Verse 286 of Surah Al-Baqarah, as the concluding verse of this blessed chapter, reflects a profound supplication from the believers, in which they beseech the Almighty God for ease in their obligations, pardon, forgiveness, mercy, and victory over the disbelieving people. This verse holds a lofty status not only from the theological and spiritual perspectives but also from sociological and psychological viewpoints. Emphasising the impeccable faith of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) in the Divine Revelation and the pivotal role of righteous leadership in guiding society, this verse elucidates the relationship between divine guidance, social responsibilities, and historical shortcomings. In this treatise, by consolidating the content of the lecture and the analyses presented, this verse is examined in a scientific and systematic framework. The objective is to offer a deep and comprehensive exegesis suitable for erudite audiences and academic environments, whilst preserving its literary and scientific richness through refined Persian metaphors and references.
رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ ۚ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا ۚ أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
Our Lord! Do not impose upon us a burden beyond our capacity, and pardon us, and forgive us, and have mercy upon us. You are our Protector; so grant us victory over the disbelieving people.
This verse, as a comprehensive supplication, not only expresses the spiritual requests of the believers but also delineates the intellectual and social system of Islam within the framework of faith, leadership, and divine assistance. Its importance lies in the linkage between individual faith and collective well-being, which will be examined in detail herein.
The Holy Quran, as a Divine light, discloses its meanings to the eyes of the people of truth. Nevertheless, it is the duty of exegetes to utilise human and religious sciences to clarify these meanings for the audience. This responsibility demands a scientific and profound approach, avoiding superficiality and literalistic interpretations.
The verse begins with the phrase "The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord", affirming the complete and flawless faith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the Divine Revelation. This faith is not superficial or ostensible, but genuine and deeply rooted, as affirmed by God Himself. This attribute introduces the Prophet (peace be upon him) as an unparalleled exemplar for the Islamic community.
The distinction between the Messenger and the believers in this verse arises from the reception of Divine Revelation, which is exclusive to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and indicates a level beyond general faith. Although believers may also receive certain degrees of Divine inspiration, the comprehensive, universal revelation pertains solely to the Prophet. This distinction, akin to a clear spring, places the source of societal guidance in the Prophets faith.
Within the sociological framework of Islam, the health or corruption of society originates from the source of its leadership. Just as a clear spring becomes turbid if polluted at its source, society too is influenced by the quality of its leadership. The Prophets complete faith in Divine Revelation acts as a pure spring, guaranteeing the health and victory of the Islamic society. Conversely, unhealthy leadership, like a muddy spring, results in social problems and failures.
In religious sociology, victories and defeats are contingent upon leadership quality. When an army triumphs, the victory is ascribed to the commander (fath al-ameer), but in defeat, the entire army (qatl man fi al-askar) is held accountable because ineffective leadership is the principal cause of failure. This principle is reflected in verse 286 of Surah Al-Baqarah by emphasising the Prophets faith (peace be upon him) as the guarantor of societal victory.
The final part of the verse, with the supplication "So grant us victory over the disbelieving people", expresses the believers request for victory over the disbelievers. This supplication is not for their annihilation or damnation, but rather for assistance and honour. This approach manifests the dignity and ethical morality of the Holy Quran, emphasising spiritual and moral victory over hatred and violence. This supplication, like a mighty tree, is rooted in the Prophets complete faith and its branches guarantee societal health and honour.
The Prophets impeccable faith in Divine Revelation is akin to a seed sown in the fertile soil of society, whose fruit is victory and support. This verse, by linking leaderships faith and collective success, emphasises the central role of faith in achieving divine objectives. Divine assistance encompasses not only material victory but also spiritual and cultural dominance.
The early Islamic society, due to primitivism and the absence of health, cultural, and scientific infrastructure, faced numerous limitations. These deficiencies, like barren, dry soil, impeded the rapid growth of the sapling of divine guidance. However, these limitations must not be attributed to the inherent immorality of the people. Just as forty years ago, the people of Tehran consumed polluted water, this behaviour stemmed from historical backwardness, not ethical corruption.
Continuous pessimism about society, like a dark shadow, obscures the truth. Apostasy after the Prophet (peace be upon him) was not a sign of the peoples inherent badness but the consequence of primitivism and social limitations. This critique underscores the necessity of scientific analysis and avoidance of generalised judgements. For instance, the people of Qom initially mocked Mirza Qomi due to primitivism but gradually benefited from his knowledge. This transformation illustrates the impact of time and conditions on the understanding of elites.
Corruption and sin are analogous to diseases rooted in social deficiencies, poverty, and backwardness. These issues should not be confused with the inherent badness of individuals. The majority of people live with dignity and hard work, and attributing the corruption of a minority (such as the Umayyads) to the entire society constitutes a grave error.
The Holy Quran, akin to a hidden treasure beneath the earth, contains knowledge revealed for the distant future of humanity. The Arabs of early Islam, due to primitivism, were incapable of fully comprehending it, as evidenced by the verse "They can hardly understand it". This Divine Book was revealed not for a specific era but for the prolonged history of humanity, and its understanding requires psychology, sociology, and historical sciences.
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), in a primitive society devoid of scientific and cultural infrastructure, performed a unique miracle by presenting the Holy Quran. This miracle, like a light in darkness, opened the path of guidance amidst historical limitations. However, temporal constraints prevented the complete transformation of society, but the foundations of divine guidance were laid for future generations.
Quranic exegesis, like a lofty structure, requires firm foundations of human sciences. Without knowledge of psychology, sociology, and history, religious interpretations become superficial and inefficient. Islamic narrations, especially in the fields of psychology and sociology, are a unique treasury whose extraction and utilisation demand a scientific and interdisciplinary approach.
Past religious science, like Mirza Qomis, was valuable and sacred in its era but has become limited with scientific advancement and changing times. For example, the theory of obstruction, despite its historical significance, no longer holds scientific validity. Contemporary seminarians, benefiting from scientific progress, have surpassed past scholars, indicating the necessity of aligning religious science with temporal conditions.
Verse 286 of Surah Al-Baqarah, like a comprehensive mirror, reflects the theological, sociological, and psychological system of Islam. The complete faith of the Prophet of God (peace be upon him) in Divine Revelation guarantees the health and victory of society, conditional upon righteous leadership. The supplication "So grant us victory over the disbelieving people" manifests Quranic dignity, requesting moral victory instead of hatred. Historical backwardness, such as the primitivism of early Islam, must not be confused with the badness of society. Apostasy and historical shortcomings were consequences of social limitations, not intrinsic corruption. The Holy Quran, as a timeless book, is a treasure whose comprehension requires human sciences and an interdisciplinary approach. Criticism of pessimism towards society and history emphasises the necessity of scientific analysis and avoidance of generalised judgements. This verse calls believers to strive for scientific, ethical, and social growth to achieve victory and honour under divine guidance.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
