Sunday Tafsīr with Shaykh Amin Kholwadia

Surah Fussilat (41:1-8). The Arabic language is the Divine choice for the last and final revelation for all times and peoples. In this lecture: note on translations; the versatility of Arabic; glad tidings and warnings; the tension between human volition and Divine injunction; consistency in observances and practices; perpetual reward for perpetuity in imān.

Surah Ghāfir (40:82-85). Human knowledge and intellect is limited to the five senses while prophets offer much more. In this lecture: travel for the right reasons; the limited pursuit of knowledge; the Divine as the first resort; life after death; repulsion by angels; necessary knowledge and its tools; kufr and loss; conclusion.

Surah Ghāfir (40:75-81). The believers are a source of tremendous assistance for the prophet (S). In this lecture: the prerequisites of da'wah; ṣabr as a shield on the battlefield of da'wah; the measure of a prophet's performance; the function of prophets within the bounds of cause and effect; 'aqidah al-Tahawiyyah; utilization and exploitation.

Surah Ghāfir (40:65-74). The human intellect is not capable of determining how the Supreme Creator wants to be worshipped. That can only come through a means of communication from the Creator to the created. In this lecture: the universal modes of worship; submitting to the Lord of the worlds; every world has a process and an order; the world of the womb; istikharah; the choice of kufr and the confusion in it; the sophistication with which Allah (S) creates.

Surah Ghāfir (40:59-64). The cycle of night and days is a natural gift from Allah ﷻ, and disrupting the cycle comes at a price. In this lecture: sukūn and the night; proofs of tawhīd; the disease of consumerism; the earth and the sky; multiplicity from the One; resurrection in the form of khuluq; 'aql, science-inspired versus Divine-inspired; tarbiyah and the Rabb.

Surah Ghāfir (40:52-58). Muslims doing the work of dīn today should not assume that they will not face resistance, rejection and trials along the way. In this lecture: huda and dhikrā; ṣabr in the face of rejection; the subjectivity of tawbah for prophets; the power of 'ibādah and the need to harness this power; the spiritual energy of the prophet (S); the tools and rules of debate.

Surah Ghāfir (40:46-51). Those who turn people away from Allah (S) are given to bickering and this condition plagues them in the Hereafter as well. In this lecture: the stability in following a madhab; the geography of Madina in the time of the prophet (S); the angels of Jahannam; the disease of secularizing Divine assistance;

Surah Ghāfir (40:36-45). The evil of Fir'awn's actions were made pleasing to him. In this lecture: the call of the mu'min to follow him; the meaning of matā'a; equal access to salvation; the ākhirah as a lens for legal theory; Al-Azīz Al-Ghaffār; the value of companionship (ṣuhbah).

Surah Ghāfir (40:28-35). The Mu’min presents a compelling defense of his Nabi. In this lecture: respecting authority; the Prophet (S) as the ultimate mu’jizah; belief finds expression; the ‘Aqidah of justice; the means of guidance and Divine guidance; the prerequisites of da’wah; xenophobia and the unifying force of Islam.

Surah Ghāfir (40:21-28). Allah (S) draws our attention to the man who hailed from the family of Fir'awn but hid his iman only to reveal it when an opportunity arose to defend his prophet. In this lecture: the destructive effects of sin; the mu'jizaat of the anbiyaa; Fir'awn, Haamaan and Qaroon; the apparent statesmanship of Fir'awn; disbelief in the aakhirah; help from an unexpected quarter; formal education under prophets.