of Session 995
The Holy Qurn, like a radiant lamp, guides humanity on the path of excellence and felicity. Verse 94 of Surah An-Nis, with a comprehensive and wise command, invites man to awareness, caution, and the preservation of the dignity of others in the journey of life. This writing, relying upon valuable lectures and profound analyses, elucidates this noble verse and explores its ethical, social, and spiritual dimensions with a holistic perspective. The objective is to present an interpretation that is both a guide to faithful living and a model for rational and ethical interactions in society.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُوا ۚ وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَنْ أَلْقَىٰ إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِنًا تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ فَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كُنْتُمْ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَتَبَيَّنُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
O you who have believed, when you step forth in the cause of God, investigate thoroughly; and do not say to the one who offers you peace, "You are not a believer," seeking the commodities of worldly life. For with God are abundant spoils. Thus, you were before, then God bestowed favour upon you. Therefore, investigate thoroughly; indeed, God is ever aware of what you do.
Although the noble verse was revealed within the context of warfare, it provides a universal command applicable to all aspects of life. This comprehensiveness, like a clear stream, flows from a specific context towards general principles, calling humanity to reflection on all their deeds. The term "Sabil Allah" (the path of God) refers not solely to the battlefield of jihad but to every virtuous path upon which a person steps, ranging from the alleys of daily life to broader social arenas. This expansiveness signifies the infinite wisdom of the Holy Qurn, whose rulings were revealed for all times and places.
The address يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ("O you who have believed") acts like a celestial call, summoning the faithful to commitment and responsibility towards divine guidance. This invocation places a heavy trust upon the shoulders of believers to proceed with awareness and piety at every step. The believer, akin to a vigilant sentinel, must traverse their path with insight and avoid ignorance and rashness.
The command فَتَبَيَّنُوا ("investigate thoroughly") shines like a brilliant torch, distinguishing the right path from misguidance. This directive calls man to careful scrutiny and avoidance of action based on ignorance, blind imitation, or baseless friendship and enmity. Investigation, like a golden key, opens the doors of truth and prevents being deceived or deceiving others. In a world where misinformation casts a sinister shadow over minds, this Qurnic principle invites critical thinking and decision-making grounded in awareness.
The lecture, with a humorous metaphor, emphasises the necessity of vigilance against deception. One who attempts to deceive another with cunning is like placing a cap over the truth. However, the believer, through investigation and awareness, removes this cap from the truth and paves the way for honesty and justice. This vigilance acts as a firm shield, protecting one from loss not only in financial transactions but in all social interactions.
The Holy Qurn, by repeating فَتَبَيَّنُوا, stresses the importance of ingraining a culture of investigation. This repetition, like an awakening bell, calls humanity to precision in actions and avoidance of hastiness. In a society where haste and superficiality carry minds away like a fierce wind, this divine command acts as a steadfast anchor guiding one towards depth and contemplation.
The noble verse, with the prohibition وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَنْ أَلْقَىٰ إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِنًا, forbids hasty judgement and slandering others. One who, by greeting and submission, expresses friendship and solidarity, should not be censured with suspicion and doubt. This prohibition, like a clear mirror, reflects human dignity and invites the believer to preserve the respect of others.
The verse, referring to تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا, critiques material motives that sometimes lead to slander and suspicion. Greed for worldly gains, like a dark cloud, deprives the heart of the light of faith. The Holy Qurn warns that such behaviours result not only in harm to others but ultimately in one's own loss.
The command فَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ, like a refreshing breeze, directs man towards reliance upon God and contentment with worldly spoils. What is with God is an endless treasure, surpassing the transient commodities of this world. This principle calls man to prioritise the values of the hereafter and abstain from material greed.
A religious scholar has stated: In times when virtue predominates, trust should be the default; yet in eras of widespread corruption, mental caution should be adopted without expressing suspicion or doubt in speech. This practice, like a precise scale, balances trust and caution. The believer should neither be gullible, trusting everyone blindly, nor discourteous by openly revealing suspicion.
Instead of slander and suspicion, honesty should be assessed through testing and investigation. This method, like a sturdy bridge, protects relationships from the harm of wrongful judgements. If there is doubt within the heart, it should not be verbalised, but rather revealed through fair examination.
Expressing doubt or excessive trust, each in their own way, causes harm. Expressing doubt acts like a poisoned arrow wounding the self-esteem of others, while undue trust may incite arrogance in the recipient. The believer must, like a vigilant gardener, cultivate the sapling of trust with care and equilibrium.
The noble verse with كَذَٰلِكَ كُنْتُمْ مِنْ قَبْلُ reminds the believers of their former state of ignorance before Gods gracious guidance. This reminder, like a clear mirror, calls man to humility and forbearance towards others. The believer should accompany those at the beginning of faith with kindness and patience, like a tree flourishing from the soil.
The guidance of the believers is the result of Gods infinite grace. فَمَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ, like a shower of mercy, pours upon the believers heart and invites them to gratitude and righteous action. This favour doubles the believers responsibility to preserve faith and assist others.
The Holy Qurn, by the attribute خَبِيرًا, introduces God as fully aware of the details of human deeds. This attribute implies not only general knowledge but precise, detailed divine awareness. God, like an insightful expert, observes every act and intention carefully; nothing escapes His gaze. This awareness invites the believer to piety and meticulousness in actions.
This verse is like a divine school filled with lessons of faith, discipline, certainty, and care. The believer must listen attentively to these commands and, like a diligent student, progress on the path of perfection. Piety acts as a firm shield, protecting man from error and guiding him towards felicity.
Verse 94 of Surah An-Nis, like a brilliant gem in the treasury of the Holy Qurn, presents profound and eternal lessons in ethics, rationality, and the management of social relations. This verse, by emphasising investigation and awareness, restrains man from ignorance and haste and, by prohibiting slander and suspicion, preserves human dignity. The reminder of Divine favour and the all-aware oversight of God calls the believer to humility, gratitude, and piety. The practice of religious scholars in balancing trust and caution offers a practical model for faithful living in the contemporary world. This interpretation, by exploring various dimensions of this noble verse, provides valuable guidance for rational and ethical life within society.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
