Sunday Tafsīr with Shaykh Amin Kholwadia

Surah Saba (34:16-21). The people of Saba were punished owing to their ingratitude for Allah's favors upon them. In this lecture: the kinds of dzulm, both open and subtle; ease of travel for the people of Saba; nourishment and security; comparing current events; if you care, you share; Allah's condemnation of Iblis; expanding our purpose in life to reject the devil; Al-Hafeedz.

Surah Saba (34:14-15). Allah gives knowledge to the extent He deems it sufficient. He withholds knowledge of the unseen for reasons He knows. Seeking knowledge from the ghayb is not from the sunnah. In this lecture: the bountiful land of Saba and its decline; the components of good living; insights into how Muslim psyche was shaped by these aayaat; rububiyyah and the role of the rabb in human development.

Surah Al-Ahzab (34:11-13). If you want to serve Allah (S) then you have to also serve Him through the actions that you perform, done out of shukr. In this lecture: a correct niyyah; service and hospitality with ihsan; Dawud and Sulayman (AS) as examples of grateful servants.

Surah Saba (34:9-11). The mindset of one who sees Allah as praiseworthy inclines towards a state of inaabah. Shaykh Amin keeps the theme of hamd central as he describes the gifts of Dawud (AS). In this lecture: Allah's innate praiseworthiness; gleaning positivity from the Qadr of Allah; insights into servanthood; the abilities of Dawud (AS); the prophetic ability to harness power creatively to represent Allah (S).

Surah Saba (34:3-8). True belief entails believing in Allah's ability to forgive you for your sins and Allah's ability to provide for you. In this lecture: God in the opinion of his servant; seeing the Nabi as a ni'mah, as more than 'just a human being; the hijab of man's arrogance; belief in the aakhirah clears the way; disbelief in accountability feeds into the adhaab of pessimism; two stories in this surah.

Surah Saba (34:1-3). An introduction to Surah Saba. Praise (hamd) for Allah (S) and His Rasul (S) pervades Quranic discourse and linguistics - both within the confines of time and space, and without. In this lecture: sabr and shukr arising out of hamd; an enduring and uncompromising optimism; weathering life in the light of Allah's Fadl; the Muslim's perception of good deeds; recognizing the Divine Nidzaam.

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:73-73). Shaykh Amin provides additional insights into Surah Al-Ahzab in a short tafsir session to close out the Fall semester. Aligning our worldview with that of the Prophet (S) helps us carry the trust of volitional faith. In this lecture: iman and amaanah; the overwhelming rahmah of Allah (S); nifaq and kufr as consequences to the inability to bear the burden of trust; the greatest fear lies in shirking the burden; aligning our attainable ideals; preserving the institution of Muhammad (S).

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:69-73). Conclusion of Surah Al-Ahzab. In this lecture: the Bani Israeel as an irreverent people who under-appreciated their Nabi; a warning to the munafiqeen of Madinah; qawlan sadeedan; insights into marriage; the civilizational code of following the Nabi; the pervasiveness of intellect; seeing the trust through; aligning with the sunnah.

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:62-68). The sunnah of the Rasul (S) is universal, but the sunnah of Allah (S) is His prerogative, more specific in its manifestation. In this lecture: the sunnah of Allah (S); the Day of Judgment; the risk of devaluing the life of the Rasul (S) and the civilizational value of loving him; taubah and istighfaar as a means of preservation and protection; a necessity to discuss and promote the finality of prophethood. We fear Allah (S) because of His prerogative to punish if He chooses to. The sunnah of the Rasul (S) is to avert the sunnah of Allah (S).

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:56-61). The discussion continues with an enumeration of the merits of Salaat 'ala An-Nabi and the etiquette of expressing love for the Nabi. In this lecture: Salaat 'ala An-Nabi as an ibaadah; the love of the companions for the Prophet (S); an inverted understanding of maturity; modesty is in the heart first; building a moral infrastructure; behavior modeled after the sunnah.