ALI 138: Tafseer of Sura SabaALI 138: Tafseer of Sura SabaSession Four Session Four

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Questions for Tadabbur : Verses 10 - 14Questions for Tadabbur : Verses 10 - 14

1) List the favors given to Nabi Dawood (a) and Nabi 1) List the favors given to Nabi Dawood (a) and Nabi Sulayman (a). What are some similarities? Some Sulayman (a). What are some similarities? Some differences?differences?

2) What is the difference between the following:2) What is the difference between the following:- Fadhl- Fadhl- Lutf- Lutf- Ne’mat- Ne’mat

3) Why are most people ungrateful?3) Why are most people ungrateful?

4) What lessons are there in the death of Nabi 4) What lessons are there in the death of Nabi Sulayman (a) ?Sulayman (a) ?

Points to ponder overPoints to ponder over

Doing work well. . . . Doing work well. . . . And keep the measure in And keep the measure in arranging [the links]arranging [the links]

Virtuous deeds are the true aim of life. Working Virtuous deeds are the true aim of life. Working for income is not the true meaning of life.for income is not the true meaning of life.

Power and strength in iron, and in the wind.Power and strength in iron, and in the wind. Punishment for the JinnPunishment for the Jinn The work of the Jinns, both for the spiritual The work of the Jinns, both for the spiritual

needs and the worldly needs of the Kingdom.needs and the worldly needs of the Kingdom. Shift in who the verses are addressed to, form Shift in who the verses are addressed to, form

singular to plural.singular to plural.

The Grace given to The Grace given to Prophets Dawood and Sulayman (a)Prophets Dawood and Sulayman (a)

Certainly We gave Dawood and Sulayman knowledge, and they Certainly We gave Dawood and Sulayman knowledge, and they said: “All Praise belongs to Allah, who granted us an advantage said: “All Praise belongs to Allah, who granted us an advantage over many of His faithful servants. (27:15)over many of His faithful servants. (27:15)

And Sulayman was Dawood’s heir, and he said: O men! We And Sulayman was Dawood’s heir, and he said: O men! We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given all things. Most surely this is a manifest grace. Sulayman given all things. Most surely this is a manifest grace. Sulayman inherited from Dawood and he said: “O people! We have been inherited from Dawood and he said: “O people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given out of taught the speech of birds, and we have been given out of everything, Indeed this is a manifest advantage” (27:16)everything, Indeed this is a manifest advantage” (27:16)

My Lord! Inspire me to give thanks for Your blessings, with My Lord! Inspire me to give thanks for Your blessings, with which You have blessed me and my parents, that I may do which You have blessed me and my parents, that I may do righteous deeds which may please You . . . (27:19)righteous deeds which may please You . . . (27:19)

Test of Allah in BlessingsTest of Allah in Blessings

Some people are tested through hardships, and some Some people are tested through hardships, and some through ease and comfort. Both are God given through ease and comfort. Both are God given circumstances to see what human beings will do with circumstances to see what human beings will do with them.them.

As for man, when his lord tests him and grants him As for man, when his lord tests him and grants him honor and blesses him, honor and blesses him,

he says: “My Lord has honored me”. he says: “My Lord has honored me”.

But when He tests him and tightens for him his provision, But when He tests him and tightens for him his provision,

he says, “My Lord has humiliated mehe says, “My Lord has humiliated me”. ”.

(89:15-16)(89:15-16)

Appropriate response to BlessingsAppropriate response to Blessings Know that it is from Allah. When the throne of Bilqis was brought to Nabi Know that it is from Allah. When the throne of Bilqis was brought to Nabi

Sulayman, he said; Sulayman, he said; This is by the Grace of my Lord, to test me if I will give This is by the Grace of my Lord, to test me if I will give thanks or will be ungratefulthanks or will be ungrateful. (27:40). In comparison, Qarun said about his . (27:40). In comparison, Qarun said about his wealth; wealth;

I have indeed been given [all] this because of the knowledge that I have.I have indeed been given [all] this because of the knowledge that I have. (28:78)(28:78)

Thank Allah for the favors. Imam Ali (a) says:Thank Allah for the favors. Imam Ali (a) says: Even if Allah had not warned His servants from disobedience, it would Even if Allah had not warned His servants from disobedience, it would

havehave been obligatory on them to worship Him out of gratitude for His favors.been obligatory on them to worship Him out of gratitude for His favors.

