25) Quran Study: Surah 58

Study From Behrouz 1525, Sura 58 By Robert

Speaker 1 (0:00) ...shall expiate by freeing a slave before they resume intercourse. (0:05) This is to admonish you. (0:06) God is cognizant of everything you do. (0:10) If you cannot find a slave to free, then you shall fast two consecutive months before resuming intercourse. (0:16) And these unable to fast shall feed sixty poor persons. (0:19) This is for you to believe in God and his messenger. (0:22) These are God's laws, and the rejecters have deserved painful retribution. (0:27) Those who oppose God and his messenger are doomed like those before them who were doomed. (0:33) We have revealed clear revelations, and the disbelievers therein have deserved painful retribution. (0:39) The day will come when God resurrects them, then informs them of everything they have done. (0:44) God has recorded it while they forgot. (0:47) God witnesses all things. (0:50) Do you not realize that God knows everything in the heavens and the earth? (0:54) No three people can meet in secrecy without him being the fourth. (0:58) No five without him being the sixth. (1:00) No less than this, no more, without him being there. (1:04) Then on the day of resurrection, he will inform them of everything they did. (1:09) God is fully aware of all things. (1:13) Those who are prohibited from conspiracy, then go back to it, conspiring sinfully, maliciously, in a defiance of the messenger. (1:20) When they come to you, they greet you not with God's greetings, and say to themselves, let us see if God will punish us for what we say. (1:28) Their only destiny is hell where they burn. (1:30) What a miserable destiny. (1:33) O you who believe, if you have to confer secretly, you shall not confer to commit sin, transgression, and disobedience to the messenger. (1:41) You may confer only to work, righteousness, and piety. (1:44) Beware of God, for you will be gathered before him. (1:51) All right, verse 1. (1:53) God has heard the woman who debated with her about her husband and complained to God. (1:57) Those among you who estranged their wives as they were their mothers are doing wrong. (2:03) Obviously this is in the Quran for a reason. (2:06) God, as the footnote says, a common statement by Arabian husbands who wanted to punish their wives was, you are forbidden to me and intercourse as my mother. (2:18) Okay, that obviously, it obviously applied to that to that point in time in history where this was a common thing to where it needed to be said. (2:29) But as we know, the Quran is for every day and it applies at all times. (2:33) So what these verses are saying we should obviously take to heart. (2:45) Those who estranged their wives in this manner then reconcile shall expiate by freeing a slave before they resume intercourse. (2:52) This is to admonish you. (2:55) There again, obviously we don't have slaves or or things like this today, but the point is well taken about the relationship that should exist between a husband and a wife and how how regardless of the circumstances how a person should treat his wife. (3:23) Okay, if you cannot find a slave then you shall fast two consecutive months. (3:30) Like this, this is just straightforwardness here telling you or telling people of this, this applies to what they need to do to receive reconciliation. (3:46) Okay, those who oppose God and his messenger are doomed like those before them who are who are doomed. (3:51) We have revealed clear revelations and the disbelievers therein have deserved painful retribution. (3:57) This verse is is just tremendous. (4:00) When God says we have revealed clear revelations and the disbelievers therein have deserved painful retribution. (4:06) When he says clear, he means clear. (4:08) The Quran comes, the Quran is straightforward and it says what, you know, it's what it says is what it means. (4:16) When you read it you don't have to, I mean it's so fully detailed that you don't have to look to any other outside sources to find the meaning of it. (4:26) It's right there, the Quran is complete. (4:28) You don't need the Hadith, the Sunnah, the Bible. (4:32) Plus the Quran confirms these these previous scriptures so there's no need for them. (4:42) So when you see people that are rejecting this on the basis of one thing or another, it's they truly deserve or they will receive. (5:02) The day will come when God resurrects them then informs them of everything they have done. (5:07) God has recorded it while they forgot. (5:09) God witnesses all things. (5:12) This verse tells what a lot of verses have and it's been well discussed in here in terms of God recording everything and God knows everything that we do. (5:23) Nothing goes, nothing goes without, okay, nothing goes, nothing happens or in anything, in any place on this earth without God knowing about it. (5:46) From everything from the ant moving to the actions of the challenger, anything, anything. (5:53) God, when you say God has recorded it, that means God knows your actions before you've even committed them. (5:59) God, everything has been recorded before they even took place. (6:04) But when we say this, lots of times we know in the Quran that God controls everything here in this mosque and God controls everything on the earth. (6:14) But in the same sense, you decide that you want to be a