the lecture series of Nokounam, may his soul rest in peace, session (260)
Verse 48 of Surah Al-Baqarah, emphasising individual responsibility and the negation of any religious fantasy, stands as one of the foundational verses in the Noble Qur'an elucidating Divine justice on the Day of Resurrection. Addressing the Children of Israel and, more generally, all humanity, this verse underscores the necessity of piety and vigilance in anticipation of the Day of Judgement. By articulating four key principlesrejection of substitution, intercession, ransom, and assistanceit refutes any erroneous notion of unconditional salvation. The present treatise, adopting a scholarly and systematic approach, analyses this verse by integrating the content of the lecture and exegetical interpretations, presenting it in an academic framework with a refined linguistic style. The objective is the precise elucidation of Qur'anic concepts and their linkage to contemporary issues, preserving all details and core meanings.
وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا لَا تَجْزِي نَفْسٌ عَنْ نَفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا شَفَاعَةٌ وَلَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْصَرُونَ
Translation: And fear a Day when no soul will avail another soul in the least, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will they be aided.
Verse 48, as a complement to verse 47 of Surah Al-Baqarah, holds a distinguished position in explaining the condition of the Children of Israel and, broadly, humanity. Verse 47 highlights Divine blessings upon the Children of Israel and enumerates the virtues of this nation; however, verse 48, by warning of accountability for these blessings, summons them to vigilance regarding the justice of the Resurrection. These two verses, like two sides of a scale, display the balance between blessing and responsibility.
From a logical perspective, verse 48 is composed as a genuine detachment, delineating four distinct principles (negation of substitution, intercession, ransom, and assistance) separately. This structure exemplifies the comprehensiveness and precision of the Noble Qur'an in explicating the rulings of the Resurrection. Each principle clarifies an aspect of Divine justice, spanning from self to others, internal to external, and from connected to detached contexts, thereby covering various dimensions.
The Jews and Christians, relying on their religious status, presumed immunity from Divine punishment. This complacency, criticised also in the verse "And they say: The Fire shall not touch us except for a few numbered days" (Al-Baqarah: 80), is negated by the warning of verse 48. Similarly, some Muslims harbour comparable illusions, believing that mentioning the names of saints or affiliation to prophets, without reforming behaviour, guarantees their salvation.
Idolaters believed that idols brought them closer to God or interceded for them, as stated in the verse "And they worship besides Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them" (Yunus: 18). This belief exemplifies religious superstitions which verse 48 invalidates by negating intercession and ransom.
Some Muslims suppose that mentioning Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) or seeking intercession without amending conduct cleanses sins. This superstition, rooted in erroneous beliefs, contradicts the Divine justice emphasised in verse 48. The verse "It is not [their] desires nor the desires of the People of the Scripture" (An-Nisa: 123) also rejects such futile wishes.
In certain churches, the collection of money under the pretext of absolution of sins propagates religious fantasy. This practice, denoting exploitation of religious concepts for material gain, stands in opposition to Divine justice as set forth in verse 48.
Man, as a dual entity, is capable of ascending to the peak of grandeur (the most honoured of creation) or descending to the lowest depths. This duality is alluded to in the verse "By the Time, indeed mankind is in loss" (Al-Asr: 1-2), indicating mans loss due to heedlessness.
From a philosophical standpoint, the human realm is boundless, and man can attain the utmost heights of greatness or fall to the lowest levels. This viewpoint connects with the Qur'anic concept "Indeed, He is the Originator and the Restorer" (Al-Buruj: 13), which points to the infinite Divine creation.
Intercession, if it occurs, is contingent upon Divine wisdom and justice. God, the Infallible Saints, the Noble Qur'an, and even the Mosque may intercede under specific conditions; yet, this intercession is not unconditional. The verse "They will not intercede except for one whom He approves" (Al-Anbiya: 28) restricts intercession to Divine consent.
Intercession cannot take place without adherence to wisdom and justice. This principle negates any notion of unconditional salvation and emphasises the rationality of intercession.
Taqwa in this verse denotes caution and diligence in regard to the Day of Resurrection, rather than mere fear. This concept aligns with the verse "O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared" (Al-Imran: 102), emphasising alertness and precision.
"Yawm" in this verse signifies a specific time period or epoch (Resurrection), not a calendar day. This interpretation corresponds with the Qur'anic usage in the verse "The Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds" (Al-Mutaffifin: 6).
Verse 48 enunciates four cardinal principles:
In this world, the good and evil deeds of individuals affect one another. For instance, a mothers prayer may atone for her childs sin, or an individuals night prayer may cause blessings to descend upon others. This connection accords with the Qur'anic concept "And whatever good you send forth for yourselves" (Al-Baqarah: 110). However, on the Day of Resurrection, such possibilities cease, and verse 48s negation of intercession and ransom clarifies this distinction.
Deeds of individuals within particular environments, such as cemeteries or mosques, can influence the spiritual atmosphere. The presence of a righteous person in a cemetery may lessen punishment, whereas the presence of a hypocrite in a mosque may taint prayers with hypocrisy. These effects demonstrate the profound interconnection between individual deeds and social contexts.
Adherence to pilgrimage etiquettes, such as respectfully kissing the shrine, signifies purity and spirituality but must be accompanied by rationality and observance of hygienic principles. These etiquettes align with Islamic cultures respect for sacred entities.
Contemporary religious science demands awareness and alertness. Verse 48, with its complexity and precision, invites seminary students to deep analysis and avoidance of superficiality. This verse, like a mirror, reflects the depth of Qur'anic equations and underscores the necessity to elevate scientific standards.
Neglecting death due