Be humble despite the blessings. Hadith tells us:Be humble despite the blessings. Hadith tells us: - - The best of mankind is he who is humble despite having high rankThe best of mankind is he who is humble despite having high rank (Holy (Holy

Prophet (s))Prophet (s)) - - Humbleness despite rank is like forgiveness despite powerHumbleness despite rank is like forgiveness despite power (Imam Ali (Imam Ali

(a) )(a) )

Use the blessing for the Hereafter.Use the blessing for the Hereafter. By the means of what Allah has given you, seek the abode of the By the means of what Allah has given you, seek the abode of the

hereafter, while not forgetting your share of this world. Be good to others hereafter, while not forgetting your share of this world. Be good to others just as Allah ahs been good to you . . just as Allah ahs been good to you . . (28:77)(28:77)

Tasbeeh of all living thingsTasbeeh of all living things

■■ The seven heavens declare His glory and the The seven heavens declare His glory and the earth, and those who are in them, and there is earth, and those who are in them, and there is not a single thing but glorifies Him with His not a single thing but glorifies Him with His praise, but you do not understand their praise, but you do not understand their glorification; surely He is Forbearing, glorification; surely He is Forbearing, Forgiving. (17:44)Forgiving. (17:44)

■■ When Nabi Dawood recited the Psalms all living When Nabi Dawood recited the Psalms all living creatures followed him. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a) creatures followed him. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a) says: says: When he [Nabi Dawood] came out reading When he [Nabi Dawood] came out reading the zabur, there was no mountain, no stone, no the zabur, there was no mountain, no stone, no bird, except that it answered him.bird, except that it answered him.

The meaning of ShukrThe meaning of Shukr

Shukr is of three types:Shukr is of three types:- from the heart- from the heart- on the tongue- on the tongue- through the actions of the body- through the actions of the body

Shukr al-Mutalq – when the entire life of a human Shukr al-Mutalq – when the entire life of a human being is according to what Allah wants from Him. being is according to what Allah wants from Him.

Allah revealed to Nabi Musa (a): O Musa, thank Allah revealed to Nabi Musa (a): O Musa, thank me the way I should be thanked. Nabi Musa (a) me the way I should be thanked. Nabi Musa (a) replied: My Lord! How can I thank you the way replied: My Lord! How can I thank you the way You should be thanked when every thanks that I You should be thanked when every thanks that I give You is a favor from You? Allah replied: Now give You is a favor from You? Allah replied: Now you have thanked me correctly, for you have you have thanked me correctly, for you have realized your inability to thank me.realized your inability to thank me.

Lessons from the Death of Nabi Lessons from the Death of Nabi Sulayman (a)Sulayman (a)

■■ The Story of Nabi Sulayman (a) and the angel of death

■■ However strong a human being is, he is till weak However strong a human being is, he is till weak and powerless in the face of Allah’s decree. Imam Ali and powerless in the face of Allah’s decree. Imam Ali (a) says: (a) says: If there was anyone who could secure a If there was anyone who could secure a ladder to everlasting life, or a way to avoid death, it ladder to everlasting life, or a way to avoid death, it was Sulayman bin Dawood (a) who was given control was Sulayman bin Dawood (a) who was given control over the domain of the Jinn and men, along with over the domain of the Jinn and men, along with Prophethood and great position. But when he finished Prophethood and great position. But when he finished what was his due in food (of this world) and exhausted what was his due in food (of this world) and exhausted his time, the bow of destruction shot him with the his time, the bow of destruction shot him with the arrow of death. His houses became vacant and his arrow of death. His houses became vacant and his habitations became empty. (habitations became empty. (Nahjul BalaghaNahjul Balagha, , Khutba Khutba 182)182)

■ ■ The Jinn do not have any knowledge of the UnseenThe Jinn do not have any knowledge of the Unseen

■ ■ Sometimes a great thing can be brought down by a Sometimes a great thing can be brought down by a tiny thingtiny thing..