believer. (6:27) You're making a covenant with God and you have to hold up your end of the deal. (6:32) You have an obligation in which you're saying, yes, I will pray five times a day. (6:40) Yes, I will give to charity. (6:41) You have obligations that you have to do. (6:43) You have to hold up the commandments. (6:45) You have to be a righteous person. (6:47) Okay, that doesn't, so that means just because God controls everything and God knows what's going to happen and everything is pre-recorded doesn't mean you can sit back and relax like a sticker on the bumper sticker on the car outside. (7:02) I was looking at it a couple days ago and it says, relax, God's in charge. (7:07) Okay, that means to me, I took that and I thought, relax, God's in charge. (7:11) What does that mean? (7:11) Relax, sit back, God's in charge. (7:13) No, it means relax your emotions. (7:16) Don't worry about anything because God's in control, but that doesn't mean that you're end of the deal. (7:23) You don't have to hold up your end of the deal. (7:25) You understand what I'm saying? (7:25) It's not like you can just, okay, we'll just relax and I'll sleep from 8 p.m. to 8 p.m. the next day. (7:37) So we have an obligation to God and that extends into everything we do. (7:42) God wants us to be the best we can and put forth the maximum effort in everything we do. (7:48) I discussed this with Mr. Khalifa about, well, why should we want to achieve in everyday life? (7:57) Why should we want to be a success? (7:59) Why should a person want to go to college and get an education or make money or all these things? (8:06) Because in retrospect, they're not really important. (8:09) All that's important in this life is our relationship to God and realizing that, that's when these other things can become important because a wealthy believer, he said, can do more good than a poor believer. (8:23) They can help more people. (8:25) They can do more things. (8:27) Not that one is better than the other, but just the capability of giving more to charity and things like this is greater if you have more wealth, naturally. (8:39) And with that in mind, also, God wants us to do our best in everything we do. (8:44) And when it comes to our jobs, it's a matter of thinking about God in your job. (8:50) That becomes our goal, to be conscious of God at all times. (8:54) So you're going to work, but you're realizing that you're completely conscious of God at all times within your work. (9:03) That's what we're talking about, of not idolizing anything else. (9:06) When you set these goals, set these goals with the ultimate plan of being righteous in mind in your relationship with God. (9:15) I kind of got stuck in that verse because that's what I understood. (9:18) I could elaborate on that one a little bit longer. (9:24) Do you not realize that God knows everything is in heaven and the earth? (9:27) No three people can meet in secrecy without Him being the fourth, nor five. (9:30) This goes along the same lines. (9:32) God knows everything. (9:34) God is completely cognizant of all things. (9:37) You can't meet in private. (9:39) You can't, you know, it's just God knows everything and everything is okay. (9:48) Those who are prohibited from conspiracy then go back to conspiring simply, maliciously, and in defiance of the messenger. (9:55) I didn't really understand this. (9:58) Those who are prohibited from conspiracy, who would that be? Speaker 3 (10:20) People, so in a society where you are prohibited from conspiring simply, maliciously, and in defiance of the messenger. Speaker 1 (10:51) Then let us see if God will punish us for what we say. (10:55) Here again you see people testing God and obviously I mean that's not the case. Speaker 3 (11:03) Actually we have these things happen here. Speaker 1 (11:28) Oh you who believe, if you have to confer secretly, you shall not confer to commit sin, transgression, and disobedience to the messenger. (11:34) You may confer only to work righteousness and piety. (11:37) Beware of God, for you will be gathered before him. (11:41) That is just always keeping in mind that the day of resurrection is coming. (11:45) Regardless of where you meet or the circumstances with which you meet, remember always to be righteous and any questions. Speaker 3 (25:30) Conspiring was your sin? (29:17) Verse 10. Speaker 1 (30:39) Conspiracy is from the devil, one causing problems to, only causing problems to those who believe. (30:45) Though he cannot harm them against the will of God, and God the believers shall trust. (30:50) Oh you who believe, if you are asked to make for others to sit down with you, you shall make room that God may make room for you. (30:58) If you are asked to leave, you shall leave. (31:01) God raises those among you who believe, and God is fully cognizant to repel others from the path. (31:37) On the day when God resurrects them, the devil possesses them. (31:53) These are the party of the devil, the proposed God and his messenger. (32:01) God has decreed, I and my messengers are from the devil. (32:17) Conspiracy, I think, plotting, plotting against. Speaker 5 (35:38) Oh yes, oh yes. Speaker 1 (38:10) Conspiracy from the devil. (38:11) Though he cannot harm them against the will of God, in God the believers shall trust. (38:25) That right there should put everybody's mind at ease when you're