The Holy Qur'an, like a radiant lamp, illuminates the path of guidance for humanity and explicates the fundamental principles of religion with divine speech. One of the most pivotal issues in the pure religion of Islam is the concept of obedience and its position within the framework of monotheism. This treatise, concentrating on verse sixty-four of Surah Al-Imran, delves into the meaning of obedience conditioned upon the permission of God and the unparalleled role of the Holy Qur'an in determining the legitimacy of this obedience. The objective is to examine the dimensions of this concept with a profound and systematic approach and to unveil the deviations which, throughout history, have marginalized monotheism. Like a tree rooted in the pure soil of monotheism, this work endeavours to nurture the branches and leaves of religious knowledge under the light of the Holy Qur'an.
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَحِيمًا
And We sent not any messenger except that he should be obeyed by permission of Allah. And if, when they had wronged themselves, they had come to you and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.
Verse sixty-four of Surah Al-Imran, like a golden key, opens the door to understanding the principle of obedience conditioned upon divine permission, demonstrating that any deviation from this principle results in weakening monotheism and leading to misguidance.
This verse, akin to a steadfast pillar in the edifice of religion, clarifies the fundamental issue of obedience within the framework of monotheism. Obedience to the Prophet is not presented as an independent end, but rather as a bridge towards obedience to God. The stipulation by permission of Allah shines like a gem within this verse, signifying that no prophets obedience is legitimate without divine consent. This principle invalidates any claim to independent obedience and protects religion from the risk of becoming an autocratic or charismatic system.
The phrase And We sent not any messenger except that he should be obeyed by permission of Allah explicitly states that divine messengers are only to be obeyed within the scope of God's permission. This conditionality places obedience within a divine framework and prevents it from becoming a tool for power-seeking or egocentrism. Like a river flowing solely within the channel of divine guidance, obedience to the Prophet is legitimate only when aligned with the divine will.
Within this framework, the Prophet is not introduced as an autonomous entity, but as a servant among God's servants whose role is mediatory in conveying the divine message. This view rejects any absolute obedience to anyone other than God and emphasises that even the Prophet cannot be obeyed without divine permission.
Throughout history, numerous political and social systems have sought absolute obedience to their leaders. From Machiavellian thoughts to despotic regimes, absolute power has been promoted as an ultimate goal. However, the Holy Qur'an, emphasising by permission of Allah, invalidates this type of obedience. Like the sun that radiates its own light and casts no shadow of another, absolute power in Islam belongs solely to God.
This viewpoint rejects any claim of absolute powerwhether from prophets, Imams, or political and religious leaders. Even the Prophet, who is infallible and Gods chosen, cannot be obeyed without divine permission. This principle preserves religion from becoming an instrument of domination.
One of the major deviations in Islamic history is the excessive emphasis on religious personalities instead of God. This focus, sometimes seen in popular rituals, marginalises monotheism and leads to practical polytheism. Like a tree that forgets its roots, such deviations sideline God and elevate religious figures in His stead.
Beliefs attributing divine status to Imams or religious figures, known in some societies as Ali-ism (Ali-Allah belief), exemplify this deviation. These beliefs, rooted in ignorance and neglect of the Holy Qur'an, weaken monotheism and promote practical polytheism. The Qur'an, emphasising that the Prophet and Imams are only servants of God, denies any independence for them.
The Holy Qur'an, like a divine compass, is the sole authentic source for recognising divine permission. Without adherence to this celestial book, no obedienceeven to the Prophetis legitimate. Like a clear spring that brings the water of life, the Holy Qur'an is the criterion for discerning the truth and legitimacy of every religious claim.
Although the Prophet possesses a divine miracle, he cannot claim obedience without the Qur'an. Divine permission is accessible only through God's word in the Holy Qur'an. This principle invalidates any claim of independent obedience and stresses the necessity of returning to the Qur'an.
The Prophet and the Imams, as Gods chosen servants, are merely intermediaries for conveying the divine message. They possess no independence or absolute power, and obedience to them is legitimate only if aligned with divine permission. Like a mirror reflecting the suns light, the Prophet and Imams are only reflectors of the divine will.
This perspective rejects any independent obedience to the Prophet or Imams. Even the Prophets intercession through seeking forgiveness for sinners, mentioned in the second part of the verse, is effective solely within the framework of divine permission. This principle preserves the exalted status of the Prophet and Imams as divine intercessors while denying them any autonomy.
The second part of the verse, And if, when they had wronged themselves, they had come to you and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of Repentance and Merciful, emphasises the infinite capacity of divine mercy. Sinners who come to the Prophet and seek forgiveness are not only pardoned but also blessed by divine grace. Like rain that quenches the dry earth, Gods mercy encompasses sinners.
This part of the verse manifests hope and Gods boundless mercy. Even those who have wronged themselves can find the path of guidance by returning to God and seeking intercession through the Prophet.
Religious knowledge, which ought to flow like a pure spring conveying divine cognition to society, has sometimes been influenced by materialistic motives and power-seeking. In the past, scholars like Sheikh Ansari humbly and sincerely placed knowledge at the service of monotheism, but nowadays, material incentives occasionally overshadow this domain.
These challenges, rooted in distancing from the Holy Qur'an, have led to moral and scholarly decline. Like a garden that withers without irrigation, religious knowledge cannot flourish without adherence to the Qur'an.
Reforming religious knowledge necessitates a return to the Holy Qur'an as the principal source of guidance. This celestial book is the ultimate criterion for assessing every religious claim and can rescue religious knowledge from deviations. Like a star that guides through the dark night, the Holy Qur'an shows the correct path to scholars and seekers of knowledge.
This treatise, by exploring verse sixty-four of Surah Al-Imran, demonstrated that obedience in Islam is legitimate only within the framework of divine permission. The Holy Qur'an, as the ultimate criterion of guidance, repudiates any independent obedience and affirms monotheism as the axis of religion. Historical and cultural deviations, which have sometimes manifested in excessive emphasis on religious personalities or popular rituals, have led to the weakening of monotheism and practical polytheism. To overcome these deviations, a return to the Holy Qur'an and placing God at the centre of religiosity is indispensable. Like a gardener who irrigates the tree of religion with the pure water of monotheism, this work endeavours to pave the way for a deeper and reformative understanding of religion.
