‘The Most High’: A Tafsīr of Sūrat al-Aʿlā Part 4 of 5
Delivered by Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq on Friday 15th October 2021 at Al Kawthar Academy, Leicester

This talk focuses on the importance of admonition and its conditions. The talk explains that the Prophet ﷺ was commanded to remind people, but only if the reminder would be beneficial, emphasizing that not everyone is receptive to guidance. True benefit comes to those who possess taqwa (God-consciousness), humility, and sincerity in seeking knowledge. The talk highlights the spiritual barriers that prevent people from accepting guidance, such as arrogance, sinfulness, and a lack of sincerity. The story of Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum, a blind companion, is discussed in detail, where Allāh corrected the Prophet ﷺ for prioritizing influential leaders over a sincere seeker. This serves as a lesson that true guidance is for those who actively seek it, not those who feel self-sufficient.

The talk also stresses that guidance cannot be forced, even by the Prophet ﷺ himself, as ultimate acceptance depends on a person’s willingness and effort. The role of spiritual purity and wudu (ritual purification) is highlighted through a hadith where improper purification affected even the Prophet’s recitation during Salah.

The talk concludes with a powerful reminder on self-accountability—that rather than blaming others, one must question their own sincerity and effort in seeking knowledge. Even Iblis will declare on Judgment Day that he only invited people to sin, and they accepted willingly. Thus, true benefit from the Quran and prophetic teachings requires faith, humility, and an eagerness to seek and apply knowledge.

Below are some of the timecodes and topics for this talk:

0:00 – Intro: Recap of verses 1-8
2:43 – Verses 9-13
13:56 – Prerequisites for benefiting from a reminder
20:30 – Prerequisite: True faith & fear of Allāh
23:45 – Prerequisite – Possessing intelligence
26:34 – Prerequisite – Sincere talab (seeking knowledge) & humility
31:54 – Ilm compared to rain
38:44 – The Prophet’s experience with Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum
50:02 – Removing filth from the heart
1:02:24 – The Prophet ﷺ experiencing difficulty in recitation
1:15:39 – Summary of verses 10-13

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Tags

Tafsir, The Most High

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