This treatise undertakes a profound exegesis of verse 253 of Surah Al-Baqarah, examining it through philosophical, theological, and hermeneutical perspectives. It explores the hierarchies of the Prophets, divine grace, the bestowal of clear proofs, and confirmation by the Holy Spirit. This verse, by elucidating the existential distinctions among the Prophets and the role of esoteric sciences in divine guidance, offers a roadmap for reconstructing religious sciences and reviving spiritual capacities. The critique of formalistic approaches in religious knowledge and the emphasis on prophetic sciences constitute the core of this interpretation. The present work, adopting a scientific and systematic structure, aims to clarify these concepts for scholarly audiences and researchers in the field of theology.
تِلْکَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۘ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ کَلَّمَ اللَّهُ ۖ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ ۚ وَآتَیْنَا عِیسَى ابْنَ مَرْیَمَ الْبَیِّنَاتِ وَأَیَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ
These are the Messengers; We have favoured some of them above others. Among them is he whom Allah spoke to, and We raised some of them in degrees. And We gave clear proofs to Jesus son of Mary and supported him with the Holy Spirit.
This verse, by describing the hierarchies of the Prophets, points to their existential differences and divine missions. The ranks of grace, divine discourse, bestowal of clear proofs, and confirmation by the Holy Spirit indicate the diversity in prophetic perfections and authorities.
The phrase فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ (We have favoured some of them) refers to theoretical wisdom encompassing the esoteric and spiritual perfections of the Prophets. Conversely, رَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ (We raised some of them in degrees) pertains to practical wisdom that includes apparent authority such as miracles and control over created entities. This distinction reveals two existential dimensions of the Prophets: the inner and the outer.
The Prophets, akin to classes in a university, occupy various ranks. This difference is not due to discrimination but arises from the temporal and spatial necessities of communities. God has sent a Prophet for each era with specific characteristics to advance guidance in accordance with human capacity.
The evolution of humanity and Prophets, through divine revelation, is dynamic and corresponds to the level of knowledge and perfection of societies. This dynamism is also evident in verse 7 of Surah Al-Imran (The Firm Verses are the Mother of the Book, and others are allegorical), which indicates the adaptation of revelation to historical circumstances.
Some Prophets, such as Moses, David, Solomon, and the Seal of the Prophets, possess prominent practical degrees. These degrees are manifested in their apparent authority and complete spirituality, such as miracles and dominion over the inner aspects of creation.
Verse 253 of Surah Al-Baqarah, by elucidating the hierarchies of the Prophets, underscores the diversity of prophetic missions and the role of theoretical and practical wisdom in divine guidance. These hierarchies not only reveal the existential differences among the Prophets but also guide understanding of the dynamism of revelation within the divine system.
Verses pertain to laws and apparent signs such as the miracles of Moses (the white hand, the staff), while clear proofs encompass the inner reality of things and divine secrets. In verse 110 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, it is stated:
إِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ یَا عِیسَى ابْنَ مَرْیَمَ اذْکُرْ نِعْمَتِی عَلَیْکَ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَتِکَ إِذْ أَیَّدْتُکَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ
(When Allah said: O Jesus son of Mary, remember My favour upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Holy Spirit.)
Clear proofs refer to Jesuss esoteric miracles, such as raising the dead, also mentioned in verse 49 of Surah Al-Imran.
The Holy Spirit is the divine force of guidance that particularly confirmed Jesus. This force is attributed to Gabriel or specific angels, as referenced in verse 102 of Surah An-Nahl (Say: The Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord). This confirmation is exclusive to the Prophets and the elect of God.
Jesus, due to his extraordinary birth (without a father) and his mother's unique attributes (Mary), is an exceptional being. This feature is emphasized in verses 16-21 of Surah Maryam.
Every created entity, from plants to humans, has governors (angels or otherwise) who sustain it. This concept is confirmed in verse 5 of Surah An-Nazi'at (By those who arrange [each] matter).
