-nafs al-lawwāmah; the apparatus of dhikr; the Haqq as the reason for every ‘why’.

Surah Sad (38:65-72). Being the Rabb means that Allah (S) organizes the system and the rules that govern the working of the seven heavens and the earth. In this lecture: Divine command, control and participation; sins and the environment; the higher council of angels; the nizām of nubuwwah; the perception of angels; the creation of Ādam.

Surah Sad (38:55-65). Allah (S) addresses the arrogant with a description of the sordid sustenance given to the dwellers of Jahannam that enables them to withstand the suffering there. In this lecture: sin and punishment; earning Jannah; insights into revelation; submission and rejection; the words of indhār and the words of bashārah.

Surah Sad (38:45-54). The Qurān is a book that is above the intellect. It encompasses every phase of human existence. In this lecture: the effect of wahy on a person; branches the two of Ibrahīm’s descendants (AS); the language of the Qurān as the language of dhikr; the continuum of life; the gardens of everlasting bliss; rizq.

Surah Sad (38:41-44). The minds of prophets area always engaged in the dhikr of Allah (S). They follow Allah’s lead in all affairs. In this lecture: horses likened to the arwāḥ; the awareness of Dawūd and Sulaymān (AS), and how they responded to their tests; understanding wahaba; the kingdom and authority of Sulaymān (AS); Sulaymān (AS) as a role model for those engaged in and with the world; a higher ʿadab.

Surah Sad (38:31-40). The minds of prophets area always engaged in the dhikr of Allah (S). They follow Allah’s lead in all affairs. In this lecture: horses likened to the arwāḥ; the awareness of Dawūd and Sulaymān (AS), and how they responded to their tests; understanding wahaba; the kingdom and authority of Sulaymān (AS); Sulaymān (AS) as a role model for those engaged in and with the world; a higher ʿadab.

Surah Sad (38:27-30). The heavens and the earth are true, and the purpose of their existence is also true. In this lecture: relating creation to Creator, and being in harmony with nature; the far-reaching individual and societal effects of disbelief; the nature of barakah, and the perpetual blessings of the Qur’ān; tadabbur (the rules of thinking); Sulaymān (AS) as awwāb.

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 the Khalīfah of Allah (S); the rapport of the prophets with nature; the elevated stature of prophets (AS).

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, and the power of their economy; the code of messengers; fawaaq; the patience of RasulAllah (S), and Dawud (AS) as an example in patience; the miracle of Dawud's voice (AS); power, and its forms.

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-inspiring Oneness and Omnipotence of Allah (S), the Sustainer of all the worlds; the strategy of the Quraysh to counter the message of RasulAllah (S); the endurance of RasulAllah (S) in his mission; how Divine selection works; Al- Wahhab.