Suhaib Webb – Quran For All – Part Three- Opportunities & Nearness
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The speaker discusses the meaning of the "open" door on the title of the book Surah Al-F matter, which refers to the "active form" of the title. The concept of "open" refers to the "active form" of the title, not the "open" door, and is a reminder that God is the driver of all things. The speaker also discusses the "remedy" meaning of the "open" door on the title of the book, which refers to the "active form" of the title, not the "open" door.
AI: Summary ©
So now we begin our journey with the
first chapter of the Qur'an, Al-Fatihah.
Its name Al-Fatihah means the opener.
But there is a really beautiful principle here
that I want you to think about now,
especially if you're on this journey with me.
And that is that often in Arabic, that
form of a noun, which implies the active
participle, actually means the object.
So it's not the opener, it's the opening,
or it's what has been opened.
And the implication of that is something very
important.
And that is that it wasn't you who
led yourself to this moment.
It wasn't you who opened this door.
But Allah, God Almighty, if you are here
studying Surah Al-Fatihah, or looking at the
chapter called the opener, it's a reminder that
God opened it for you.
That you yourself may have packed your bags
and set in your mind this journey, but
it would not have happened unless God Almighty
facilitated it for you.
So the actual meaning is what's been opened
for you.
You may ask, then why does it have
that form, Fatihah, not Maftoohah?
Why is it the form, the opener, and
not the opened?
Because there is a very important principle that
we learn from this chapter of the Quran,
that is one of the foundations of Islam,
and that is even though God controls all
things, and even though God guides whoever he
wants, you and I have to make effort.
And this is something that sometimes religion, especially
within the lens of modernity, is criticized for.
Like religion undermines people's agency and utility.
Well, the name of the chapter is this
reminder that yes, God has opened it for
you, but you have to be an opener
too.
So there is a duality.
There is the belief in God's power, transcendent
power, his ability to guide who he wants,
but at the same time, you and I
have to get busy.
You and I have to make effort.
So this is one of the beautiful lessons
we learn from Al-Fatihah, that is a
foundation of the Quran, and a foundation of
Islam, that God is transcendent.
He controls all things.
He's opening everything for us, but you and
I still have to walk in.
You and I still have to go through
that door.
So that's the reason and the mystery of
why the form is Fatihah, the opener, but
it also carries the meaning of what's been
open.
So the marriage between human effort and God's
transcendent power comes together for this beautiful moment.
And this is something that you need to
keep here, because it's going to present itself
over and over and over in the Quran.
May Allah bless us.
We'll continue next time going into greater detail
about Surah Al-Fatihah, the opening, the opener,
the opened, all in that one word, to
remind us of our attitude towards Islam.
The acquisition of faith is one where I
can't just wait.
It's one that I have to make effort,
and it's not one that I simply and
solely rely on my effort.
I put forth as much effort as I
can, and I leave the results to the
decree of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala.
BarakAllahu Fikum.
As-Salamu Alaikum.