Shaykh Faraz Rabbani: Jawharat al-Tawhid
Lesson 11: (From Section C: On Transmitted Beliefs)
84) And our position is that supplication is of benefit as it is a clearly understood promise in the Qur’an
- His saying ‘supplication is of benefit’
- related Qur’anic verses
- related hadith
- conditions that hasten answer to supplication
- proper manners of supplication (du’a)
85) That with every servant there are guarding angels who have been appointed and writing angels who will not forget a good deed.
- His saying ‘a good deed’
- His saying ‘guarding angels’
- His saying ‘and writing angels’
-on sincere repentance
86) These angels will not forget anything that the person does, even if they did so forgetfully, even the groans of sickness will be recorded, as has been transmitted.
- the wisdom of knowing about writing angels
87) So discipline your soul & reduce your hopes; for how often it is that the one who shows determination regarding a matter reaches it.
- His saying ‘so discipline your soul’
- point is that Allah sees your deeds; angels are only a reminder
- His saying saying ‘and reduce your hopes’
- hopes that are unaccompanied by means
- His saying ‘shows determination regarding a matter reaches it’
- has hope in Allah & takes means
- meaning of raja’ (hope)
THE NECESSITY OF THE BELIEF IN DEATH
88) And it is obligatory for us to believe in death & that the angel of death collects souls
- His saying ‘believe in death’
- definition of death
- on moving between stages of life
- its significance
- on the angel of death
- rules that govern angels are not the same as humans
DEATH IS DESTINED
89) That the one who dies, dies at their appointed time & age. Saying other than this is baseless and unacceptable.
- example of this
- on the destiny of death
- our belief: Allah has destined things to be as they are (and this does not change)
THE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SOUL
90) And in the destruction of the soul, upon the blowing of the trumpet there is difference. Subki said it remains as has been established by some of the scholars.
- the blowing of the trumpet
- what happens to souls when this happens
- on the person of Taqi al-Din al-Subki & his opinion
- Sura al-A’raf verse 143 – Zumar 68-69
THE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TIP OF THE SPINE
91) There is also a difference of opinion regarding the tip of the spine. Does it also remain like the soul?
- first position: al-Muzani said it is destroyed
- second position: that it remains
- hadith supporting this
- the meaning of the 'tip of the spine' remaining
- from the wisdom of Allah
92) Everything perishes (i.e when the final trumpet is blown) however certain things are excepted from the generality of this statement – so seek knowledge of that which they have mentioned.
- Qur’anic verse that relates to this (Sura al-Qasas:88)
- His saying ‘certain things are excepted’
- examples of exceptions
- another meaning of Qur’anic verse that everything everything is perishing except His countenance
- words of Abu Madyan: that which has no being in of itself, from itself, than its being were it not for Him, would be impossibility itself
- explanation (of above quote)
- existence dependent on existence of Existentiator & His sustaining of them at every moment
- things given to perishing
- principle in Qur'anic interpretation – particular meanings/ reasons for revelation do not negate the general purport of the verses of the Qur’an
THE SOUL AND THE RULING REGARDING DISCUSSING ITS REALITY
93) Do not talk about the soul, for nothing was transmitted from the lawgiver. However, stick to that which was mentioned.
- definition of ‘the soul’
- how it is mentioned in the Qur’an
- subtle faculty in the human being
- what it is called when attached to:
- base matters
- dictates of reason
- matters of the next life
- ultimate spiritual matters
- reality of soul from the affair of Allah Most High
- saying of Imam Junayd when asked about the reality of the soul
- talk about what is praiseworthy/ blamesworthy about the soul is different
94) However it has been reported from Malik that it has a form like the body.
- saying of Imam Malik that it is like the body
- difference of interpretation of this saying
THE INTELLECT & THE DIFFERENCE REGARDING ITS DEFINITION
95) The intellect is like the soul, however some have mentioned difference regarding it, so see to what they have explained.
- the stronger of the two positions
- when it is attached to matters of reason
- the mind itself is not the intellect, it is a tool by which it reasons
- the subtlety within the human being is one
- takes on various meanings according to what its attached to
THE OBLIGATION OF BELIEVING IN THE QUESTIONING OF THE GRAVE, AND ITS REWARD & PUNISHMENT
96) Our questioning and then the punishment of the grave, and its pleasures are obligatory to believe in, like the resurrection.
- regarding our questioning in the grave
- names of the angels involved
- belief in the questioning itself & when it takes place
- takes place in a different dimension
- the nature of the questioning
- how the angels appear to the person
- questions they will ask
- who will know the answer to their questions
- the punishment of the grave & its reward
- for the ones who turned to & away from Allah
- how is it experienced (relied opinion)
- the sinful believer’s experience
- these are matters obligatory to believe in
- details of this we are only expected to believe in
THE NECESSITY OF BELIEVING IN THE RESSURECTION & THE GATHERING
- belief in the Resurrection
- events of Resurrection
THE NECESSITY OF BELIEVING THAT BODIES THEMSELVES ARE RESSURECTED
97) Say that the body is returned from nothingness though some said it comes after having been separated.
- the relied upon position: body won’t remain at all & will be recreated as it began
- Sura al-A’raf:29 also expresses this
- the
other position: one will be completely separated & then gathered
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