Commentary
And when the greatness of the Messenger, blessings and peace be upon him, was established in that he should not be interrupted by anyone in preparing for what is his duty of advancing in matters and cutting off important tasks, he should only be spoken to in response or in a question regarding a necessary matter that cannot be delayed. And those who spoke to him for that reason would sometimes raise their voices higher than was appropriate for others who were below him. Among the conditions of his state was that he would receive revelation regarding great matters. And raising one's voice at that time was among the disturbances in the proper reception of revelation, along with what it contained of a lack of respect and a failure to honor and glorify him. He mentioned this while referring to the second category, which was that the consideration of his مقام (maqam) should be the primary intention. Deriving from what has passed in describing him with the message that indicates prophethood, he commanded the preservation of his sanctity and the observance of etiquette in serving and accompanying him with veneration and magnification, honoring and glorifying him. He repeated his call to them with what they obligated themselves to in obeying him by believing in him and calling for the renewal of seeking assistance and urging them to listen, indicating that the one called upon is a matter that deserves to be singled out for calling and to be independent in recommendation: "O you who have believed," repeating the expression with the least of the hearts' teeth to alert that the doer of such prohibitions, who needs to be warned by the prohibition, has acted like one whose condition is such. "Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet," meaning: the one who receives from Allah, and his receiving from Him is expected at all times. And this indicates that the harm to the scholars whom Allah has prepared to receive the understanding of His religion from Him is indeed very severe; for disturbing their times prevents them from much of that.
And when he clarified what was in that for the sake of prophethood, he clarified what should be in himself of virtue, saying: "And do not raise your voices to him in speech," meaning: if you speak to him, whether that is with the same volume as his voice or lower than his voice; for that is inappropriate for what is feared by the great ones and is respected by the elders. And when this included all specific loudness, which would nullify the virtue, he said: "Like the loudness of some of you to others," meaning: if you do not do that, there would be no distinction between the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, and others. And when he prohibited that, he clarified its harm, saying, indicating that among the deeds are those that nullify and it is not known that they are nullifying, so that the doer is like one walking on a dangerous path, always avoiding its danger and remaining cautious: "That" meaning: the prohibition for the sake of [fear] that "your deeds may be nullified," meaning: they become invalid and fall "while you do not perceive," meaning: that they have been nullified. For if a person becomes audacious in that, he would take it lightly, and if he takes it lightly, he would persist in it, and if he persists in it, he is likely to take lightly the one addressed and disbelieve while he does not perceive.
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