of Nekounam, May His Sacred Secret Be Sanctified (Session 890)
This present book is a profound exploration of verses 115 and 116 of Surah Al-Imran, which, through a deep and contemplative perspective, elucidates the lofty concepts of goodness, piety, and disbelief within the framework of the Holy Quran. Inspired by the discourses of a distinguished scholar, this work revisits and compiles the meanings of these verses in a scientific and coherent format, employing precise analogies and analyses to pave a path toward a deeper understanding of the Divine Word. The objective is to provide a viewpoint that not only remains content with the apparent meanings of the verses but also, by probing their inner and ethical layers, invites the reader to reflect upon their spiritual and practical responsibilities.
وَمَا يَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلَنْ يُكْفَرُوهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ
And whatever good they do, it will never be denied them. And Allah is Knowing of the righteous.
This verse, like a radiant jewel in Surah Al-Imran, possesses a profound semantic weight whose contemplation opens a window toward understanding Divine wisdom. Goodness, in this verse, is presented not only as a valuable deed but also as a rare gem that demands protection and vigilance. The generality of the phrase وَمَا يَفْعَلُوا indicates the inclusiveness of this Divine promise: every good deed, from every individual, whether believer or non-believer, falls within the scope of Divine reward. However, the emphasis on مِنْ خَيْرٍ suggests the rarity and limitation of goodness; as if goodness, like a pure drop in the turbulent sea of this world, is scarce and fragile.
The phrase فَلَنْ يُكْفَرُوهُ constitutes a Divine promise that any good deed, if shielded from corruption and denial, will never be unrewarded. This negation of denial, expressed in the passive form, encompasses the broad possibility that the corruption of goodness might originate from the individual themselves, others, or external factors. For instance, a child born with good intent may become crippled or unsuccessful due to parental neglect or environmental factors; food prepared painstakingly might spoil due to carelessness; or a marriage founded on hopes of goodness might end bitterly because of lack of attention. These analogies reflect, like a mirror, the fragile reality of goodness.
The righteous in this verse are introduced as a special and distinguished group who not only perform good deeds but also preserve them from wastage. The phrase وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ refers to a unique and particular knowledge from God, distinct from general awareness possessed by creatures. This knowledge, like a light shining upon pure hearts, differentiates the righteous from the merely virtuous. The virtuous perform good deeds, but the righteous guard those deeds with care and vigilance.
The denial of blessing in this verse is metaphorically likened to a fire that burns and destroys goodness. This denial may originate from the individual who, by their own free will, leads the good deed to ruin; or from others who, out of envy, neglect, or environmental causes, cause goodness to be wasted. The passive verb يُكْفَرُوهُ implies a generality indicating that goodness may be destroyed for any reason, near or far, directly or indirectly. For example, a poem carefully memorised may be forgotten if not rehearsed; a vehicle driven recklessly may be wrecked in an accident. Such examples serve as reminders calling humanity to the responsibility of safeguarding goodness.
This verse offers a profound ethical lesson: the mere performance of good deeds, albeit valuable, is insufficient; protecting them, akin to guarding a precious gem, holds even greater importance. Human beings possess free will to either preserve or destroy goodness, yet external factors may also influence this course. Criticism of some exegeses that interpret فَلَنْ يُكْفَرُوهُ solely as the absence of ingratitude is warranted here; this verse emphasises active protection of goodness beyond mere lack of denial.
Verse 115 of Surah Al-Imran, articulated in eloquent and profound language, invites humanity to perform good deeds and safeguard them. Goodness is likened to a delicate flower that requires protection against the storms of denial and destruction. The righteous, praised in this verse, not only create goodness but also, with alertness and responsibility, preserve it from ruin. This verse offers a significant lesson in ethical upbringing and responsibility, urging human beings to reflect on the quality of their deeds.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَنْ تُغْنِيَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve - never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allah at all. And those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
This verse, like a comprehensive mirror, depicts the ultimate fate of the conscious disbelievers who, through their denial, have rendered all their deeds and possessions futile. The phrase لَنْ تُغْنِيَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُهُمْ illustrates that wealth and children, which in this world serve as sources of pride and power, hold no value before the Divine Presence. The expression مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا, emphasising the absolute worthlessness of these assets before God, portrays disbelief as a dark shadow that annihilates every good and blessing.
In this verse, disbelievers are defined as those who, with awareness and volition, deny the truth and thereby corrupt goodness. This disbelief is distinct from weakness or ignorance; the weak, who lack access to religion out of ignorance, are subject to different divine judgement. Conscious disbelievers, who knowingly oppose the truth, have no path to salvation. The example of a rotten fruit which might be consumed in this world but is worthless before God elegantly demonstrates this reality. Similarly, a government that boasts of wealth and power in the temporal realm is, before God, as insignificant as straw blown by the wind.
The phrase هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ emphasises the exclusive eternality of conscious disbelievers in the fire. This permanence signifies everlasting punishment that applies only to those who deliberately reject goodness and truth. Non-disbelieving sinners might be spared through Divine mercy, but conscious disbelievers, due to their deliberate rejection, have no escape. This distinction acts as a clear boundary between darkness and light, separating disbelievers from the weak and sinners.
The lectures employ analogies from the intermediary state (Barzakh) to illustrate the depth of goodness's corruption. Untied boots, shoes with holes, or sugar and oil spoiled through neglect signify goodness that has become worthless due to lack of preservation. These analogies, like tales from another world, call humanity to reflect upon their responsibilities. In society, geniuses wasted through neglect serve as examples of the truth that goodness, without protection, is extinguished like a candle in the wind.
Verse 116 of Surah Al-Imran, with explicit and resolute language, portrays the fate of conscious disbelievers who, by their denial, have ruined all their possessions and deeds. Alongside verse 115, it presents a meaningful contrast: the righteous, by protecting goodness, attain special Divine knowledge, whereas disbelievers, by squandering all, remain in eternal fire. This verse serves as a warning that disbelief and neglect of goodness lead only to ruin.
Verses 115 and 116 of Surah Al-Imran, like the two wings of a bird, depict the dual facets of human truth: the luminous aspect of piety and goodness, and the dark facet of disbelief and corruption. Verse 115, stressing the rarity of goodness and the necessity of its preservation, calls humanity to responsibility and care in their deeds. The righteous, praised therein, not only create goodness but also guard it as vigilant custodians against denial and destruction. In contrast, verse 116 introduces conscious disbelievers as those who, through denial of truth, render all their possessions and deeds worthless and become confined to eternal fire.
These two verses offer a profound lesson in ethical education: goodness, though scarce, is precious, but without protection, it is like a flower vulnerable to storms and is destroyed. Disbelief, on the other hand, is like a fire that reduces all to ashes. In the present age, where goodness and its safeguarding appear rarer than ever, these verses warn humanity to choose the path of piety with awareness and responsibility and to avoid disbelief and destruction.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi