Derived from the scholarly lectures of Nekounam, may his sanctity be preserved (Session 984)
The Noble Quran, like a radiant beacon, guides humanity along the path of perfection and felicity. Ayah 77 of Surah Al-Imran, which constitutes the central focus of this discourse, vividly and profoundly portrays the behaviour of certain believers in confronting the Divine commandment to engage in jihad and maintain spiritual and social readiness. This treatise, drawing upon learned lectures, endeavours to elucidate the meanings of this noble verse with profound and precise insight within a scientific and coherent framework. The objective is not merely to comprehend the apparent meanings of the verse but to delve into its deeper layers and connect them with contemporary issues, thus serving as a bridge between past and present to offer lessons for faithful living.
This noble verse, with an eloquent address, depicts the conduct of a group of believers vis--vis Divine injunctions. The opening phrase "أَلَمْ تَرَ" acts as a mirror, inviting the addressee to reflect upon their own and others behaviour, as though the Quran awakens the conscience to internal scrutiny.
The verse was revealed within a context where some believers, due to weakness in spiritual and material preparedness, were called upon by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to restrain from combat and concentrate on worship and strengthening the social foundation. This command was not indicative of frailty but analogous to a gardener preparing the soil before sowing seeds. Establishing prayer and giving zakat were introduced as two wings enabling the flight of the faithful community towards strength and steadfastness.
Some believers, motivated by the pursuit of wealth and material gain, desired war. This inclination resembles a mirage that draws a person towards a delusion of felicity, whereas in Islam, war is legitimate only with Divine intention and for the establishment of justice. The Quran, by criticising such conduct, calls believers to sincerity of intention and abstinence from worldly attachments.
The contemporary world also witnesses wars transforming into instruments of economic profiteering. Arms factories and related industries, like insatiable monsters, feed upon the fire of war. This reality serves as a warning for believers to centre their intentions solely upon the Divine in all actions.
When fighting was decreed upon the believers, a group of them feared the peoplesometimes even more intensely than fear of God. This fear, like a heavy shadow, was rooted in attachment to wealth and worldly life. Some of these believers protested against Divine wisdom, saying, "Our Lord, why have You decreed upon us fighting? Why did You not postpone it for us a near term?" This protest resembles a souls cry, reluctant to endure hardships and unable to comprehend Divine wisdom.
The Noble Quran, responding to this protest with wise expression, states: "Say, 'The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who fears Allah.'" This reply, like a refreshing breeze, guides believers hearts towards sublime truth. The goods of this world are but a drop compared to the vast ocean of the Hereafter. Piety is the key to entering eternal felicity where no injustice, not even as slight as a thread in the crevice of a date seed (fatl), shall be inflicted upon anyone.
Jihad in Islam attains legitimacy only under two fundamental conditions: competent leadership and Divine purpose. Absent these, war degenerates into an instrument of destruction and oppression. Historical experience with aimless wars demonstrates the irreparable damage inflicted upon societies. If war is not for defending the oppressed and realising justice, it resembles a storm that engulfs everything within.
In contemporary history, some wars, lacking Divine purpose, have led to social catastrophes. These wars neither served justice nor brought welfare, but rather resulted in poverty, displacement, and social tribulations. This reality admonishes faithful communities to prioritise wisdom and Divine intent in every action.
Wars devoid of objective cause inflict deep wounds upon the body of society. They shatter families, deepen poverty, and transform hope into despair. In some cases, even those who profit materially from war ultimately suffer spiritual and human detriments. This fact underscores the necessity of avoiding unnecessary wars and focusing on social reform.
Religious knowledge, to correctly guide society, requires familiarity with human sciences such as history, sociology, and psychology. These sciences act as tools assisting the religious scholar in understanding the past, analysing the present, and forecasting the future. Without these disciplines, religious rulings and guidance risk becoming detached from social realities.
History acts as a mirror revealing past lessons; sociology as a light illuminating collective behaviour; and psychology as a key unlocking human inner secrets. Religious knowledge without these sciences becomes lifeless memorisation, unable to meet contemporary societal needs.
Reliance on rote memorisation, devoid of deep analysis and comprehension, reduces religious knowledge to a lowly level. Genuine knowledge requires foresight, analysis, and profound understanding, not mere retention of information. The religious scholar must be like an architect who, informed by past and present, constructs the edifice of the future.
Prayer, like a Divine breeze, ought to polish the believers soul and augment their spiritual energy. Yet, if prayer becomes a mere mass of inactivity with no effect on inner transformation, it fails its purpose. Worship must be like clear water, purifying the heart and guiding towards piety.
Some believers complain about the ineffectiveness of prayer, as though it has become a lifeless habit for them. This reality highlights the necessity of sincerity and attention to the quality of worship. Prayer should be like a seed that sprouts in the believers heart and yields the fruits of piety and knowledge.
The Noble Quran emphasises that Divine justice is only fully realised in the court of the Hereafter. This world, like a small vessel, lacks the capacity to establish perfect justice. Oppressions, sufferings, and disharmonies of this world are compensated solely under the auspices of the Hereafter. This reality kindles faith in the Hereafter within the hearts of believers.
An example of these disharmonies is the suffering of those who fall victim in aimless wars or lose their material comfort. Such sufferings are recompensed with infinite precision (fatl) in the Divine court, so that no right is neglected.
The disharmonies of this world themselves attest to the necessity of the Hereafter. Oppressions that remain unrequited in this world are redressed by Divine justice in the afterlife. This perspective encourages believers to endure hardships and sacrifice in the way of God, knowing that no deed escapes Divine scrutiny.
Ayah 77 of Surah Al-Imran, like a brilliant jewel, offers profound lessons for faithful living. This verse, by critiquing the conduct of certain believers who shy away from jihad due to fear or attachment to the world, emphasises the importance of spiritual and social preparedness. Prayer and zakat, as two steadfast pillars, fortify the faithful community. War is legitimate only under competent leadership and Divine purpose; otherwise, it leads to oppression and destruction. Religious knowledge requires reform and awareness of human sciences to effectively guide society towards good. Divine justice is established with infinite precision in the Hereafter, and faith in the Hereafter motivates endurance and sacrifice in Gods cause. These lessons, not only relevant at the time of the Qurans revelation but for all epochs, serve as invaluable guidance for faithful existence.
