President Hamza Yusuf: The Jewels of the Qur'an Session 5

Introduction

The speaker introduces the session and explains that they are on the 27th day of Ramadan, which is a special day. They also introduce the topic of Jawahar Quran, which means "jewel" or "essence" in Arabic.

Overview

• The session is on the 27th day of Ramadan.

• Jawahar Quran means "jewel" or "essence" in Arabic.

The Preciousness of Essence

The speaker discusses the concept of essence and its importance in theology. They explain that essences are precious and cannot be assigned a monetary value.

Key Points

• Johar means "jewel" or "essence."

• Essences are precious and cannot be assigned a monetary value.

• The body has a monetary value in Sharia, but the soul is priceless.

• Nafs means precious and refers to the soul.

Six Aims of the Quran

The speaker discusses Imam Razali's six aims of the Quran, which are called maqasid. They explain that these aims should always be uppermost when interpreting the Quran.

Key Points

• Imam Razali identified six aims of the Quran.

• These aims are called maqasid.

• Maqasid should always be uppermost when interpreting the Quran.

Begin with the End

The speaker explains that one of Imam Razali's teachings was to begin with the end. They discuss how this relates to understanding God's path and adhering to certain things while avoiding others.

Key Points

• One of Imam Razali's teachings was to begin with the end.

• Understanding God's path involves adhering to certain things and avoiding others.

The Likeness of God

The speaker discusses the concept of the likeness of God, which is a mirror that reflects all of His attributes. They explain that this mirror is within us and allows us to come to know God.

Key Points

• The likeness of God is a mirror that reflects all of His attributes.

• This mirror is within us.

• It allows us to come to know God.

Fundamental Principles

This section discusses the fundamental principles of the religion.

The Six Principles

• The six principles are: belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment and divine decree.

• The best provision is taqwa (preparedness for the journey).

• Most people will live between 60 and 70 years. There is a mercy in being taken in the seventh decade.

• Muslims are like workers who come at the 11th hour but receive equal wages as those who worked all day.

• The six principles branch out into three shrubs: yakut (red ruby), ahmar (gray-blue precious stone), and asfar (topaz).

• Qr alma add is about eschatology while muslim is about following the straight path through teschia and tahlia.

Tajliya

• Tajliya is when Allah reveals himself to you. It can happen after character development and spiritual growth.

The Concept of Siddiq and Wilaya in Judaism and Islam

This section discusses the concept of siddiq and wilaya in Judaism and Islam.

Siddiq and Wilaya

• In Judaism, there is a concept of zadek which means righteous person, while in Islam, siddiq refers to the highest level of audi after the prophets.

• Every prophet is a wali, but not every wali is a prophet. Wali is earned through work, while nabuwa (prophethood) is given by Allah.

• The work that one does to earn their wilaya includes night prayers, charity, etc.

• Even though Prophet Muhammad was forgiven by Allah, he still continued to do extra work such as staying up at night for prayer.

Conditions of God's Enemies

This section discusses the conditions of those who are enemies with God.

Adawa with God

• Those who are enemies with God include Pharaoh from the story of Moses.

• These people are in adawa with God.

Arguments Given by God

• Prophets receive arguments from Allah to give to His servants.

Salihin

• Salihin refers to those who are righteous.

Branching Knowledges That Come Out Of Audi

This section discusses the different types of knowledge that come out of audi.

Sudden Sciences

• Tajweed is considered a sudden science because it deals with pronunciation rules for reciting Quranic verses.

• Tajweed involves giving each letter its proper sound and articulation.

• There are 17 points of articulation for Arabic letters.

• Tajweed is an obligation for Muslims when reciting Quranic verses.

Learning Arabic

In this section, the speaker talks about learning Arabic and the different aspects of it.

Morphology and Diction

• Learning Arabic takes time and includes morphology and diction.

• The word choice in the Quran can have multiple meanings, making it important to understand diction.

• There are nuances in the Quran that require understanding of diction, such as words like "lahu" which can mean child or wife.

Nahu and Grammar

• Nahu is a combination of grammar, syntax, inflections, declensions, conjugations, and morphology.

• Grammar is necessary to learn Arabic but it's not terribly hard to learn. However, due to the vastness of the language there will always be things you haven't seen before.

• Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah is a great grammarian who has written beautiful commentaries on traditional books used for studying Arabic.

Importance of Grammar

• Grammar is important because you cannot have a culture without it. Even Supreme Court justices need to know grammar.

The Importance of Grammar

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of grammar and how it affects people's lives.

