of , (Session 1118)
Surah Al-M'idah, akin to a profound sea of divine knowledge, in verses 83 to 85, unveils the gems of pure faith. These verses, with eloquent and impactful expression, delineate the attributes of the true believers and distinguish them from other groups. In this discourse, through reflection on these luminous verses and a deep analysis of the teachings of religious scholars, an all-encompassing portrayal of faithas a living and dynamic current within the believer's heartis endeavoured. This examination, by considering the emotional and spiritual reactions of the believers to divine revelation, their aspiration to accompany the righteous, and the eternal divine reward, seeks to clarify the reality of faith and invite the reconstruction of the spiritual bond with the Holy Qur'an.
The preceding verses of Surah Al-M'idah, referring to the characteristics of the Jews and Christiansespecially the priests and monks who abstain from arroganceprovide a backdrop for introducing the true believers. These verses, by delineating fundamental differences among religious groups, gradually guide towards elucidating pure faith. Among these, verse 83 addresses, for the first time, the believers whose hearts tremble upon hearing the divine revelation and whose souls surrender to the divine truth.
Who is a believer? This question is answered clearly in the verses under discussion. A believer is not merely one who professes faith superficially, but one whose heart is opened to the divine revelation and who responds to its truth wholeheartedly. This definition portrays faith beyond external rituals, as a living current within the believers heart and soul.
The Holy Qur'an in verse 83 of Surah Al-M'idah, with an elevated style, speaks of the attentive ear of the believers. This ear not only hears sounds but prepares the heart to accept the truth.
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ ۖ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ
"And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognised of the truth. They say, Our Lord, we have believed; so register us among the witnesses."
The phrase وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا acts as a key that opens the doors of the believers heart towards the truth. A receptive ear is a sign of spiritual readiness for accepting revelation, as if the believers heart is fertile soil prepared to receive the divine seeds.
One of the most prominent features of the believers in this verse is their profound emotional response to the revelation. The phrase تَرَىٰ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ depicts a divine painting of the tearful eyes of the believers, trembling with the intensity of the impact of the truth. These tears do not stem from sorrow, but from the joy of encountering the truth and connecting to the origin of existence.
The phrase مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ denotes the believers profound knowledge. This recognition is not merely emotional but intellectual, originating from a deep understanding of the monotheistic truth. The believers, upon hearing the divine verses, stand as if before a mirror of truth that reveals their authentic existential face.
The believers then declare their faith by saying رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ, requesting to be registered among the witnesses of the truth. These witnesses are those who testify to the truth through faith and righteous deeds and on the Day of Resurrection will bear witness over their own and others actions.
Verse 83 of Surah Al-M'idah, with eloquent language, delineates the characteristics of pure believers: receptive ears, tears born of eagerness for the truth, profound recognition of the truth, and the desire to testify to it. These attributes portray faith as a living and dynamic current in the believers heart that goes beyond external rituals and leads to connection with the origin of existence.
Verse 84, expressed in an interrogative tone, emphasises the believers faith in God and the truth.
وَمَا لَنَا لَا نُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا جَاءَنَا مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَنَطْمَعُ أَنْ يُدْخِلَنَا رَبُّنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الصَّالِحِينَ
"And why should we not believe in God and what has come to us of the truth, and we aspire that our Lord will admit us with the righteous people?"
This question, as a call from the depths of the believers heart, stresses the necessity of faith in God and acceptance of the truth. The believers, with this question, seem to confront themselves before a mirror of truth and ask: how can one not believe in God and His revelation?
The phrase نَطْمَعُ أَنْ يُدْخِلَنَا رَبُّنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الصَّالِحِينَ portrays the believers aspiration to accompany the righteous. This aspiration signifies humility and a desire for spiritual perfection, as if the believers seek to join the caravan of the righteous and find tranquillity under the shade of divine mercy.
Verse 84, by emphasising faith in God and the truth and the aspiration to accompany the righteous, introduces the believers as those who not only believe in the truth but also seek to join the virtuous through righteous actions. This verse portrays faith as a bridge between the heart and righteous deeds.
Verse 85, with majestic expression, speaks of Gods reward for the believers.
فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُوا جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
"So God rewarded them for what they said with gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever; and that is the reward of the doers of good."
The phrase فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُوا emphasises Gods reward for the believers faith and truthful speech. This reward is the consequence of sincerity and coherence between their faith, speech, and action.
The Holy Qur'an, through the phrase جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ, portrays Paradise as gardens from which clear rivers flow beneath the trees. This depiction not only reflects the beauty and eternity of Paradise but also illustrates the eternal tranquillity of the believers under the shade of divine blessings.
The rivers of Paradise, unlike earthly qanats (underground canals), possess supreme purity and beauty. These rivers, as if veiled by a translucent light of divinity, are free from material impurities and gently refresh the believers heart with vitality and splendour. This description, like a unique painting, elevates Paradise beyond material imagination.
Paradise is the result of divine will and the righteous deeds of the believers. These gardens are created by a divine breath without the need for material effort and stand as a mirror reflecting the believers faith and virtuous actions.
The description of the rivers of Paradise bears resemblance to the divine blessings granted to Lady Maryam (peace be upon her), where a river and a palm tree appeared before her. This connection is like a thread of divine mercy linking the worldly life and the Hereafter.
Verse 85, through the description of divine reward and promised Paradise, culminates the believers faith. This reward is the fruit of sincerity and harmony between faith, speech, and deeds, manifesting in everlasting gardens with flowing rivers.
True faith is attachment to God and truth, not mere performance of external rituals. The Holy Qur'an considers a believer one whose heart trembles before the revelation, not one who is content with ritualistic observance alone. Faith is like a flowing river that springs from the
