Reflections on Surah Fajr - Part2 - based on a lecture by Br. Nouman Ali Khan

Today inshAllaah I’m gonna start from where I stopped in my previous post. We talked a little bit about the first object by which Allah starts a series of oaths. Now let’s move onto the next thing by which Allah continues. Allah says- ‘Wal fajri walaiyalin ashri’.



Wal Ashr means 10 nights. So basically Allah is taking an oath by 10 nights. There is difference of opinion on which 10 nights is it referring to. The first group says it is the last 10 nights of Ramadan and the second group says it is the first 10 nights of Jull Hijja while some say it is referring to Muharram and others. However, the majority opinion is it is the last 10 days of Ramadan.



Now, there is a very interesting point to be noted here.-



If you read the seerah of the prophet you will find the victory of the prophet's mission was in the month of Dhul Hijja and the conclusion of his mission was in the month of Ramadan.



Look how Allaah takes oath by the mission of the Messenger (sa.w.). Allaah would not take an oath by something which is insignificant aoudhubillaah. Appreciate how important was the mission of the messenger that Allaah brings it in right at the beginning of the Surah.



And then Allaah continues ‘Washaf’I wal watri’

* Shafa’a literally means even, one part of another. [ Eludes to all the creation]

* Watr means odd [ Refers to Allaah azza Wajjal Himself]

There are two things in everything, some are even and some are odd.



Al Qatadaa (RadhiAllahu’anhu) comments- Ash Shaf means every day and al watr means the last Day.

Even though I don’t speak or know much Arabic but if I call it something in Arabic I’ll name it ‘ Al Yawmul Wahid’. Which literally would mean ‘The One and Only Day’. Because in reality that is the true day and Allaah testifies it in the Qur’aan. Allaah says- “That is without doubt the True Day, so, whosoever wills, let him seek a place with (or a way to) His Lord (by obeying Him in this worldly life)!” (Surah 78, Ayah 39)



Look how the word ‘watr’ focuses on ‘one’. What about the pairs? Every one of the pairs is one. First you have to look at every single thing individually before you get a pair subhanAllaah! And here Allah pairs this life with the next life thus he reminds us of the Day of Reckoning.



You know just this single word ‘watr’ is a refutation to the kuffar who ask why there is so much injustice when Allah is Just? By taking oath on the word ‘watr’ Allaah says everything will be put into place on that One Day. You have to believe in Allaah’s perfection, you have to believe that Allaah will do justice on the Day of Judgment. Again this life is just a test, if you don’t go through tests how do you expect to be rewarded? Do you expect to become a graduate without even giving your final exam? Of course not!



And Allaah says in Surat Al Mulk – “Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving;”. ( Surah 67, Ayah, 2)



To be continued.....