of Nekounam, may his secret be sanctified (Session 1107)
The Holy Quran, like a clear spring, channels guidance towards hearts seeking truth. Verse 70 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, with profound and instructive rhetoric, unveils the history of the Children of Israel and speaks of the divine covenant, the dispatch of prophets, and the rebellion of this people against guidance. This verse reflects ethical and religious deviations and offers valuable lessons for religious communities. In this treatise, relying on the discourses of religious scholars, this verse is contemplated and its various dimensions examined with clear and dignified language. The objective is not only to comprehend the apparent meanings of the verse but to explore its deeper layers, so as to shed light upon the path of guidance and reformation.
Verse 70 of Surah Al-Ma'idah speaks eloquently of the divine covenant with the Children of Israel and their rebellion. The text of the verse along with its translation is as follows:
لَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلًا ۖ كُلَّمَا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰ أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُوا وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ
Indeed, We took the covenant of the Children of Israel and sent messengers to them. Whenever a messenger came to them with what their souls did not desire, a faction denied and a faction killed.
The phrase "لَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ" refers to a divine and intrinsic covenant that God established with the Children of Israel. This covenant is a commitment rooted both in human nature and, on the other hand, strengthened in hearts through divine miracles. Just as a clear spring gushes forth from the heart of a stone, divine miracles also cultivate faith in prepared hearts. This covenant was not merely an obligation to accompany the religion of God but also a sign of Gods boundless grace to guide this people.
Key point: The divine covenant with the Children of Israel is like a pact placed within human nature, which through divine miracles transforms into a firm faith. This covenant is an invitation to guidance, not a compulsion to acceptance.
The phrase "وَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلًا" indicates the dispatch of multiple prophets towards the Children of Israel. This sending is akin to rain falling upon dry land to fertilise it. The multitude of prophets (messengers) reflects the difficulty of guiding this nation and their numerous pretexts. God, with infinite mercy, sent prophets to shine the light of guidance upon darkened hearts, yet the rebellion of the people transformed this light into a shadow of denial and violence.
The divine covenant and the sending of prophets were two fundamental pillars of the guidance of the Children of Israel. The covenant is like a pact rooted in human nature that blossoms through divine miracles. The dispatch of prophets is also a sign of Gods boundless mercy, which did not deprive even a fault-finding nation of guidance. These two elements form the foundations of the divine invitation, which was later met with negative reactions from the Children of Israel.
In the phrase "وَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلًا", the word "إِلَيْهِمْ" signifies a voluntary and respectful invitation towards religion. This term contrasts with "عَلَيْهِمْ", which carries the burden of compulsion. Divine invitation is like a breeze that gently blows over the branches of hearts, not like a storm that forcibly plants faith in hearts. This distinction testifies to freedom in accepting religion and respect for human choice.
Key point: The divine invitation to religion is embodied in the word "إِلَيْهِمْ", indicating freedom and respect rather than coercion and imposition.
The divine religion is based upon voluntary and respectful invitation. Compulsion in religion is like forcing a seed into unprepared soil, which instead of growth brings withering. Certain wrongful behaviours, such as enforcing religious rulings through violence, depart from the spirit of religion and lead to deviation instead of guidance. Religious knowledge, in its lofty station, must refrain from coercion and violence and advance invitation with softness and kindness.
The issuance of unfounded fatwas, sometimes by individuals lacking sufficient knowledge, leads to insecurity and deviation within the religious community. Such fatwas are like dark clouds that obscure the light of truth, producing misguidance instead of guidance. Religious knowledge must be based on knowledge, reasoning, and respect for human freedom.
The divine invitation is accompanied by respect and freedom, and any form of compulsion in religion is incompatible with the spirit of the Holy Quran. Criticism of compulsion and unscientific fatwas emphasises the necessity of returning to a gentle and respectful invitation. This section considers the divine invitation as a clear spring that must reach hearts with kindness and wisdom.
The phrase "كُلَّمَا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰ أَنْفُسُهُمْ" indicates the root cause of the rebellion of the Children of Israel. Whenever a prophet brought a message incompatible with their carnal desires, they opposed it. This selfishness is like a dust cloud that conceals truth from their eyes and obstructs acceptance of guidance.
Key point: Selfishness and following carnal desires were the fundamental causes of the rebellion of the Children of Israel against the prophets, which resulted in denial and killing.
The Children of Israel showed two responses towards the prophets: "فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُوا وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ". A faction denied the prophets and another faction killed them. Denial is like rejecting a light placed before their eyes, and killing is the utmost malice and distance from guidance. These two reactions reveal the depth of deviation of this people, with no mention of anyone being rightly guided in this verse.
The phrase "فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُوا وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ" indicates that the Children of Israel divided the prophets into two groups: those who were merely denied and those who were killed. This classification signifies the organised nature of their deviation. Some prevented acceptance of truth through denial, while others completely blocked the path of guidance through killing.
The reaction of the Children of Israel to the prophets exemplifies selfishness and rebellion against divine guidance. Denial and killing of the prophets are two sides of the same coin, both originating from following carnal desires. This section serves as a warning to religious communities to avoid selfishness and to submit humbly to the truth.
The Holy Quran introduces the prophets as bringers of glad tidings and warners: "وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا" (Saba: 28). Prophets are like torchbearers who illuminate the path of guidance, not through harshness and violence, but through glad tidings and admonition. This gentle invitation stands opposed to any form of coercion and imposition.
Key point: Prophets open the path of guidance through glad tidings and warning, not through harshness and compulsion. Religious invitation must be gentle and respectful.
Religious history has sometimes witnessed violences incompatible with the spirit of religion. The Crusades in Christianity and some harsh behaviours among Jews are examples of such deviations. Religion is like a flower that blooms with kindness, not with harshness and violence. In the contemporary era, some religions have attracted hearts with gentleness and kindness, while the harshness of some adherents has led to deviation and alienation from religion.
The hadith "مَا أُوذِيَ نَبِيٌّ مِثْلَ مَا أُوذِيتُ" indicates the intensity of the persecutions endured by the Prophet of Islam. Unlike prophets who were released by killing, the Prophet of Islam faced continuous persecution that entailed double suffering. These persecutions were like thorns scattered along the path of guidance.
The Holy Quran, emphasising the role of the prophets as bringers of glad tidings and warners, considers religious invitation as gentle and respectful. Criticism of violence in religions and the persecution of the Prophet of Islam warn religious communities to avoid harshness and compulsion and to facilitate the path of guidance with kindness.
The Holy Quran states in Surah Al-Asr:
إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ
Indeed, mankind is in loss.
This verse considers loss as a universal state for humanity, except for a small group who turn to faith and righteous deeds. Man is like a traveller wandering lost in the desert of error, unless he finds the light of faith.
The Holy Quran continues in Surah Al-Asr:
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
Except those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
This small group shines like stars in the dark sky of loss. Faith, righteous deeds, and mutual exhortation to truth and patience are the keys to salvation from loss.
Key point: Guidance is only attained by a small group who accompany faith and righteous deeds with exhortation to truth and patience.
Some believers, although having faith, behave in ways incompatible with the truth of religion. They are like trees with branches and leaves but bear no fruit. Criticism of these behaviours emphasises the necessity of harmony between faith and practice.
Man, on his path of evolution, is still at the beginning of the road
