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Tuesday, 26 November 2024

What do we learn from Surah 36 Yaseen: Be the light - even if you stand alone

A light house is the most solitary man made structure that stands alone in some of the most desolate places, yet its light beacons to the passing by ships which serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. The luminous light of light houses saves the life of countless passengers aboard the ships. If these light houses were not there, many ships would encounter rocks along the hazardous rocky coastlines and get destroyed.

Likewise, there are humans who stand taller than others and stand alone and act as the light, guidance and direction for the masses. This premise may look strange to my readers for most would have never correlated the anecdote mentioned in the early verses of Surah Yaseen. And let me confide, honestly I had always wondered the why of the anecdote so mentioned in the Surah till today when I watched a video by one of the eminent Muslim scholars of the present times, Nauman Ali Khan. I was literally speechless by watching and listening to this beautiful message explaining the hidden meanings of verses from surah Yaseen. I used to wonder what is the true message being given to us Divinely and today the cloud hovering over my mind and obscuring my little intellect has given way to the bright sunshine of understanding and awareness. In fact, I have never been moved so much by reciting Surah Yaseen so much till today as this lecture leaves me in an awe.

This explanation of Surah Yaseen is in addition to the exegesis / tafsir of the surah by some of the eminent Muslim scholars which has been published earlier, which can be accessed from the links given below:
Before we share the video, let us give out in gist form the theme of Surah Yaseen:

Surah Yaseen has been referred to as the "heart of the Quran," and some scholars believe that this designation implies that the Surah contains the essence of the Quranic message. The Surah brings together the core aspects of Islamic belief—faith in Allah, acceptance of the prophethood, belief in the Hereafter, and recognition of Allah's signs in nature. By reciting Surah Yaseen, a believer engages with the essence of the Quran's guidance and the principles of Islam.

Surah Yaseen encapsulates central themes of Islamic belief and serves as a reminder of the core principles of the faith, such as the Oneness of Allah, the importance of the prophets, the reality of the Hereafter, and the signs of Allah in the natural world. The hidden secrets of Surah Yaseen include its deep spiritual healing effects, its symbolism as the "heart" of the Quran, and its lessons on life, death, and resurrection. It encourages believers to reflect on the ultimate purpose of life, stay true to the divine message, and seek Allah's mercy, both in this world and the next. 

Surah Yaseen recounts the story of a prophet sent to a disbelieving people (possibly to the people of a city called Antioch, in some interpretations), whose efforts to call people to faith were rejected. In these stories, there are hidden lessons of perseverance, faith, and divine intervention. Despite the harsh rejection, the ultimate victory of divine truth is assured. This story in fact clears the dust from understanding the importance of standing alone, and siding with what is right, no matter even if it is life threatening. (And on this theme, Nauman Ali Khan relates our role to spread the light of Islam which Prophet of Allah ﷺ undertook all by himself and wanted every Muslim to keep the candle of truth alight and never let it extinguish in whatever capacity someone may be).

One of the most striking aspects of Surah Yaseen is the way it links the idea of resurrection and revival. It draws a parallel between the dead land being brought to life with rain and the resurrection of the dead on the Day of Judgment. This illustrates Allah's power over life and death and reminds the believer of the certainty of the afterlife. The Surah also underscores the importance of remembering death and the Hereafter in one’s daily life, reinforcing the idea that every moment in this life is leading to an eternal existence. 

Let us listen to an mind boggling explanation of the Surah by Nouman Ali Khan, wherein the eminent scholar gives and aspiring and amazing explanation of the surah in a perspective at least I never known before:

About Nouman Ali Khan: Born to a Pakistani family, Nouman Ali Khan is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

Let us listen to this video again and again and really understand how Allah wants us to be His servants and how we should always be looking towards him, and no one else, for our worldly needs. If we can really Ingrid the meaning of this verse into ourselves, we will never go astray or be misled by worldly desires or following the priests and imams or asking from the dead saints.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is our duty to convey only to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to IslamYou may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.
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