of Nokounam (May his sacred secret be sanctified), Session Ninety-Five
The seventh verse of Surah Al-Ftiah,
The bestowal blessings are those blessings that are free from constraints, limitations, and dependencies, possessing wholeness and absolute perfection. These blessings, contrary to general blessings such as material bounties, are reserved for a specific group of the Divine friends. The verse,
Due to the absence of constraints and limitations, the bestowal blessings encompass Divine perfection. These blessings are realised in their highest degree through the guardianship of the Infallibles (Alayhim al-Salm) and differ from the general blessings accessible to all creatures.
The verse,
Summary of Section One:
This section elucidated the bestowal blessings as complete and unconditioned blessings realised within the sphere of the guardianship of the Infallibles (Alayhim al-Salm). These blessings are interconnected with the perfection of the religion and distinguish themselves from general blessings.
The guardianship of the Infallibles (Alayhim al-Salm) is the fundamental pillar of the bestowal blessings. The verse,
The difference between لَكُمْ (for you [plural]) and لَكَ (for you [singular]) in Quranic verses signifies the universality of the blessing for the Ummah in لَكُمْ and the special role of the Prophet and the Infallibles (Alayhim al-Salm) in لَكَ. This distinction highlights the centrality of guardianship in realising the bestowal blessings.
The Prophets reverential fear in the verse,
The Infallibles (Alayhim al-Salm), as bearers of the bestowal blessings, carry a heavy burden. This burden results from their love and responsibility in preserving the religion, referred to in mysticism as "the killing of the lover" (shiq-kosh).
The method of patience and division proves the indispensability of guardianship. Without guardianship, the religion remains incomplete and the bestowal blessings cannot be actualised.
Summary of Section Two:
This section clarified the pivotal role of the guardianship of the Infallibles (Alayhim al-Salm) in realising the bestowal blessings and perfecting the religion. The distinctions of لَكُمْ and لَكَ, the Prophets reverential fear for preserving the religion, and the heavy burden of guardianship all emphasise the significance of guardianship on the path of bestowal blessings.
The bestowal blessings, within the context of revelation (general), are accessible to the entire Ummah, whereas in the context of elevation (specific), they belong solely to the Infallibles and the special Divine friends.
Life with blessing (nimah) brings expansion and flexibility, whereas entrapment in negation and obsession ("l") restricts and hardens life. The Prophet , as the epitome of blessing, is a complete exemplar of this expansion.
Unscientific and popular mentalities obstruct the deep understanding of Quranic verses. For example, neglecting the distinction between لَكُمْ and لَكَ in the verse of Al-Midah disrupts the precise comprehension of the bestowal blessings.
Propagation of religion necessitates psychology and understanding of the audience. An experience in the city of Abhar showed that presenting challenging discussions (such as apparent denial of God) can lead the audience towards contemplation and acceptance of truth. This method, by creating mental expansion, guides individuals towards faith.
If propagation of religion is accompanied by a spirit of negation and "l," it becomes arduous and constrained. Conversely, a positive spirit and blessing bring expansion and influence.
Summary of Section Three:
This section emphasised the role of the bestowal blessings in expanding the life of faith and the necessity of a scientific approach in the interpretation and propagation of religion. Practical experience and mental expansion illustrate the importance of a positive spirit in guiding towards the path of bestowal blessings.
The verse,
like a shining jewel in Surah Al-Ftiah, is an invitation towards the path of bestowal blessings which is connected with the guardianship of the Infallibles (Alayhim al-Salm) and the perfection of religion. The bestowal blessings, as complete and unrestricted blessings, are actualised within the sphere of guardianship and distinguish themselves from general blessings. The role of guardianship in the completion of religion, the Prophets reverential fear to preserve the religion, and the heavy burden of the Infallibles all emphasise the importance of these blessings. Propagation of religion with a positive spirit and expansion paves the way for a deeper understanding of these blessings. This interpretation, by critiquing unscientific mentalities and stressing a precise and scientific approach, invites the audience to contemplate the levels of Divine blessings and the role of guardianship in their realisation.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi