of Nekounam, (Session Eight Hundred and Twelfth)
Surah Al-Imran, as one of the most radiant chapters of the Holy Qur'an, serves as a gateway to profound understanding of monotheism, divine guidance, and the intrinsic order of the revealed Word. The opening verses of this Surah (1 to 4), by introducing foundational concepts of the Divine Names, the revelation of heavenly scriptures, and the guiding role of the Holy Qur'an, establish a framework for contemplation upon the coherent and purposeful structure of revelation. This treatise, with a deep examination of these verses, endeavours to elucidate their latent meanings in a clear and dignified language, within a systematic and cohesive format, for seekers of truth. Employing metaphors and semantic connections, this exegesis aims to convey the spirit of the Divine Word authentically and effectively.
The initial verses of Surah Al-Imran commence with the disjointed letters "Alif Lam Mim", which function as an inner receptacle for expressing the Divine Names and their manifestations. These letters, akin to a mysterious key, open the gateway to the truth of monotheism and display the inherent order of the Holy Qur'an.
Key Point: The disjointed letters "Alif Lam Mim" are not only a sign of the Qur'an's linguistic miracle but also, as an inner container, provide a foundation for deep understanding of the Divine Names and monotheism.
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ
Translation: God, besides Whom there is no deity, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer.
The phrase "Allhu L ilha ill Huwa Al-Hayy Al-Qayym", as a vessel of the Divine Names, refers to the supreme manifestations of creation. The attribute "Al-Hayy" denotes the eternal life of God, as if a pure and inexhaustible current from which the life of all beings flows. The attribute "Al-Qayym" depicts the power and perpetual maintenance of God in governing and preserving the cosmic order, like a steadfast pillar that upholds the heavens and the earth.
These attributes, connected with the revelation of heavenly scriptures, reveal the centrality of monotheism in guiding creation. It is as if God, through these attributes, introduces Himself as the origin of life and cosmic order, so that humanity may find the path of guidance in the light of this truth.
نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ
Translation: He has sent down upon you the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He sent down the Torah and the Gospel.
The third verse of Surah Al-Imran refers to the revelation of the Holy Qur'an as a truth-centred book that confirms the previous scriptures, namely the Torah and the Gospel. The word "nazzala" in this verse indicates the gradual and arduous revelation of the Holy Qur'an, whereas "anzala" used for the Torah and Gospel denotes an immediate and sudden revelation. This linguistic distinction is analogous to two different water streams: one calm and continuous like a spring that gradually irrigates the earth, and the other a rushing flood that descends all at once.
Key Point: The distinction between "nazzala" and "anzala" reflects the gradual and difficult process of the Qur'an's revelation, contrasted with the immediate revelation of the Torah and Gospel, highlighting the comprehensiveness and special significance of the Holy Qur'an in guiding humanity.
The sequence of the heavenly scriptures mentioned in these verses (Qur'an, Torah, Gospel) is from the highest to the lowest, not vice versa. This arrangement illustrates a hierarchical gradation of light, in which the Holy Qur'an, as the most complete and comprehensive divine book, stands at the summit. This order signifies the importance and social efficacy of the Holy Qur'an, akin to a sun whose radiance illuminates the shadows of previous scriptures.
From a philosophical and theological perspective, this evolutionary path expresses movement from the general to the particular within the divine system of guidance. The Holy Qur'an not only confirms prior scriptures but, by virtue of its comprehensiveness, encompasses all divine sciences and knowledge.
مِنْ قَبْلُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَأَنْزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ ۗ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ
Translation: Previously, as guidance for mankind, and He sent down the Criterion. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the signs of God will have a severe punishment, and God is Mighty, the Avenger.
The phrase "wa anzala al-furqan" refers to the revelation of Al-Furqan as a standard to distinguish truth from falsehood. Al-Furqan, like a sharp sword, separates the true from the false and, as a manifestation of divine guidance, paves the way for seekers of truth. This attribute aligns with the concept of "Hudan linnas" (guidance for mankind), demonstrating the key role of the Holy Qur'an in resolving ambiguities and clarifying realities.
The concluding part of verse four, by mentioning the severe punishment for those who deny Gods signs, depicts the unrivalled power of God. The attributes "Aziz" and "Dhu Intiqam" serve as two wings of divine justice, both demonstrating Gods unparalleled power and warning those who reject the truth.
