of Nokounam (Session 981)
The Holy Quran is a pristine spring of guidance and the book of life that, through its luminous verses, directs humanity towards felicity and perfection. Verse 69 of Surah An-Nis, like a radiant jewel, speaks of obedience to God and His Messenger, promising believers companionship with the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. This treatise, through reflection upon this noble verse and the elucidation and expansion of its meanings, examines the status of divine obedience, the concept of martyrdom, truthfulness, righteousness, and also true fellowship with the virtuous. The objective is to present these exalted Quranic concepts in a clear and dignified manner with a deep and coherent perspective, thereby illuminating the path for seekers of truth.
وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَٰئِكَ رَفِيقًا
"And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favour, among the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions."
This noble verse stipulates obedience to God and His Messenger as the condition for entering the assembly of the virtuous and fellowship with the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. Such obedience, like a golden key, opens the doors of hereafter felicity and guides the human being towards nearness to the Divine Presence. Obedience is not a mechanical act but a profound connection with the Divine will, stemming from faith and knowledge.
Obedience to the Messenger of God is conditional upon Divine permission, as the Prophet himself acts within the framework of Divine will. This conditionality emphasises the centrality of monotheism and prevents any blind or polytheistic obedience. The Prophet, like a pure mirror, reflects Divine light, and obedience to him is, in truth, obedience to God.
The verb "يُطِعِ" (obeys) is employed in the plural form, indicating the presence of a group of believers who tread the path of obedience. This plurality reflects the abundance of true faith within the community, even if the number of these believers may be small compared to the majority who merely appear outwardly. True believers, like stars in the night sky, manifest their brilliance through silence and righteous deeds.
Believers resemble oppressed sheep, quietly and humbly walking on the path of good, with their goodness reaching others, whereas hypocrites and disbelievers resemble noisy dogs who, through barking and ostentation, seek to display themselves. This parable, like a mirror, reveals the difference between sincerity and hypocrisy. Believers draw near to God through silence and righteous deeds, while hypocrites, through showmanship, stray from the truth.
Believers are likened to a stream of fresh water amidst an ocean of saltwater, remaining free from the pollution and corruption of their environment. This simile demonstrates the purity and sincerity of faith against social deviations. By preserving ethical integrity and adhering to Divine values, believers remain protected from the negative influences of their surroundings.
God has chosen a group to receive special blessingsthose who attain the rank of the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. This selection is a Divine grace guiding servants upon the straight path. The Holy Quran states: "If Allah were to find for them [a way], He would surely accept repentance and mercy." This indicates Divine mercy and guidance on the path to felicity.
Those who obey God and His Messenger will be gathered in the hereafter with the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. This companionship, as a Divine reward, signifies the exalted status of these groups. The Prophets are Divine messengers; the truthful are those sincere in speech and deed; the martyrs are witnesses to the truth; and the righteous possess soundness and felicityideal companions for believers in Paradise.
The martyrs are those who act in the path of God and with Divine knowledge, whether in the battlefield or in everyday life. Martyrdom is not merely death in combat but witnessing the Divine truth. A martyr is one who sees God and, with faith and knowledge, bears witness to the Exalted Truth.
Martyrdom is not limited solely to death in the path of God. Those who are killed in the path of falsehood are not regarded as martyrs. The noble hadith states: "A martyr is one who is upon our matter," meaning a martyr is one who advances on the path of truth with Divine knowledge. This definition elevates martyrdom to a spiritual level and emphasises the importance of intention and Divine orientation.
A story is narrated about a religious scholar who resigned from his position due to the absence of Divine witnessing. He declared that he no longer heard Gods voice nor saw His light. This story underscores the necessity of inner connection with God for holding spiritual offices. The absence of witnessing, even at the highest religious stations, obstructs the fulfilment of spiritual missions.
The truthful are those whose speech and conduct are unified. Sincerity in deed and word is their outstanding trait. The truthful, like a clear mirror, reflect reality in their behaviour and speech, serving as role models for believers.
The righteous are possessors of soundness and felicity. Ethical soundness is a prerequisite for hereafter felicity. Without soundness, felicity is unattainable. The righteous attain eternal felicity by avoiding sin and preserving spiritual and ethical integrity.
A companion (rafq) is a true confidant and associate who shares unity of heart and belief with God and the believers. This fellowship, unlike superficial association, is a profound and spiritual union. A true companion is one who advances alongside God and the virtuous on the path of truth with complete faith.
During the time of the Prophet, individuals such as Salman, Abu Dharr, and Miqdad were recognised as genuine companions. These persons, by adhering to Divine commands and harmonising speech and conduct, provided an example of true fellowship. In contrast, many exhibited only superficial association and remained distant from the reality of faith.
The Holy Quran states: "That is the bounty from Allah; and sufficient is Allah as Knower." This indicates the grace and wisdom of God in selecting the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. Such grace guides servants towards exalted spiritual ranks and emphasises Divine knowledge and wisdom.
Verse 69 of Surah An-Nis, like a shining beacon, delineates the path of obedience to God and His Messenger and promises believers fellowship with the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. Obedience, conditional upon Divine permission, guides humanity towards hereafter felicity. True believers distinguish themselves through humility and righteous deeds from hypocrites and pretenders. Martyrdom, transcending mere death in combat, is witnessing the Divine truth. The truthful and the righteous, by sincerity and soundness, are exemplars of genuine faith. Fellowship with the virtuous is a spiritual union resulting from Divine grace. To attain this felicity, a return to Quranic principles, strengthening true faith, and harmonising word and deed are essential. Religious knowledge, emphasising rationality and avoidance of ostentation, can illuminate this path.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