worried about, of any matter, daily life to anything. (38:43) Oh you who believe, make room for those who sit down so that God may make room for you. (38:50) Now to me, this verse, what I thought of it as being righteous when, to make room for somebody else to sit down, I'm sure we speculate, somebody else sit down, and that God will make room for you in heaven. (39:03) That's, this applied to my background or something. (39:10) That where, clothed in needy, that's what came to mind when I read this verse. (39:21) I don't know if that's, if that's along the same lines, but that's how I applied it. (39:27) Especially the part that God may make room for you. Speaker 3 (39:38) Did you ask somebody to move? (39:45) That's impossible. Speaker 1 (40:23) God raises those among you who believe and those who attain knowledge to higher ranks. (40:30) There again, God raises those among you. (40:33) In other words, God guides those among, God guides the believers. (40:50) God is fully cognizant of everything you do. (40:53) There again, when you see that at the end of the verse, then you can apply to the other things, all your actions in terms of, that's why every little thing as to letting a person sit down and being righteous in that manner is only, all you who believe, if you wish to. (41:25) Okay, I saw this as being another means for, another situation where God allows us to give to charity. (41:33) Just another situation where he says, if you have the money, before you confer with the man, where God is allowing us to grow, essentially. (41:43) That's how I looked at it. (41:44) Because underneath that he says, if you don't have the money, God is forgiver, merciful. (41:51) I looked at it as a situation where human beings tend to be greedy. (41:59) It's a way for us to give. (42:08) If you have failed to give charity before your conference, repent thereafter. (42:12) You shall observe the salat prayers of your charity and obey God in his mess upon your actions. (42:28) There are those who lie themselves in people who have angered God. (42:31) They neither belong with you nor with them and they deliberately swear lies. (42:35) Okay, this is a very important verse in terms of allying yourself with people who are believers, like yourselves, so that you may also, so they will help you, I guess you would say, to grow in yourselves. (42:53) When you're around people who, as it says here, anger God or are disbelievers, their actions tend, I'm not judging their actions. (43:07) Some things that are said or done, you can look upon them in a non-righteous light, which doesn't further your progress along the right path. (43:20) If you want to keep yourself on the right path, the best way to do that is to align yourself with believers, or surround yourself with them. (43:28) God has prepared for them severe retribution. (43:30) Okay, this obviously refers to the angering of God. (43:38) In the above verse, anger God or... (46:35) No, they're saying though, there are those who ally themselves with people who have angered God. Speaker 3 (48:16) You want me to just read this last verse? Speaker 4 (48:46) Should I just read this last verse? Speaker 1 (49:16) Because you wanted to discuss the other... (49:24) Oh, that's alright, there's only one verse left. (49:29) Verse 22. (49:31) Run for your life. (49:32) You will not find people who believe in God in the last day, befriending those who oppose God and His messenger, even if they were their own parents or children or siblings or family. (49:41) God places faith into the gardens with flowing streams when they abide forever. (49:49) God is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. (49:52) They are the party of God, and the party of God are winners. (49:56) This verse is... (50:06) This really truly proves, if you ally yourself with God, even when your family is an obstacle for you, that's truly showing that God is the one, and God the believer shall trust. (50:46) That says it all right there. (50:49) You have to put God above everything else. (50:55) To do this is oftentimes very difficult, but... Speaker 2 (51:33) In any kind of a way, rather open-minded family, I'm proud of them. (51:44) But in my heart, I've been always searching. (51:49) I told Dr. Khalifa, I was 16 years old when I felt like I want to go to a masjid. (51:54) I did. (51:55) It wasn't for me. (52:03) Things that I heard, it was not simply logical. (52:07) Of course, I'm 46 now, but I've been growing up. (52:10) I've gone through so much. (52:12) You all know how we go through the steps. (52:16) We get busy with other matters. (52:18) We come and go. (52:21) But one thing never went away from me. (52:25) It was my thirst for God. (52:29) And then later on, I got very, very interested in war. (52:35) I don't know the reason. (52:43) It sounds a little off. (52:46) A man comes from Tehran, Iran, and he finds God in the United States. (52:55) I call that destiny. (53:00) It was in 1983, or perhaps, I believe it was 1983. (53:05) Somehow, some kind of a way, I came across with one and nine, makes it number 19, and I was fascinated. (53:15) I was fascinated. (53:17) That's why I went ahead and got a war on, and I was going around and bragging about it. (53:23) Hey, guys, actually, I was talking to a Jewish fellow one time, Iranian guy, and I didn't know he was Jewish. (53:29) And