Key Point: The severe punishment for disbelievers is not only a divine warning but also an expression of Gods power and justice against denial of His signs.
The verses of the Holy Qur'an possess a sequence and order that manifest scientifically, contextually, or relationally. This order, like a delicate and masterful warp and weft, endows each verse with meaning in its place and gives the divine speech unparalleled coherence. It is as if each verse shines like a gem in a golden crown, inseparably linked with other verses.
Key Point: The order and sequence of the Qur'anic verses indicate the intrinsic and purposeful coherence of the divine speech, making each verse meaningful in its own position.
Certain views in religious sciences depict the Holy Qur'an as a fragmented and unordered collection in which each verse is understood individually or with the help of other verses. This view is akin to regarding a garden full of colourful flowers as a heap of scattered branches. The Holy Qur'an, like a well-arranged and adorned garden, has inherent order and weight, wherein each verse expresses a complete and independent meaning in its proper place.
This critique asserts that religious sciences should move away from the conception of fragmentation in the Qur'an and focus on its intrinsic coherence and order. Each verse, like a limb of a unified body, conveys itself without needing to derive meaning from other verses.
Mutashabih (ambiguous) verses appear unclear due to the limited understanding of the audience, not because of the verses essence. All Qur'anic verses are muhkam (firm), like clear water that takes the colour of its vessel. If the audience is equipped with adequate epistemological tools, all verses will be clear and firm to them.
Key Point: The ambiguity of verses stems from the audiences limited comprehension, not from the nature of the verses themselves. All Qur'anic verses are inherently clear and firm.
The Infallible Imams, as teachers of the Holy Qur'an, are like lamps in darkness, illuminating the path to understanding the profound meanings of the verses. By divine guidance, they transform mutashabih verses into muhkam for seekers of truth, as if possessing keys to unlock epistemological locks.
The Holy Qur'an is likened to a well filled with pure water, whose difficulty lies not in the nature of the divine speech but in the lack of appropriate tools on the part of the audience. Like a well whose water shines like pearls, but the seeker who lacks rope and bucket is deprived of it. This metaphor elegantly indicates that the deficiency in understanding the Qur'an arises from the audiences lack of linguistic, semantic, or inner knowledge tools.
Key Point: The Holy Qur'an, like a clear well, is abundant with knowledge, and the difficulty in comprehending it stems from the audiences inability to access epistemological instruments.
The absence of systematic education in linguistic, semantic, and content domains constitutes a major obstacle to deep understanding of the Holy Qur'an. Like a farmer without suitable tools who cannot cultivate the land, a seeker of knowledge without sufficient learning cannot fully benefit from the Qur'ans treasures. Proper education functions as the rope and bucket that bring the pure water of knowledge within reach.
The Holy Qur'an, as the miracle of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), not only confirms prior scriptures but also encompasses all divine sciences and knowledge. This comprehensiveness is like a boundless ocean, each drop containing a truth from divine realities. The rational human being is called to recognise this miracle through contemplation.
Key Point: The Holy Qur'an, as a comprehensive miracle, includes all divine sciences and knowledge and invites the rational person to affirm it.
Before the revelation of the Holy Qur'an, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) attained divine readiness through worship and spiritual experiences in the Cave of Hira. This preparedness was like fertile soil in which the seed of revelation was planted. The gradual and difficult revelation of the Qur'an indicates the depth of this experience and its significance in the process of revelation.
The term "nazzala", which refers to gradual and laborious revelation, is like a stream that slowly but powerfully irrigates the land of knowledge. This process depended not only on the Prophets readiness but also signifies the weight and grandeur of the divine Word bestowed upon him.
The exegesis of the opening verses of Surah Al-Imran (1 to 4) opens a window to profound understanding of the order, coherence, and comprehensiveness of the Holy Qur'an. These verses, by presenting the disjointed letters, Divine Names, revelation of heavenly scriptures, and the guiding role of Al-Furqan, invite humanity to contemplate the reality of monotheism and divine guidance. The critique of erroneous views in religious sciences, such as the notion of fragmentation in the Qur'an, and the emphasis on the role of Qur'anic teachers in understanding the verses are among the most prominent points of this exegesis. The metaphor of the Holy Qur'an as a pure well of knowledge beautifully demonstrates that the difficulty in understanding stems not from the nature of the divine speech but from the audiences lack of epistemological tools. This exegesis, in a dignified language and structured form, guides seekers of truth towards a deeper understanding of the Divine Word.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
