the Lectures of Nokounam, May His Soul Be Blessed (Session 1039)
This writing is dedicated to the elucidation and interpretation of one of the radiant verses of the Holy Quran, which, through profound language and a monotheistic perspective, delineates the path of felicity and salvation under the light of sincere God-worship. The core of this interpretation is a verse addressing the People of the Book, emphasising abstention from exaggeration in religion and adherence to the reality of monotheism. In this work, employing analytical insight alongside spiritual metaphors and allusions, an effort has been made to present the exalted Quranic concepts in a coherent and lucid manner for seekers of divine knowledge. The objective is to acquaint the reader with the depth of the monotheistic message and to avoid any form of doctrinal deviation that leads to polytheism and disbelief.
Monotheism is like a light that illuminates the path to eternal felicity, whereas polytheism is akin to darkness that leads a person towards misguidance. From the Quranic viewpoint, one whose sole deity is the One God is a monotheist, and God stands by and guides him. However, if a persons deity is anything other than the Lordbe it a person or an objectthe path to felicity is closed to him, and a favourable outcome becomes distant. This truth, like a steadfast pillar, constitutes the foundation of human happiness and salvation. The Holy Quran states:
"وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا"
(An-Nis: 116)
meaning: Whoever associates others with God has certainly gone far astray.
يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ ۚ إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِنْهُ ۖ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۖ وَلَا تَقُولُوا ثَلَاثَةٌ ۚ انْتَهُوا خَيْرًا لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا اللَّهُ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ سُبْحَانَهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ ۘ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا
O People of the Book, do not exceed the limits in your religion and do not say anything about God except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of God and His word which He bestowed upon Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and do not say Trinity. Cease, it is better for you. Indeed, God is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is God as Disposer of affairs.
The Holy Quran, with a clear address to the People of the Book, forbids exaggeration in religion. Exaggeration is like a river that has departed from the path of moderation and flows towards the abyss of polytheism and disbelief. This verse, by emphasising that nothing but the truth should be said about God, negates any false claims such as the divinity of Jesus (peace be upon him) or the belief in the Trinity. Exaggeration means exceeding the limits in beliefs, which is contrary to the spirit of monotheism and leads to doctrinal deviations. The Holy Quran repeats this warning in another verse:
"قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ"
(Al-Midah: 77)
The Holy Quran introduces Jesus (peace be upon him) as the son of Mary, a messenger of God, a divine word, and a spirit from God. These titles are like jewels in the crown of prophethood, indicating his exalted status, but they never remove him from the realm of humanity and createdness. Jesus (peace be upon him) is a messenger like other prophets, a word that God cast upon Mary, and a spirit given to him by the Lord. These descriptions indicate his special creation, but they never imply divinity or transcendence beyond creation. The Quran elsewhere states:
"إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ"
(l Imrn: 59)
Divine creation is like a boundless ocean, each wave revealing an aspect of the power and wisdom of the Lord. The creation of Jesus (peace be upon him) without a father is but one among thousands of manifestations of diversity in the system of creation. God is a Creator who forms beings in various forms and diverse systems, from terrestrial and extraterrestrial animals to creatures beyond human comprehension. Just as in some parts of the world the sun rises at night and blends day with night, divine creation transcends human conventional laws. This diversity is a sign of the greatness of the Lord, as the Quran also indicates:
"وَمَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ"
(Al-ijr: 85)
Humanity, in face of this magnitude, is like a child who only sees a corner of the truth. Human knowledge is like viewing ten centimetres of an infinite world. If this limited vision is restricted further, man falls into complete blindness. This limitation is an invitation to humility before divine wisdom and acceptance of ignorance in the face of the endless knowledge of the Lord. The Quran states:
"وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا"
(Al-Isr: 85)
The Holy Quran invites the People of the Book to believe in God and all His messengers. This invitation is like a key that opens the gates of felicity. Faith in the prophets, from Moses (peace be upon him) and David (peace be upon him) to Jesus (peace be upon him), signifies acceptance of the unity of the divine mission. Obedience to God and His messengers is the path that leads humanity towards the truth. The Quran says:
"قُولُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ"
(Al-Baqarah: 136)
The Holy Quran explicitly rejects belief in the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) and regards it as a superstition distant from the reality of monotheism. This verse, like a sharp sword, cuts off the roots of polytheism and stresses pure monotheism. The belief in the Trinity, because it violates the principle of Gods oneness, is considered a deviant belief. The Quran elsewhere warns:
"لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ"
(Al-Midah: 73)
The declaration of There is no deity but God as a guiding remembrance purifies the heart from polytheism and connects the human being to the truth.
All creatures in the universe are like patterns on the carpet of existence, manifestations of the Divine, and none of them possess independent reality. Just as the carpet consists of wool and dye and has no identity other than its components, the creatures are only manifestations of the Divine will. God is the Necessary Being, and all other existents, from mosquitoes and ants to prophets and Imams, are His servants. This truth is like a mirror reflecting the greatness of the Lord. The Quran states:
"لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ"
(An-Nis: 171)
God is exalted above having a son, as He is free from death and decay and requires no successor.
