of Nokounam , Session (187)
Verse 21 of Surah Al-Baqarah, addressing all humanity with a universal appeal, proposes a fundamental invitation to the servitude of the Lord and the attainment of piety. This verse introduces worship as the principal human action in relation to the Creator and links it to piety and eternal felicity. The exegesis of this verse, by elucidating the tripartite structure of human beings, wellbeing, and felicity, offers an ontological and epistemological framework that clarifies the relationship of humans with the self, the Creator, and existence. This work analyses the presented content with a scientific and systematic approach and, employing an elevated and academically appropriate language, examines the dimensions of servitude, piety, and happiness. The aim is to provide a coherent text suitable for scholarly audiences that, while maintaining full fidelity to the original content, also reveals its scientific depth and richness.
Translation: O mankind, worship your Lord who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous.
The verse commences with the address "يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ" which signifies the inclusivity of the divine call to all human beings, regardless of differences in creed, ethnicity, or history. This address introduces worship as a universal duty that recognises man as a being endowed with the capacity for servitude and closeness to the Truth.
The command "اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ" positions worship as the primary human action in relation to the Creator. Worship is not merely a ritual act but an existential deed that elevates humanity from a merely material status to a transcendent being, leading to spiritual wellbeing and happiness.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
Translation: And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
The human being, as the subject of the verse, is defined by their act of worship. Worship is an action that connects humans to the Creator and distinguishes them from other creatures. This action forms the basis of spiritual wellbeing and eternal felicity.
Spiritual wellbeing, conceived as the intermediate vessel between worship and happiness, is attained through piety (taqwa). Piety, understood as the protection and fortification of the soul, preserves man from the maladies of the soul and misguidance, thereby preparing the ground for happiness. The Holy Quran refers to this concept in the following verse:
مَنْ كَانَ فِي هَٰذِهِ أَعْمَىٰ فَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ أَعْمَىٰ
Translation: Whoever is blind in this world, he will be blind in the Hereafter as well.
Happiness, as the ultimate vessel, is realised when mans belief aligns with the truth of existence. If belief does not correspond with reality, it leads to misguidance. Happiness is the return of man to the Creator, as expressed in the following verse:
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Translation: Indeed, we belong to God, and indeed to Him we shall return.
Human belief may be correct or incorrect, yet the reality of existence is fixed and immutable. Happiness is attained when belief conforms to reality. Any belief deviating from this truth results in misguidance.
Worship, especially in the form of piety, aligns human belief with the reality of existence. This alignment is achieved through the rectification of the soul and the cultivation of the will, guiding man towards happiness.
Prayer, as the fundamental pillar of worship, holds a special place in the attainment of piety and happiness. Traditions emphasise that the acceptance of other deeds is contingent upon the acceptance of prayer. The Holy Quran refers to the restraining role of prayer in the following verse:
إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ
Translation: Indeed, prayer forbids immorality and wrongdoing.
Conventional, performative, or habitual prayers lack spiritual efficacy and do not lead to piety or happiness. This form of worship, which is devoid of sincerity and heartfelt presence, cannot lead man to spiritual wellbeing or felicity. Examples of such criticism are observable in the behaviour of certain individuals who perform prayer for show or habit.
To attain piety and happiness, the quality, quantity, and intention of worship must be reformed. Enhancing concentration, regulating the devotional schedule, and strengthening pure intention are among the measures that transform worship into a meaningful and effective act.
Certain individuals, through continuous and diverse worship, have attained spiritual wellbeing and piety. For instance, a person who demonstrates deep commitment to servitude by praying at various times using multiple prayer rugs offers a practical model for effective worship. Such examples indicate the influence of sustained worship on the souls wellbeing and closeness to the Creator.
Despite the vast capacities of the Holy Quran in guiding humanity towards piety and happiness, religious knowledge sometimes fails to exert the required influence due to a focus on habitual and performative worship. This habitualism hinders the realisation of worships spiritual objectives.
Demonstrating the impact of worship on spiritual wellbeing and happiness necessitates a scientific approach integrating Quranic studies with psychology and sociology. Such an approach can reveal the capacities of the Holy Quran in responding to the epistemological and spiritual needs of the world.
وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا
Translation: And whoever is granted wisdom has certainly been given much good.
The interpretation of verse 21 of Surah Al-Baqarah offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the relationship between man, the Creator, the soul, and existence. This verse, through a universal address, introduces worship as mans fundamental action and links it to piety and happiness. The tripartite structure of human being, wellbeing, and happiness elucidates the spiritual process that begins with worship, is consolidated in piety, and culminates in eternal felicity. The distinction between belief and reality underscores the necessity of aligning human belief with the truth of existence. Prayer, as the pivot of worship, plays a key role in attaining piety but requires sincerity and heartfelt presence. Critiques of stereotypical worship and proposals for reforming the quality of worship emphasise the necessity of transformation in religious knowledge and the utilisation of Quranic capacities. This work, presenting a scholarly and elevated perspective, invites learned audiences to reflect on the capacities of the Holy Quran and the reform of worship for achieving spiritual wellbeing and happiness.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
