Introduction
The interpretation of verse 198 of Surah Al-Baqarah, focusing on the phrase لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ, opens a window to a profound understanding of the comprehensiveness of the Holy Qur'an. In this sacred text, the laws of worship, spiritual meanings, and mystical stages are intricately woven together, inviting human beings to reflect on their position as servants and their relationship with the Creator. This interpretation critically examines the superficial interpretations of previous exegeses and the culture of begging, expounding on the stages of human perfection that culminate in the avoidance of greed and dependence on God. The present text, with its refined language and systematic structure, encapsulates all aspects of the lecture and supplementary analyses, blending scholarly depth with literary beauty.
Text and Translation of the Verse
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُمْ مِنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ عِنْدَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ ۖ وَاذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَاكُمْ وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ مِنْ قَبْلُ لَمِنَ الضَّالِّينَ
Translation: There is no sin upon you if you seek the bounty of your Lord. And when you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at al-Mash'ar al-Haram, and remember Him as He has guided you, and indeed, you were, before that, among the misguided.
Spiritual and Judicial Dimensions of the Verse
Verse 198 of Surah Al-Baqarah is akin to a multifaceted gem, containing both spiritual and legal meanings that encapsulate the religious duties of Hajj, while simultaneously guiding the individual towards profound mystical insights. This verse, on one hand, conveys a religious injunction that directs pilgrims from Arafat to al-Mash'ar al-Haram, and on the other hand, with its intricate spiritual meaning, calls upon the individual to reflect on their servitude and relationship with the Divine. The laws in this verse are not merely rigid frameworks but are vessels for deep knowledge that guide the individual toward spiritual perfection.
Key Insight: The comprehensiveness of the Qur'an in verse 198 of Surah Al-Baqarah lies in the intertwining of religious commandments and spiritual meanings, which, like a clear stream, guide the individual towards the ocean of divine unity.
Critique of Previous Exegeses
Many previous interpretations, due to underestimating the grandeur of the Holy Qur'an, have failed to grasp the depth of this verse. This superficial understanding stems from an approach that focuses on the outward meanings, neglecting the deeper spiritual and mystical layers embedded in the Qur'an. The Qur'an, as the divine speech, holds supreme authority in creation and meanings, and thus requires a profound and systematic approach.
Meaning of "Junaah" and "Seeking Bounty"
The phrase لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ means that there is no sin in seeking the bounty from the Lord. The word "Junaah" refers to sin or transgression, while تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ calls for asking for God's bounty. This bounty encompasses both material and spiritual blessings, ranging from health and well-being to eternal salvation. This permission reflects divine sovereignty, inviting the servant to pray and seek from their Lord.
Key Insight: The divine bounty, like a gushing spring, encompasses positive blessings such as health and protection from negative calamities such as punishment, with prayer serving as a bridge between the servant and this infinite grace.
The Dimensions of Prayer and Servitude
Prayer manifests servitude, guiding the servant toward the unity of the Creator. The verse, by emphasizing the permissibility of prayer at all times, whether awake or asleep, in prayer or recitation of the Qur'an, implies that whom else would the servant ask but God? A narration says: "Even ask God for the salt of your food," which underscores the vastness of prayer. This prayer is not only for oneself but is also permissible for others, promoting social welfare.
Our Lord, Give Us
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Translation: Our Lord, give us good in this world and in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
This prayer, mentioned in the subsequent verses, refers to the comprehensiveness of human needs. The divine bounty is not only manifested in granting positive blessings but also in removing obstacles and averting misfortunes. Protection from punishment, illness, and hardship is itself a form of grace, indicative of God's boundless mercy.
Critique of Cursing and Malediction
Cursing and malediction, unlike divine grace, are not positive or constructive. Grace, by its nature, is affirmative and existent, leading to goodness and perfection. Cursing, which arises from animosity and greed at the expense of others, has no place in this verse. This critique pertains to the ethics of prayer, which should be benevolent and free from malice.
Critique of the Culture of Begging
The culture of begging, as a societal affliction, is rooted in social and colonial deviations that deprive humans of freedom and dignity. This culture, which has infiltrated certain areas of religious scholarship, reduces servitude to begging and degrades the human being from their noble identity to mere poverty and deprivation. The Qur'an, in the verse أَنْتُمْ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ, defines poverty as relative neediness to God, not absolute destitution.
أَنْتُمْ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ
Translation: You are the poor to Allah.
Key Insight: Qur'anic poverty refers to relative deficiency to God, not absolute deprivation, and calls humans to freedom and devotion to the Creator, not to begging or the culture of dependency.
Freedom and Working for the Sake of God
The students and religious scholars, instead of consuming from the Imam's share due to poverty, should engage in work for the sake of God. Through this, like employees in the divine administration, they will earn their rightful income. This perspective emphasizes the dynamism of religious knowledge and freedom, contrasting it with laziness and the culture of begging. Freedom, like a radiant sun, illuminates human dignity and encourages the servant to free themselves from the chains of greed and begging.
Questioning and Deficiency in Mysticism
In mysticism, asking from God is reproached, as it either stems from the mystic's deficiency or doubt in the Divine Sovereignty. The Prophets, especially Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH), at the pinnacle of monotheism, did not ask even when in the fire, for pure monotheism necessitates a state of self-sufficiency in asking. This lack of questioning, like a high peak, represents perfection and knowledge.
Consciousness and Divine Love
The phrase وَجَدْتُكَ أَهْلًا لِلْعِبَادَةِ, narrated from Amir al-Mu'minin (PBUH), refers to a state beyond love. Love is selfish, with the self's desires inherent in it, whereas "consciousness" immerses the being in God. This state represents a love without desire, leading the servant to divine devotion.
Key Insight: Divine consciousness, like a sacred fire, burns the soul and brings the servant to a state of selflessness where greed and questioning vanish.
Three Stages of Mysticism
Mysticism is summarized in three stages: the abandonment of greed for others, for oneself, and for God. This abandonment frees the individual from the bondage of worldly desires, leading them to a state of self-sufficiency that represents the height of mystical perfection. The saints of God, like stars in the sky of knowledge, are free from asking and greed, absorbed only in their love for God.
Critique of Indifference
The indifference of some religious students and scholars is an affliction that hinders the dynamism of religious knowledge. Participation in the revision and reform of religious works, like a precious carpet, requires collective collaboration to rid it of ignorance and embellishment. This participation is not motivated by greed but by a sincere devotion to God, who nurtures purity in the heart.
Engineering the Words of the Qur'an
Interpreting the Holy Qur'an requires precise engineering of words that transcends the outward meanings and reaches the depth of the meanings. This method, like an accurate map, reveals the structure of divine speech and prevents superficial understanding.
The interpretation of verse 198 of Surah Al-Baqarah, emphasizing the permissibility of asking from God and the mystical stages of questionless devotion, calls upon humanity to reflect on their position as servants and their quest for freedom. The critique of begging and greed highlights the necessity of cultural and scientific reform, while the Qur'an, like a guiding light, leads humanity toward devotion and independence from desire. This interpretation provides a scientific and mystical framework that guides both religious scholars and researchers toward a deeper understanding of the divine speech.
With the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