I was telling him, look, what do you want? (53:31) I mean, this is it. (53:32) This is it. (53:33) And he even didn't tell me he was Jewish. (53:48) But as I said, as it comes and it goes, the first wave didn't knock me out, but it just warmed me up. (53:57) But again, I'm in transportation business. (53:59) If you all ever come to Atlanta, you can ask who KE is. (54:03) They call me KE. (54:06) I own the second largest taxi fleet in town, but I sold it, of course. (54:15) If you ask them what his radio number is, they're going to tell you it's 19. (54:19) I have a property very close to downtown. (54:22) It is on Highway 19. (54:26) And inshallah, I've got good plans. (54:28) I'm not coming to Tucson to live. (54:33) My heart is with you. (54:34) But I'll tell you one thing. (54:38) Atlanta, inshallah. (54:43) It was a few months ago. (54:45) Again, I don't know what happened. (54:47) I was just... (54:49) I wanted Quran again. (54:51) I mean, never gave it up. (54:52) But this time, I really wanted it. (54:57) Through my papers, I found it, and I got it. (55:20) I talked to... (55:26) I told him when I was telling him, I have no doubt. (55:29) I never meant that I never doubted you. (55:32) When I was saying, I said, I don't doubt. (55:34) I have no doubt that Quran is indeed that communication which is direct. (55:41) I didn't know that he had made any announcement. (55:50) Let me say this to you. (55:53) Without even the announcement, I was intelligent enough to see that, my goodness, there's got to be something. (56:09) Sorcery here in Tucson. (56:13) Clouds go around it, and there's no door. (56:15) You can't figure it out. (56:16) Then all of a sudden, somebody from the crowd steps forward, and he goes towards it, and does something, and the door opens. (56:24) And he gets in it, and he flies around, and maneuver around, and he lands it again. (56:33) Somehow, those who made the flying saucer taught him something. (56:39) He got some kind of a training from them. (56:45) It is simply simple logic. (56:48) So, in the back of my mind, I was saying that, well, there's got to be something special. (56:52) He's blessed. (56:53) He's blessed. (56:56) So, it was a February publication, Muslim Perspectives, when I got it, and it says, give me only one reason. (57:09) Dr. Khalifa, that was the first time I looked at, oh, hey, I'm fresh. (57:19) Only one reason. (57:21) I've produced so many Quranic, backed off, didn't back off. (57:40) I said, hey, Khosrow, don't overdo it. (57:47) Just as guilty, probably, I make another Jesus Christ, or Prophet Muhammad. (57:54) You see, you go through these things, and things do make sense. (57:59) They ask Prophet Muhammad, bring a ladder, go up to the heaven, bring the whole book together, show it to us. (58:06) The miracles are performed, of course, but again, miracles come on in all different forms. (58:16) I am simply overwhelmed. (58:19) I have a good friend of mine, Andy Mote, and we were talking with a couple of Sunni Muslims, and the Sunnis asked, you know, they wanted to at least eliminate some of the opposition to what they were saying. (58:37) They said, well, he looks like blonde and American. (58:40) Well, you must be Christian. (58:42) He says, no, I'm hoping to become a Muslim. (58:48) So, I am a believer. (58:51) I have no doubt. (58:54) As I said, two things I know. (58:55) I don't expect him to perform miracles every second. (58:58) I know he's a human. (59:00) I know he's going to make mistakes. (59:02) The rest of them did. (59:07) And I make sure that I control my emotions. (59:09) I think I have overcome that. (59:11) I will stay in Atlanta, and I think I have got my work cut up for me. (59:19) I think God has blessed me with a wonderful family. (59:23) I don't see I've got any weaknesses. (59:28) I'm okay. (59:30) And I'm situated that I do good things. (59:34) I've got good plans. (59:38) Every step that I take with doctor. (59:50) And inshallah, looking forward. (59:55) Good things. (1:00:01) An experience that I'd like to share with you. (1:00:04) I've been always strong in my life. (1:00:07) My frame is not all that big, but even physically, I've been strong. (1:00:15) I cannot be intimidated. (1:00:19) My prayer regularly. (1:00:21) Yes, since when? (1:00:23) When I said, well, yes, he is indeed the messenger. (1:00:27) So, even when I was going to pray, I said, no, I've got to get to the point. (1:00:32) I want to know, was it a little different? (1:00:42) So, I waited until I got the tapes and everything. (1:00:45) Since then, I have been truly, like he says, that this contact prayer, it is not good. (1:00:57) It's not for God. (1:00:59) It is simply, you establish that contact. (1:01:02) It is the way you nourish your own self, you, your true self. (1:01:10) I feed me. (1:01:12) Like I feed my garment. (1:01:14) Like I exercise to keep my body trim. (1:01:16) So, therefore, I want to exercise my mind. (1:01:21) I've been talking to my wife lately, and she says, it is what I feel. (1:01:31) It is my love. (1:01:33) One thing I've made clear, that I love him so much, but the experience I had, like Dr. Khalifa said, there's a giant next to you protecting it. (1:01:54) Anybody doubts that? (1:01:57) Anybody is doubting that? (1:02:03) I go to the Masjid on 14th Street and do my prayer, and since the time I prayed...