This book is a reflection of profound contemplations on monotheism and its position in human life, focusing on the exegesis of the fortieth verse of Surah Al-Anm. It explores the innate truth of humanity in facing punishment and death. content of the delivered lectures, this writing endeavours to present exalted monotheistic concepts in a clear, eloquent language suitable for a scholarly context, arranged in an orderly and systematic form. The aim is to guide the reader toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between humans and their Lord, and to reconsider religious beliefs and practices which, at times, have deviated from the truth of monotheism due to negligence or misguidance. Utilizing allegories and literary allusions, the work seeks to portray complex theological notions in a manner that is both pleasing and precise.
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتَكُمْ إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ عَذَابُ اللَّهِ أَوْ أَتَتْكُمُ السَّاعَةُ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ تَدْعُونَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
Say: Inform Me, if the punishment of Allah comes to you, or the Hour arrives, will you call upon any other than Allah, if you are truthful?
This noble verse confronts humanity with a fundamental question: At the moment when divine punishment or death approaches, to what refuge does one turn? This inquiry is not merely an invitation to self-awareness but a challenge to test the sincerity of ones faith. The phrase Punishment of Allah refers to instances such as sudden calamities, painful accidents like collisions, or the hardships of life that place the individual in existential distress. The Hour in this context is interpreted as individual death; the moment in which a human being faces the truth of their own existence and the veils of heedlessness are lifted from before their eyes.
In the exegesis of this verse, the Hour refers to individual death rather than the general Resurrection. This interpretation considers the moment of death as a pivotal turning point guiding the person towards the truth of monotheism. Death acts as a mirror reflecting the sincerity of faith and confronting humanity with its existential reality. This moment is an opportunity to return to the origin of existence and to reconsider beliefs that have sometimes been forgotten amidst comfort and heedlessness.
Divine punishment in this context pertains to events such as accidents, fires, or severe bodily harm that may or may not lead to death. These calamities serve as alarms awakening humans from their slumber of negligence and remind them of their own incapacity and the absolute power of the Creator. For instance, a person caught in a terrible accident or engulfed in flames, upon perceiving the proximity of death, returns instinctively to their innate nature and calls upon Allah.
The noble verse, by posing the question Will you call upon any other than Allah?, calls humanity to reflect on their innate monotheistic disposition. At the moment of punishment or death, the heart instinctively turns towards the origin of existence. This return is a sign of the pure innate nature embedded in every human being. It is as though a person in the turmoil of affliction, like a shipwrecked vessel in an endless sea, finds refuge only in the safe shore of the Divine.
Concrete examples such as accidents or natural disasters reveal this truth. A person trapped amid flames or endangered in a dreadful event involuntarily calls upon Allah. This cry arises not out of habit but from the depths of their existence and monotheistic nature.
The verses emphasis on any other than Allah negates all forms of intercession to others at the moment of ultimate truth. Seeking intercession from saints or other beings, if disconnected from Allah, leads to subtle polytheism. This form of polytheism does not deny Allah outright but neglects Him by replacing Him with intermediaries. It is as if one chooses to drink from deceptive mirages instead of the pure fountain of monotheism.
The phrase if you are truthful invites a profound test: Is ones faith in Allah genuine? Sincerity in faith manifests in the coherence between inner belief and outward behaviour. A person who, at the moment of punishment or death, calls upon none but Allah, possesses sincere faith. Conversely, if one resorts to others at these critical moments, it indicates weakness of faith and entanglement in polytheism.
Humans sometimes neglect remembrance of Allah in times of ease and comfort. Yet, when punishment or death approaches, their innate nature returns them to Allah. This negligence acts like a veil cast over the heart during prosperity, and calamities serve as a breeze lifting this veil to reveal the truth of monotheism.
Religious knowledge, at times, rather than reinforcing monotheism, has led to neglect of Allah and tendencies towards polytheism. Excessive emphasis on invoking the names of saints without mentioning Allah weakens faith and distances humanity from the truth of monotheism. This deviation resembles a path that, instead of guiding towards the destination, leads one into the labyrinth of misguidance.
For example, in some rituals, the continual invocation of saints names without reference to Allah results in weakened faith and estrangement from monotheistic truth. This culture seems to direct individuals not towards the pure spring of monotheism but towards deceptive mirages.
Continuous invocation of O Allah as the simplest and strongest means of connection with Allah renders the need for intermediaries unnecessary. This remembrance is like a key that unlocks the hearts barriers and guides the person towards divine tranquillity. With every O Allah, one takes a step closer to their Lord and breaks free from the chains of polytheism.
Monotheism is like a root that nourishes the tree of guardianship. One who is steadfast in monotheism naturally accepts the guardianship of saints within the framework of monotheism. However, emphasising guardianship alone without the foundation of monotheism leads to deviation. Guardianship without monotheism is like a branch detached from its root, incapable of bearing fruit.
The call to direct remembrance of Allah without intermediaries guides one towards sincerity in worship. This invitation resembles a summons to an unmediated relationship with the Lord, where no barrier exists between the servant and the Divine. It is as if the person, by uttering O Allah, knocks on the beloveds door and speaks directly to Him.
Religious education that focuses on invoking saints without remembrance of Allah distances one from the truth of faith. Such education resembles a teacher who misguides the student into side paths instead of directing them towards the destination. The invitation to say O Allah is a way to correct this deviation and return to the truth of monotheism.
Allah is like a spring from which all streams of existence flow. No being other than Him can be the saviour. This truth is reflected in the forty-first verse of Surah Al-Anm:
بَلْ إِيَّاهُ تَدْعُونَ فَيَكْشِفُ مَا تَدْعُونَ إِلَيْهِ إِنْ شَاءَ وَتَنْسَوْنَ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ
Rather, it is Him you call upon, and He removes what you call upon Him for, if He wills, and you forget what you associate with Him.
This verse emphasises that at the moment of supplication, a person forgets polytheism and calls only upon Allah. It is as though the heart is purified from all that is other than Allah and returns to the origin of existence.
Remembrance of O Allah and There is no power nor might except by Allah leads a person to tranquillity and certainty of heart. This remembrance is like a light dispelling the darkness of polytheism and heedlessness and guiding humanity towards the illumination of monotheism. With every invocation, one takes a step towards their Lord and is liberated from the bonds of polytheism.
This writing, reflecting on the fortieth verse of Surah Al-Anm, invites the reader to reconsider their relationship with Allah. Monotheism acts as a lamp illuminating the human path amid the darkness of punishment and death. Critiquing religious cultures that lead to polytheism and neglect of Allah, it guides humanity towards reforming beliefs and religious practices. Constant remembrance of Allah, especially through O Allah, is a path to liberation from the chains of polytheism and a return to the innate monotheistic nature. Employing eloquent language and a systematic structure, this work endeavours to lead the reader toward a deeper comprehension of the truth of monotheism and an unmediated relationship with the Lord.
