of Nekounam, May His Sacred Secret be Sanctified (Session Ninety-Four)
The seventh verse of Surah Al-Fatiha, صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ, elucidates the Straight Path as the way of those who have been favoured by Divine grace, distinguishing it from the paths of those who have incurred wrath and those who have gone astray. This treatise, adopting a scientific and mystical approach, analyses the concept of Divine blessing, its gradations (general, particular, and most exclusive), and its relation to guidance and ingratitude, while warning against the misuse of blessings. This exegesis, grounded in the Quranic verses and precise analyses, is akin to a gem whose radiance illuminates the path to understanding the path of the favoured.
Divine blessings, in terms of both quantity and quality, are innumerable and uncountable. These blessings encompass general levels (such as life and sustenance), particular levels (such as faith and knowledge), and the most exclusive levels (such as infallibility and prophethood). This comprehensiveness resembles a sea encompassing all beings, each benefiting according to their capacity.
وَإِنْ تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا
And if you attempt to count the blessings of Allah, you will not be able to enumerate them.
General blessings, such as health and provision, belong to all beings. Particular blessings, such as guidance and faith, are specific to the believers, while the most exclusive blessings, such as the rank of Wilayah (guardianship) and infallibility, are confined to the Prophets and Saints. These gradations function like a ladder, each rung guiding beings towards perfection.
Divine blessings, with their comprehensive and varied gradationsfrom life and sustenance to infallibility and guardianshipencompass all beings. This classification elucidates the systematic nature of creation and the role of blessing in guidance.
Affection, denoting love and friendship between God and His servants, coupled with favour (granting blessings), demonstrates a profound and spiritual relationship. However, a Quranic verse warns of the peril of ingratitude:
ذَرْنِي وَالْمُكَذِّبِينَ أُولِي النَّعْمَةِ وَمَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلًا
Leave Me with those who deny [the truth], those endowed with blessings, and grant them respite for a little while.
This verse serves as a warning that abundant blessing, when met with denial and ingratitude, leads to Divine punishment.
Those who enjoy abundant blessings (ul an-nimah) yet respond with denial and ingratitude are subject to Divine wrath. This danger is like a shadow cast extensively over the ungrateful.
Affection and Divine favour establish a deep bond between God and His servants; yet ingratitude endangers this relationship. The verse from Surah Al-Muzzammil acts as a caution to express gratitude and avoid denial.
Divine blessings, such as knowledge, wealth, and health, are trusts that entail social and ethical responsibilities. Misuse of these blessings, akin to violating others rights, results in denial of blessing and social harm.
وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ
And do not withhold the due rights of the people.
Improper education, such as neglecting sanctities, leads to ingratitude. Proper education resembles a gardener who nurtures the sapling of faith and protects it from the pests of ingratitude.
Related Hadith: "Educate your children."
Divine blessings carry social and ethical responsibilities. Proper education and preservation of blessing sanctity protect humans from denial and harm.
Comprehension of Quranic blessings requires a scientific and specialised approach to lead to complete guidance. The Quran, as a blessing of guidance, is an elucidation for all humanity:
هَٰذَا بَيَانٌ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى
This is a clear exposition for the people and guidance.
Gratitude for blessing is like a key that opens the doors to guidance. Those who preserve Divine blessings with gratitude and worship are positioned on the path of the favoured.
The Quran, as the blessing of guidance, through a scientific approach and gratitude, directs man towards the Straight Path. This section emphasises the necessity of specialised comprehension and gratefulness.
The favoured are those who have preserved Divine blessings with gratitude and worship, and abstained from denial and ingratitude. This group resembles stars shining in the sky of guidance, illuminating the way for others.
Divine blessing, at the most exclusive level, leads to the forgiveness of sins and guidance towards perfection. This forgiveness is like rain cleansing pure hearts and guiding them to the Straight Path.
The favoured, through gratitude and distancing from ingratitude, remain on the Straight Path. This section highlights the role of gratitude and worship in attaining guidance.
The interpretation of the verse صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ from a scientific and mystical perspective presents Divine blessing as the axis of the Straight Path. Blessings, in their general, particular, and most exclusive gradations, encompass all beings, with gratitude leading to guidance and ingratitude to misguidance. This exegesis, by defining human responsibility in relation to blessings and critiquing their misuse, paves the way for a deeper understanding of the path of the favoured. This analysis is like a torch that illuminates the path of guidance and invites humanity to gratitude and worship.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
