of Nekounam, , Session Sixty-Three (03 July 2008)
The concepts of ir, Sabl, and arq in the Holy Qur'an, as diverse manifestations of the human path towards God, occupy a special status in religious exegesis and epistemology. These concepts not only represent ontological and manifestational distinctions within the course of creation but also serve as an invitation to reflect on the unity and multiplicity of guidance pathways. This book, adopting a mystical, philosophical, and theological approach, provides a profound analysis of these terms within the context of Qur'anic verses and narrations, and emphasises the necessity of exemplar-based understanding over conceptual approaches in grasping the truth. The present content, preserving all details of the sixty-third lecture, is rewritten in an exalted style appropriate for academic audiences, aiming to offer a systematic analysis and an invitation to transcend illusory concepts and connect to the existential reality of being.
ir, in the Holy Qur'an, is introduced as a singular, simple, and risk-free path specifically designated for the recipients of divine grace. This path, characterised by directness, is free from any dispersion or deviation and guides towards the divine truth.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ * صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
Guide us to the Straight Path
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
ir, like an integrated light amid the darkness of multiplicity, illuminates the divine guidance path and directs humanity towards existential unity.
Sabl, in contrast to ir, is a container of multiplicity and diversity, encompassing numerous paths each accompanied by specific challenges and risks. The best exemplar of Sabl is the Sabl Allh which, despite its goodness, necessitates effort and struggle.
وَهَدَيْنَٰهُ ٱلسَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا
And We guided him to the way, whether he was grateful or ungrateful.
Sabl, like the fruitful branches of a tree, indicates the diversity of spiritual paths, some leading to good and others to evil.
arq is attributed to those humans who move within a container of rigidity and inactivity, such as the oppressed or those not yet polished. Compared to ir and Sabl, this path lacks full dynamism and actualisation.
arq resembles a brook that has not yet become a roaring river and awaits actualisation in the guidance path.
ir, Sabl, and arq are not three separate roads, but rather various determinations of a single reality. This reality is the path of human spiritual journey from the divine origin to the divine destination, as stated in the verse:
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Indeed, to God we belong and indeed to Him we shall return.
The differences in these determinations depend on the existential manifestations of humans and conditions of conception, provision, inheritance, time, and place.
This unity is like a river that divides into multiple branches along its course, yet all flow towards the same sea.
To comprehend this unity and multiplicity, one may liken it to a vehicle which, under different conditions, operates with varying numbers of wheels or modes of movementsometimes carrying heavy loads on eighteen wheels, other times moving lightly on four wheelsbut its essential nature remains unchanged. Similarly, despite their differences in manifestation, ir, Sabl, and arq constitute one reality.
This analogy is like a painting that portrays one truth in diverse colours and patterns, while its essence remains identical.
Directness is a necessary attribute of ir, but not intrinsic to its essence. In other words, without directness, ir is not the true path and leads to degeneration. This philosophical distinction emphasises the necessity of divine guidance on the path of ir.
The directness of ir is like a light without which the path would be lost in the darkness of misguidance.
Direct is one of the names of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), and the straight path, in Shia narrations, is interpreted as the Wilaya (divine authority) of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). This connection presents ir not only as a divine path but also as a manifestation of the guidance of the Infallibles.
The straight path is like a mirror reflecting the light of Wilaya, guiding humanity towards the truth.
Excessive focus on abstract concepts in religious sciences hinders scientific progress and comprehension of truth. True knowledge depends on exemplar-based understanding and connection to existential realities. Concepts without exemplars are like illusory shadows concealing the truth.
Classifications such as the paths of the graced, those who evoke anger, and the astray should not be interpreted spatially (e.g., above or below). These paths are defined within the context of existence without spatial orientation. Moreover, classifications like dividing Sabl into three categories (above, zero, wandering) are unscientific because the truth of paths resides in their existential exemplars.
This critique is a warning to a painter who relies on imaginary lines instead of depicting reality.
The distinction between the indicator (mental concepts) and the criterion (objective reality) is key to understanding truth. Life in the indicator is like sleeping on a train, keeping a person in heedlessness; life in the criterion is like seeing the train move, leading to spiritual awakening.
This distinction resembles that between shadow and body; the shadow merely points to the truth, whereas the body itself is the truth.
Human beings must unite and move with existence to emerge from heedlessness. This unity leads to spiritual awakening, reaching a state described as:
لَا نَوْمَ لَهُ وَلَا سِنَةٌ
Neither slumber nor sleep.
This state is like the awakening of the mystic who has become one with the truth of existence.
Worship without connection to the criterion lacks spiritual effects. Prayer performed within the indicator container is like words uttered without moving the heart. However, worship within the criterion container is like a clear spring that quenches the heart.
A scholar who memorises the Qur'an and Hadith for the pulpit is deprived of their benefit in the grave because this memorisation belongs to the indicator container. But if one befriends God through the Qur'an and Hadith, in the grave they speak like a nightingale, for they were in the criterion container.
This analogy is like the difference between a drawing on paper and a light in the heart; the former is transient, the latter eternal.
Every particle in existence has its own unique path and footprint. This individuality demonstrates the infinite diversity in creation, where each being plays a unique role in the cosmic system.
لَا يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ
Not even the weight of an atom escapes Him.
This individuality resembles a fingerprint that never repeats and places each being in its specific path.
Each angel is responsible for a specific duty, like a drop of rain. This example points to the infinite multiplicity in creation and the allocation of divine tasks.
This allocation is like the division of melodies in a symphony, where each melody plays a particular role in the overall harmony.
The religious educational system must shift from book-centrism to teacher-centrism. The teacher is like a lamp illuminating the path of knowledge, whereas the book is merely a map that, without a guide, can be misleading.
The new students, due to their alertness and life experience, are weary of repetitive concepts and seek true knowledge. This transformation is like a breeze clearing the dust from the mirrors of knowledge.
The interpretation of the concepts ir, Sabl, and arq is like a key that opens the doors of existential knowledge. ir, as the path of unity and divine guidance, stands in contrast to the multiplicity and diversity of Sabl and the inactivity of arq. These concepts are determinations of one reality manifested in the existential multiplicity of humans. The critique of concept-based approaches, emphasis on exemplar-based understanding, and invitation to unity with existence are among the major outcomes of this analysis. Worship in the criterion container, like a clear spring, quenches the heart, while in the indicator it is illusory and fruitless. This book invites reflection on real exemplars and departure from the heedlessness of concepts, so that humanity may tread the straight path towards the divine truth.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
