The present book constitutes a profound and methodical reflection upon verses 55 to 58 of Surah Al-Imrn from the Holy Quran, centred on the concepts of faith, disbelief, and oppression. It elucidates divine teachings and their effects upon the human soul. This work, with a comprehensive perspective encompassing Quranic, psychological, and mystical discussions, endeavours to clarify the connection between religious adherence, human responsibility, and the consequences of sin on the psyche and society. Employing a polished and coherent linguistic style, the reflections are presented in a manner befitting the scholarly milieu, guiding the reader towards a deeper understanding of Quranic truths.
ثُمَّ إِلَیَّ مَرْجِعُکُمْ فَأَحْکُمُ بَیْنَکُمْ فِیمَا کُنْتُمْ فِیهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that wherein you used to differ.
This verse, like a clear mirror, reveals the truth of all humanitys eventual return to their Lord. God, the Just and Wise Judge, on the Day of Resurrection, will adjudicate the disputes among humans, whether in faith or disbelief. This return not only reminds man of his responsibility for his deeds but also sets forth divine justice as a luminous torch before the eyes. Man, on this path, is like a traveller who ultimately returns to his true destination and will be accountable before the Truth for his choices and actions.
فَأَمَّا الَّذِینَ کَفَرُوا فَأُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِیدًا فِی الدُّنْیَا وَالْآَخِرَةِ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ نَاصِرِینَ
As for those who disbelieve, I will punish them with a severe punishment in this world and the Hereafter, and they shall have no helper.
Disbelief acts as a dark veil that conceals divine truth from the eyes of man and constitutes an injustice rooted in denial and deviation. The punishment of the disbelievers manifests in this world as calamities, wars, and destruction, and in the Hereafter as retributive torment. The absence of any helper, like solitude in an infinite desert, leaves the disbeliever vulnerable and helpless before divine justice. This verse serves as a warning that disbelief not only deprives one of divine mercy but also plunges the individual into a realm of punishment and loneliness.
وَأَمَّا الَّذِینَ آَمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَیُوَفِّیهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ
And as for those who believe and do righteous deeds, He will give them their rewards in full.
Faith is akin to a sapling that flourishes through righteous deeds. Without righteous action, faith remains incomplete and incapable of guiding man to perfection. The divine reward, termed here as wages, is like the fruit that results from the believers exertions on the path of truth. The full attainment of this reward signifies divine generosity and justice, which does not leave any effort unrewarded. This verse summons the believer to a wholehearted and practical commitment to faith and cautions against laxity on this path.
وَاللَّهُ لَا یُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِینَ
And God does not love the wrongdoers.
Oppression, like a poison, whether arising from a disbeliever or a believer, is detested by God. Disbelief itself is an injustice that deprives man of truth, yet even a believer, if neglectful of righteous deeds or given to oppression, falls into the category of oppressors. Abandoning obligatory duties resembles ignoring a covenant made by the believer with God, which itself is an injustice that darkens the heart. This verse warns believers that commitment to faith protects them from all forms of oppression, whether towards themselves or others.
Disbelief is like a wandering wind that recognises no covenant and leaves the disbeliever in unrestrained freedom. Faith, conversely, is a pledge that obliges the believer both inwardly and outwardly. This commitment distinguishes the believer from the disbeliever; the disbeliever is free in his misguidance, but the believer, if neglectful of righteous deeds or given to oppression, becomes an oppressor due to breach of this covenant. This difference is like a clear line between the darkness of disbelief and the light of faith, manifesting the believers responsibility towards God and creation.
Sin resembles water that, by repetition, permeates the soil of the soul and gradually encompasses its roots. Through repeated sinning, man becomes accustomed to it, and what was once ugly and detestable becomes sweet and pleasurable in his view. This process is akin to a disease that gradually wears down body and spirit, depriving man of recognising the abhorrence of sin. In this state, even acts of worship such as prayer and fasting, if not accompanied by knowledge, cannot cleanse the soul from this contamination.
The human soul is like a mirror reflecting the images of the environment and social interactions. Association with sinners, even through mere glance or conversation, contaminates the soul like a virus. This influence resembles the transmission of disease from one person to another; just as touching a sick person's glass can spread illness, looking at a sinner can draw the soul towards deviation. This principle highlights the necessity of vigilance regarding ones environment and social contacts.
Parental sin is like a shadow cast upon the souls of their children, even if the child is unaware of it. This influence is akin to a seed planted in the childs hearts soil, which will bear fruit in the future. A child raised in a sinful environment, even without direct comprehension, tends towards sin. This principle amplifies the responsibility of parents to preserve the spiritual environment of the family.
Religious knowledge is like a gem that, in the absence of knowledgeable mentors and teachers, degrades into lifeless and superficial rituals. Religious science, which ought to guide man towards perfection, sometimes degenerates due to lack of proper guidance into meaningless outcries and empty ceremonies. This degeneration is comparable to the loss of a light that could have illuminated mans path.
Mourning rituals, if performed without knowledge and sincerity, resemble soulless performances that not only fail to reform the soul but may also lead to carnal pleasure-seeking. Such acts, if lacking awareness, are like water poured upon stone, leaving no trace.
Worship acts such as recitation of the Holy Quran and voluntary prayers are like torches that divert the mind from sin and guide it towards God. However, if these acts are performed without knowledge, they resemble seeds that do not grow in the soil. Worship must be accompanied by awareness and sincerity to cleanse the soul from sins contamination.
Dhikr (remembrance) is like medicine that must be administered precisely and suitably according to ones condition. The dhikr And God does not love the wrongdoers, if recited with awareness, can distance the soul from oppression; however, if recited without attention and knowledge, it may have the opposite effect. This dhikr is a double-edged sword that can purify the soul or, if misused, harm the individual.
Dhikrs such as the visitation of Ashura, if recited without knowledge and with an emphasis on cursing, may harm the soul instead of benefiting it. These acts resemble medicine taken without a physicians prescription, which causes illness rather than healing. One must benefit from the guidance of religious scholars when performing dhikr to avoid deviation.
ذَٰلِکَ نَتْلُوهُ عَلَیْکَ مِنَ الْآَیَاتِ وَالذِّکْرِ الْحَکِیمِ
That We recite to you from the verses and wise remembrance.
The Quranic verses, like lofty peaks of truth, guide humanity towards knowledge and wisdom. The wise dhikr embodies the knowledge manifested in the Holy Quran that directs man to perfection. These verses not only point to the realities of existence but, like a