The Oxford Comma

• The omission of an Oxford comma in a multi-million dollar case caused them to lose because it could have been interpreted that two separate things were the same thing.

• Brian Garner, a great American grammarian, teaches lawyers grammar because they don't teach it anymore. Minority communities that don't have standard English are handicapped because of that.

Learning Grammar

• People should be able to learn grammar as it is their birthright. It is insulting to say that people can't learn grammar.

• Those who say that minority communities should be taught in their language are committing a crime against those people because it will hold them back.

Understanding Tafsir

In this section, the speaker explains what tafsir is and its importance in understanding the Quran.

Divisions in Tafsir

• There are three divisions in tafsir: uluma tawabi, mutima, and mustaqeem studies.

• The higher ones deal with knowing God, knowing the path to God, and knowing the state of people who get to God. The lower ones deal with stories from the Quran about those who deny and God's arguments.

Syllogisms in the Quran

• Allah uses enthymemes which are diminished syllogisms called kriyas nakas to show people that reason is logic one.

• Arguments for the existence of God are quite compelling, and the point is to let believers know that their faith is rational.

Importance of Logic

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of logic and how it affects people's lives.

Dialectical Proof

• Arguments for the existence of God have a dialectical proof which might not have a demonstrative proof.

• If logic is taken out, it will be a tragedy because human beings need to learn logic.

Overview of Imam al-Haramayn's Works

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of logic and how Imam al-Haramayn wrote five books on it. He also talks about the significance of Imam al-Haramayn's book, Al-Mustasfa, which is foundational for books of kalam that follow it.

Importance of Logic

• Logic is an important science.

• Imam al-Haramayn wrote five books on logic.

• It becomes foundational for books of kalam that follow it.

Significance of Al-Mustasfa

• Al-Mustasfa is a very important book.

• It introduced some new things into kalam.

• It is necessary to study philosophy in order to refute philosophers.

Transactional Law

• Imam al-Haramayn wrote Basil for transactional law related to marriage and other things.

• He also wrote Robotnika for transactions related to wealth.

Knowledge of Purpose

• The highest level is knowledge of the purpose why prophets are sent.

• This includes knowledge of God in the last day and knowledge of Muslims.

Taskia or Tahlia

• Taskia or Tahlia involves removal of destructive qualities and beautification of positive qualities.

Pearls, Jewels, and Book

• The top three sections are called Madurar or pearls.

• They include jewels and pearls.

The Sciences that Come Out of His Works

This section discusses the various sciences that come out of the works of Allah.

Various Sciences

• Medicine is the science of health.

• Astronomy is studying the cosmos and looking at the heavens.

• Bahar of Hiza and Anatomy are also sciences that come out of his works.

• Nuclear physics and other obscure sciences are also included.

• Mulk refers to everything in the world of possession, while Malakut refers to what you cannot see on a microscope.

• Allah uses analogies from the visible world to teach us about the unseen world.

Finding Connection Between Visible and Invisible Worlds

This section discusses how to find a connection between visible and invisible worlds.

Certainty in Knowledge

• The secrets of the visible world are veiled from souls defiled by love for this world (Dunya).

• The shells of Quran are not opened at all to reveal its jewels to those who are unmindful.

• Allah gives certain people Imam, which can be smelled but not bought in marketplaces.

Allegories in Quran

• The Quran has allegories such as red brimstone, akbar, miscal el far, etc., which cure destructive poisons entering one's mind.

• Miscal el far is something that can be smelled but not bought in marketplaces.

• Imam can be smelled from the mouth of those who have it.

Hydromorphic Nature

• Red brimstone turns the essence of the soul from vices of a beast and ignorance to purity of angels in spirituality.

• Humans are a hybrid, created as another creation when the soul was blown into the material body.

• Humans have a gravitational pull towards their materiality and spiritual pull towards their immateriality.

The Red Room and the Fame of Knowledge

This section discusses the concept of obscurity and fame in Islamic tradition, as well as the use of allegories in the Quran.

Obscurity and Fame

• Being obscure is a blessing, while being well-known is a tribulation.

• In traditional Arabic, "haman" means obscurity, but in modern Arabic it means laziness.

• It's not something to be sought after; seeking fame is a sign of sickness.

Allegories in the Quran

• Allegories open doors to understanding the meanings of the Quran.

• Creation is only images set up in images; there are meanings behind those forms.

• Some verses are held over others due to their nobility and reward for recitation.

The Hierarchy of Accomplishments

This section discusses how people are equal in their humanity but not equal in their accomplishments or virtues.

