Verse 218 of the Noble Surah Al-Baqarah illuminates the path of the faithful in their divine spiritual journey as a radiant lamp. This verse, articulated with profound and meaningful expression, delineates the characteristics of believers who, through steadfast faith, spiritual migration, and striving in the way of God, attain the hope for Divine mercy. The exegesis of this verse, adopting theological, mystical, and psychological approaches, explicates the stages of faith and distinguishes between intermediate believers, novices, and Divine saints. Within this treatise, a systematic and scholarly perspective is applied to examine the concepts of faith, migration, and jihad within the framework of F Sabl Allh (in the way of God), while critiquing traditional interpretations and emphasising the Qur'an's self-sufficiency. The structure of this commentary, featuring precise subdivisions and detailed analyses, is designed for specialised audiences and academic contexts, ensuring the preservation of all details of the original lecture while enhancing its literary and scientific richness.
Verse 218 of the Noble Surah Al-Baqarah describes believers positioned at an intermediate stage of spiritual progression. These believers are neither novices content with elementary acts such as prayer and almsgiving, nor are they Divine saints who sacrifice their very existence for the Truth. Rather, through continuous faith, spiritual migration, and jihad in the way of God, they have attained an exalted rank, manifesting distinctive characteristics within their being.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ يَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
Verily, those who believe, and those who migrate, and strive in the way of Godthose hope for God's mercy; and God is Forgiving, Merciful.
Faith in this verse signifies an unadulterated belief in Divine Oneness, repudiating all forms of polytheism, including belief in the Trinity or other doctrinal deviations. This faith forms a solid foundation for migration and jihad, liberating the believer from all dependencies other than God.
Migration mentioned in this verse is not a general relocation motivated by material reasons or fleeing wrongdoing but a spiritual migration performed with the intention of drawing nearer to God. It entails severing ties with carnal, material, and social attachments, acquiring significance solely in the path of God.
The root h-j-r (with a silent jim) denotes abandonment and severance. This abandonment may involve separation from homeland, children, possessions, or even undesirable habits and morals. Spiritual migration is analogous to a journey that frees the believers soul from worldly shackles and directs it toward the divine destination.
In the present age, migration is less about geographical displacement and more about abandoning immoral behaviours and distancing oneself from non-faith environments. This migration represents a spiritual resistance against materialistic cultures and an endeavour to preserve faith amid profound spiritual challenges.
The Noble Qur'an elsewhere laments its own abandonment as Qur'an Mahjr (Al-Furqan: 30), signifying the neglect of its comprehension and implementation. This abandonment is observable even among some religious scholars who have distanced themselves from profound understanding of the Qur'an.
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا
[The Prophet] said: O my Lord, my people have taken this Qur'an as abandoned.
Jihad in this verse denotes a dedicated exertion in Gods path, accompanied by divine intention and utmost endeavour. This jihad is distinct from general efforts for personal benefit and includes struggle with the self, wealth, and life.
Jihad in the way of God acts as a sword that separates falsehood from truth. Performed with pure divine intention and perseverance on the path of truth, it elevates the believer to the hope of Divine mercy.
The Prophet Muhammads (peace be upon him) migration and that of his companions, coupled with the unparalleled sacrifice of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) during the Night of Seclusion, represent exalted examples of spiritual migration and jihad. This sacrifice, praised in the Noble Qur'an (Al-Baqarah: 207), exemplifies selflessness and pure intention in the way of God.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ
And among mankind is he who sells himself seeking the pleasure of God; and God is Kind to His servants.
In contemporary Iranian history, youths who relinquished familial attachments and personal comfort to strive in pursuit of divine ideals stand as brilliant exemplars of spiritual migration and jihad. By severing worldly attachments, they reached the station of self-sacrifice and devotion.
Believers described in this verse are freed from carnal and material attachments. Faith in God, as a divine sanctuary, emancipates them from non-divine attachments and grants spiritual freedom.
This liberation aligns with freedom from existential anxieties and trust in God. The believer is like a bird freed from the cage of the self, soaring in the sky of Divine mercy.
The term أُولَٰئِكَ in the verse refers to believers distinguished by courage, honesty, and transparency. They are neither reclusive nor hypocritical; rather, they possess a distinct and manifest identity, standing firm against falsehood.
أُولَٰئِكَ is a plural demonstrative pronoun indicating presence, clarity, and specification. These believers shine like bright stars in the firmament of faith, their identities visible to all.
Hypocrisy, cautiousness, and fear of expressing opinion weaken faith and obstruct the manifestation of the attribute أُولَٰئِكَ. A true believer reveals their conviction with courage and without violence.
Hypocrisy, like a dark shadow, corrupts faith. The believer, with clarity and sincerity, dispels this shadow and reflects the truth like a pure mirror.
Even non-kufr forms of polytheism, such as ostentation and cautiousness, weaken faith. The true believer attains divine unity in action by renouncing all dependencies other than God.
Intermediate believers, as described in this verse, differ from novices (who confine themselves to initial acts such as prayer and almsgiving) and Divine saints (who sacrifice their very existence). This distinction reveals the gradations in spiritual progression.
Intermediate believers dwell in the station of tariqa (spiritual path), where faith, migration, and jihad guide them toward the Truth.
