of Nokounam (Session 1124)
The Divine Word in the Holy Quran, like a radiant lamp, illuminates the path of guidance towards truth and leads humanity towards perfection. Verse 92 of Surah Al-Maidah, akin to a brilliant gem in this celestial collection, emphasises obedience to God and His Messenger, underscoring the necessity of purification of the self and adherence to prophetic guidance. This verse, in connection with the preceding verses which speak against sins such as intoxicants and gambling, draws a roadmap for a more faithful existence. The present text endeavours to present the lofty concepts of this verse with clarity and elegance to readers. Through the use of allegories and semantic connections, an effort has been made to convey the spirit of the Divine Word in a coherent and pleasing form, inviting the reader to reflect deeply on the reality of obedience and sincerity.
وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَاحْذَرُوا فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا عَلَى رَسُولِنَا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ
"And obey Allah and obey the Messenger and beware; then if you turn away, know that upon Our Messenger is only the clear delivery (of the message)."
Verse 92 of Surah Al-Maidah, by emphasising the command Wa a Allh wa a al-Rasl (Obey Allah and obey the Messenger), establishes the foundation of a faithful life on obedience to God and His Messenger. This command is like a key that opens the doors of felicity to humanity. Obedience to Allah, like a firm root, strengthens faith in the heart of the believer, while obedience to the Messenger, like a flourishing branch, bears the fruit of divine guidance. These two, in an inseparable connection, pave the way to salvation.
The presence of the conjunction Wa in the phrase Wa a Allh acts as a bridge that links the prohibition of sin in the preceding verses (intoxicants and gambling) to the command of obedience. This wa is neither superfluous nor meaningless; rather, like a string of prayer beads, it connects the verses together. Its omission would be akin to cutting this thread, disrupting the coherence of the Divine discourse. This connection demonstrates a logical sequence guiding the believer from the avoidance of sin towards obedience.
Obedience to Allah and His Messenger only attains perfection when the heart is cleansed from the contamination of sin. Sins such as intoxicants and gambling are like a veil of dust upon the mirror of the heart, preventing the reflection of the light of guidance. Accordingly, the Holy Quran in the preceding verse (91) states:
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاءَ فِي الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُنْتَهُونَ
"Indeed, Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So, will you desist?"
This verse functions as a warning to prevent the believer from falling into Satans trap and invites him towards purification of the self. Without such cleansing, obedience is like a rootless structure destined to collapse.
Religiosity in which sin and transgression persist is like a mark upon water that soon vanishes. This formalistic religiosity, described in the original text as the Islam of pretense, results from the absence of purification of the self. A believer who worships with a heart sullied by sin is like a farmer sowing seed in barren soil; not only does it bear no fruit, but his efforts are wasted.
In the mystical journey, purification (removal of sin from the self) precedes adornment (beautifying the self with virtues). This principle is like a law of nature that requires the clearing of weeds before sowing seeds. After cleansing the heart from sin, the believer becomes ready to receive divine guidance, and obedience to God and the Messenger leads him towards perfection.
Obedience to Allah, due to His Lordship and absolute power, is unconditional. Allah, like the helmsman of the ship of existence and the sovereign of all, commands absolute obedience, which is like surrendering to the stream of divine wisdom, leading man to the shore of salvation. This obedience admits no limitation and illuminates the believers heart with the light of Tawhid (Divine Unity).
Obedience to the Messenger, unlike obedience to Allah, is conditional upon what has been revealed to him from Allah. The Messenger is like a mirror reflecting the light of revelation, and his guidance is only meaningful within the framework of divine rulings. This distinction draws a line separating divine Lordship and prophetic mission.
The repetition of the word a in Wa a al-Rasl serves as a sign emphasising the relative independence of obedience to the Messenger. This repetition prevents confusion between obedience to Allah and obedience to the Messenger and highlights the Messengers guiding role within the limits of divine revelation. Without this repetition, the Divine Word would become ambiguous, and the status of the Messenger in guiding the community would be diminished.
The command Wadhir in the verse is like an alarm bell warning believers against disobedience to the Messenger. This warning is particularly directed at avoiding satanic temptations attributed in the preceding verse (91) to intoxicants and gambling. Disobedience to the Messenger is like a step towards an abyss that endangers the religion and piety of the believer.
The Messenger, due to his humanity, is vulnerable to disobedience and harm from the community. He is like a vulnerable envoy confronted by apparent power, bearing only the responsibility of conveying the clear Divine message. Harm done to the Messenger is akin to injustice against a virtuous and oppressed human being, a sin that provokes the wrath of Allah.
The phrase Al-Balgh Al-Mubn in the verse testifies to the limited role of the Messenger to delivering the Divine message. The Messenger has neither coercive power nor independence in legislation; he is merely a conscious and insightful conveyor of the Divine revelation. This role transforms the Prophet into a mirror reflecting the Divine Light.
Allah, as the powerful protector of the Messenger, threatens punishment to those who disobey him. This support acts as a shield preserving the Messenger from the harm of the community. Disobedience to the Messenger is tantamount to confrontation with Allah, who, with His absolute power, establishes justice.
Exaggeration in the status of the Infallibles without regard to their human limitations is like adding unnecessary branches and leaves to the tree of faith, leading to rebellion against Allah. Maintaining balance in respect for the Infallibles and focusing on obedience to God is a key to genuine salvation.
The use of falsehood under the pretext of expediency, such as for unity, is like concealing the truth with a deceptive mask that leads to deviation from the path of religion. Honesty in religiosity is like a light illuminating the path of truth.
The Divine law Kama Tazrau Taud (As you sow, so shall you reap) is like a mirror reflecting the deeds of man. Whatever one plants, one shall harvest accordingly; goodness results in a good reward, and evil receives its due punishment. This principle manifests Divine justice in reward and punishment.
Verse 92 of Surah Al-Maidah, by inviting obedience to Allah and the Messenger and warning against disobedience, functions as a map showing the way to felicity for the believer. This verse emphasises the primacy of purification of the self before adorning it with virtues and underscores the necessity of cleansing the heart from sin and adorning it with divine obedience. The distinction between absolute obedience to Allah and conditional obedience to the Messenger clarifies the guiding role of the Messenger within the framework of revelation. The warning Wadhir acts as a wake-up call, cautioning the believer against the danger of disobedience to the Messenger and falling into Satans trap. Critiques of formalistic religiosity and undue exaggeration stress the need for sincerity and honesty in faith. This interpretation, with a profound insight and dignified language, opens a path towards a deeper understanding of the Divine Word.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