Equality vs. Accomplishments

• Prophets are all equal in their prophecy, but some are better than others in their taqwa (piety).

• We're all equal in our humanity but not equal in our accomplishments or virtues.

• You cannot equate those who know with those who don't know.

Hierarchy

• The hierarchy is important; treating people according to their station is commanded by Allah.

• Attacks on hierarchy aim to destroy civilization.

The Importance of Quranic Verses

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of Quranic verses and how they are not equal in their significance.

Quranic Verses

• The Quran is all revelation from God, but some verses are more significant than others.

• For example, the verse about debt cannot be equated with a verse about God. Both are important, but one is superior due to its prophetic nature.

• Fatiha is considered the princess of the verses of the Quran and equals one-third of it.

• The speaker suggests that this topic requires more time for discussion.

Imam Al-Qazadi's Teachers and Spiritual Sinceres

In this section, the speaker talks about Imam Al-Qazadi's teachers in Sharia sciences and whether there are still spiritual sinceres with al-aqsa in their chain.

Imam Al-Qazadi's Teachers

• Imam Al-Qazadi had great masters as his teachers who were also inward masters.

• His brother was also a master whom he learned from.

Spiritual Sinceres

• There were many great scholars who practiced tasawwuf (Sufism), including those who taught Imam Al-Qazadi.

• However, there were also antinomian sufis who abandoned sharia and deviated from Islamic teachings.

• Ahmed Zarook wrote a book called "The Bahatan" which discusses all rules of the soul. He argues that by the 19th century, there was a complete lack of rigor in our books.

The Untranslatable Quran

In this section, the speaker discusses the limitations of translating the Quran and recommends some translations for beginners.

Translating the Quran

• The speaker believes that the Quran is untranslatable due to Arabic's vastness.

• The speaker recommends Arbury, Pickthal, and Thomas Cleary's translations for beginners.

• Thomas Cleary's translation is gender-neutral but can be cumbersome in verses with many pronouns.

Being Careful with Teachers

In this section, the speaker warns about fraudulent teachers and recommends being careful when seeking guidance.

Seeking Guidance

• The speaker warns about fraudulent teachers and advises caution when seeking guidance.

• Qualified people should go through works like "The Study Quran" to point out any problematic areas.

Knowing One's Place

In this section, the speaker talks about the importance of knowing one's place and being humble in the face of exceptional people. He also mentions a scholar he admires and how some people criticize his work without understanding it.

Importance of Humility

• The speaker emphasizes that everyone has to come to terms with their own mediocrity at a certain point in their life.

• Exceptional people are rare, and if you can identify them in your age, you should serve them.

• The speaker believes that Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah is a mujaddid (renewer of Islam), but some scholars denounce him without understanding his work.

Delusion and Ignorance

• The speaker talks about delusion being a foundational problem for human beings.

• He mentions an Indian homeopath who wrote a book on getting to the delusion of patients before treating them.

• The speaker highlights how limited our knowledge is, even among the most learned people. Scientists can be arrogant because they think they know everything when there is still so much we don't know.

Expanding Horizon of Ignorance

• Richard Feynman's definition of physics was "our expanding horizon - the expanding horizon of our own ignorance."

• Darwin thought that cells would get simpler as you go deeper into them, but it turns out they get more complex.

• Humans should admit their ignorance instead of becoming arrogant with knowledge.

Humility with Knowledge

• The more knowledge you gain, the humbler you should become.

• The speaker uses the example of a date palm to illustrate how the more knowledge you gain, the lower you should get.

This transcript is from an Islamic lecture and includes some religious references.

Learning Islamic Philosophy

In this section, the speaker discusses how to start learning Islamic philosophy and why it is important.

Starting with Fardain

• The speaker suggests starting with Fardain before studying other things.

• Once you have learned Fardain, you can study other things.

Importance of Understanding Current Worldview

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the current worldview.

• Gazali learned peripatetic philosophy and then wrote his book to have the philosophy.

• If scholars don't know about it, they cannot refute or respond to it.

Supporting Zaytuna College

• The speaker encourages viewers to support Zaytuna College by sending a gift, no matter how small.

• There is a lot of barakah in supporting the college.

• Imam Marcus Ali did a lot of work without help and could have done more if he had helpers.

Helpers in Latter Days

• The prophesied synonyms told us that towards the latter days people would have the reward of 50.

• They asked 50 of them or of us?

• He said of you and they could not wow how is that?

• He said you have helpers to do your work but they won't have any helpers.

Thanking Technical People

• The speaker thanks Harun and Naim and all technical people who worked on this.