Sunday Tafsīr with Shaykh Amin Kholwadia

Surah Luqman (31:33-34). Fear has always been a positive agent for self-preservation. Shaykh Amin calls this reality into our attention in the concluding tafsir of Surah Luqman. In this lecture: fearing Allah; preparing for death; the guile of shaytaan; beneficial rain; linguistic insights; conclusory comments.

Surah Luqman (31:28-32). Human actions have an impact on the regulation of the universe. In this lecture: the unquantifiable knowledge of the Day of Judgment; Allah addressing His beloved; Allah's creativity and power manifested through the similitude of a ship at sea; Muslim attribution to Allah; the resilient and the grateful; hope through repentance; personalizing revelation.

Surah Luqman (31:23-27). The propagation of wahy weighs heavily on the Nabi, yet he fulfills his mission with purpose. In this lecture: the grit of a Nabi; Allah's all-encompassing control and dominion; Divine Constancy; Hadith Qudsi; creativity in words of remembrance; the mu'jizah of a Nabi.

Surah Luqman (31:20-22). Shaykh Amin shares some beautiful insights on what constitutes 'ibaadah and the blessing in learning and appreciating academic Islam. In this lecture: inaamaat: the outward and the inward; misplaced argumentation; ibaadah free of speculation; submission cannot be passive, it should be an active choice; the Muslim worldview; knowledge (the correct and the incorrect) carries over into the grave; the barakah in following academic soundness.

Surah Luqman (31:18-19). This session dwells on the fascinating universality in Luqman’s advice to his son. In this lecture: humility without humiliation; gratitude to Allah wards off depression; empowering children to become responsible for themselves; focusing on Allah (S), not on other human beings; Umar as a towering example in islaah.

Surah Luqman (31:16-17). Shaykh Amin shares the parental insights of Luqman underscoring the need to understand how Allah (S) works. In this lecture: Allah tests us, not the other way around; the purpose of Revelation; Al-Lateef, subtle and imperceptible growth essential to Allah's Nidzaam; Al-Khabeer, the inescapability of Allah's Knowledge; a formula to create leadership; the value of salaat; an understanding of ma'ruf; the societal need to enjoin good.

Surah Luqman (31:12-15). Wisdom is only good when it helps translate knowledge for the benefit of others. This is the hikmah that Allah (S) bestowed upon Luqman. In this lecture: Allah is above a need for gratitude; Luqman’s unique evaluation of Allah’s praiseworthiness; wisdom begins at home; shirk as a dzulm upon the self; insights into shifts in narrative; the universal value of appreciating one’s parents; struggling to fulfil the rights of God.

Surah Luqman (31:6-11). Modern day Muslims often contemporize the Quran’s universal criticisms, and miss the larger message warning against the human propensity for sin. In this lecture: the addiction of entertainment; societal norms facilitating the commission of sin; contrasting entertainment in this world with the possibilities in Jannah where creativity is unlimited; the deception in short-lived pleasures; the inertia of extended childhood; human creativity manifested through performing acts of worship; the perfection in Allah’s creation and artistry

Surah Luqman (31:1-5). Shaykh Amin introduces Suarah Luqman with a definition of wisdom and its many levels. A reader of the Quran benefits most in recognizing the phased approach in which Divine wisdom is revealed. In this lecture: the Quran as a reservoir of guidance; guidance as a rahmah both in its reception and its distribution; personalizing rahmah; Ihsaan is transitive; practice must precede representation; wisdom in repetition

Surah Al-Rum (Summary). Shaykh Amin concludes the tafsir of Surah Al-Rum with a commentary on its relevance to present-day challenges faced by Muslims the world over. 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 accompanyig Iman; Abu Bakr(R) as a role model in the affirmation of faith.