Verses, clear proofs, and the Holy Spirit represent three dimensions of divine guidance that correspond respectively to external phenomena, inner realities, and divine confirmation. These concepts encompass the system of prophetic guidance and underscore the necessity of understanding the esoteric aspects of the Holy Quran.
Religious knowledge, in many instances, has fallen prey to formalistic approaches such as morphology, syntax, and verbal discussions. Although these sciences are foundational, alone they cannot revive the prophetic sciences. Prophetic sciences include formation (creation), comprehension (esoteric guidance), and vision (discovery and intuition).
Grace refers to specific, inborn perfections that are prominent in certain individuals such as Prophets and saints. Religious scholars must dissect their own existential realities to discover divine grace. The lack of innovation in some scholars, confined to repeating previous knowledge, hinders the advancement of religious sciences.
Excessive and unbalanced study, like a buried aqueduct, dries up inner creativity. Just as a thorn picker is suffocated under others thorns, accumulation of knowledge without innovation destroys the scholars inner identity.
Prophetic sciences include practical abilities such as creation, foresight, and esoteric influence. These sciences, as opposed to formal sciences, are the pathways to divine guidance and must be revived within religious educational systems.
Excessive focus on materialism has diverted religious knowledge from its spiritual mission. The revival of prophetic sciences necessitates a return to inner and spiritual dimensions.
Religious knowledge must transcend formal limitations to realise its mission by reviving prophetic sciences such as creation and vision. This transformation requires self-awareness, innovation, and a return to inner dimensions.
Religious scholars, as heirs of the Prophets, bear the responsibility of guiding society and exerting global influence. This responsibility surpasses formal sciences and requires revival of grace, confirmation, and the Holy Spirit.
Many religious scholars originate from pure and hardworking families. This provenance strengthens their transformative potential.
Despite their considerable numbers, religious scholars often fail to exert the anticipated global influence. This critique highlights the necessity of reconstructing educational systems and focusing on prophetic sciences.
Pigeon training, as a living skill, contrasts with paperwork (formal sciences). This metaphor emphasises the superiority of practical and esoteric sciences.
Religious scholars, relying on pure roots and spiritual potentials, must revive prophetic sciences and assume an effective role in guiding society and the world.
The future of humanity, with scientific advancement, will be capable of creating superior beings. Although this creation differs from the divine creation of Jesus, it indicates human capacities.
Human creation, due to the commanding self (verses 7-10 of Surah Ash-Shams), may be accompanied by oppression, unlike the creation of Jesus which is free from injustice.
Souls, like wandering airplanes, seek bodies. This concept, rejecting reincarnation, refers to the system of soul creation in Islamic philosophy.
Jesus, by divine permission, possesses spirit inflation as indicated in verse 49 of Surah Al-Imran (then you breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by My permission). This ability signifies his divine creativity.
Belittling humans as powerless beings contradicts human dignity (verse 70 of Surah Al-Isra: And We have certainly honoured the children of Adam). Humans possess divine attributes and vast capacities.
Cultural colonialism, by diminishing humans, weakens their spiritual identity. This metaphor, like turning a tiger into a cat, refers to the adverse effects of colonialism on Islamic culture.
The future of humanity, with capacities for creation and spirit inflation, demonstrates vast potentials. However, this creation, due to the commanding self, requires divine guidance to be free from oppression.
The exegesis of verse 253 of Surah Al-Baqarah, focusing on the hierarchies of the Prophets, divine grace, and confirmation by the Holy Spirit, provides a framework for understanding the system of divine guidance. By elucidating theoretical and practical wisdom, verses and clear proofs, and the role of the Holy Spirit, it offers guidance for reviving prophetic sciences within religious knowledge. The critique of formalistic approaches and emphasis on esoteric sciences is a call for transformation of religious educational systems and the global role of scholars. The future of humanity, with creative capacities, requires divine guidance to be free from oppression. This interpretation, through a philosophical and hermeneutical framework, presents a clear vision for the revival of Islamic sciences and global influence.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
