of Nekounam, (Session 1179)
This treatise explicates verses 48 and 49 of Surah Al-Imran from the Holy Quran and, through profound insight into the roles of the Prophets, Divine Justice, and human responsibility towards Gods signs, offers a profound and contemplative message to the reader. Employing illuminating analogies and semantic connections, the Quranic concepts are precisely and eloquently elucidated. The systematic structure of this writing, with thematic division and detailed exposition, invites the reader on an epistemological journey to comprehend the Divine verses. Its objective is to clarify, with a novel perspective on these verses, the human responsibility regarding their choices and the consequences thereof in this world and the Hereafter.
The Holy Quran in verse 48 of Surah Al-Imran confines the role of the Prophets to that of bearers of glad tidings and warners. This verse absolves the Prophets from any authoritarian or dictatorial approach and underscores their spiritual mission. The Prophets do not employ force or coercion, but rather invite humankind towards good and warn against evil, thereby guiding them to the right path.
This role distinguishes the Prophets from kings and rulers who command through force and oppression. They are akin to gardeners who sow the seeds of awareness in hearts, not monarchs who demand obedience with the whip of power.
Arabic:
وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ ۖ فَمَنْ آمَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Translation:
"And We send not the Messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners. So whoever believes and reformsthere will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve."
This verse portrays the Prophets as torchbearers illuminating the path to felicity with the light of glad tidings and warning. They invite humanity to conscious choice, not to blind obedience.
In this verse, God disassociates Himself from any form of tyranny or coercion. He created humankind free and, through sending the Prophets, only shows the way. This freedom is a precious jewel that renders humans accountable for their deeds. The Prophets, as Divine representatives, refrain from compulsion and imposition, confining themselves solely to invitation and admonition.
This concept, like a gentle breeze, guides humanity towards a free and responsible choice. God, like a benevolent father, shows the way but does not compel the child to walk it.
The first section elucidated the Prophets role as bearers of glad tidings and warners, emphasising the absence of any coercion in the Divine mission. These verses invite humans to reflect on their freedom and responsibility, portraying the Prophets as guides who illuminate the path to felicity with the light of guidance.
Verse 48 introduces faith and reform as two fundamental conditions for liberation from fear in this world and grief in the Hereafter. Faith is like a light in the heart that breathes belief in God and His signs into the human soul. Reform is like the fruit borne from this belief, manifesting in the individual's behaviour, self-improvement, betterment of others, and the world.
Reform in this verse has a broad scope: from self-reformation to improving relationships with others and even the reform of the world. This concept summons humans to responsibility towards themselves and society.
The original text likens reform to a gardener who not only cultivates their own garden but also sows seeds of good in the soil of society. The believer is like a farmer who, through righteous deeds, fertilises the soil of the heart and the community.
This section introduced faith and reform as the two fundamental pillars of human felicity. Faith is the root that firmly supports the tree of righteous action, and reform is the fruit whose benefits reach both the individual and society. These two safeguard the human from fear and sorrow in this world and the Hereafter.
Verse 49 of Surah Al-Imran speaks of a punishment awaiting those who deny Gods signs. Denial here is not merely verbal rejection but includes inaction regarding Divine commandments, which also constitutes denial.
Arabic:
وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يَمَسُّهُمُ الْعَذَابُ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ
Translation:
"And those who deny Our signspunishment will touch them for their defiance."
Practical denial is akin to neglecting a precious gem lying on the street which no one picks up. This negligence signifies devaluation of Gods signs and exposes the person to a punishment that pervades body, soul, and spirit.
The phrase "punishment will touch them" describes a gradual and tangible punishment, contrasting with abrupt and harsh human penalties such as being cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. This punishment is like a shadow that envelops the entirety of the individuals existence.
The original text refers to an incident involving a Qajar king who punished an oil-seller by placing him in a cauldron of hot oil, to illustrate the difference between Divine punishment and human retribution. Divine punishment is just and gradual, whereas human penalties may arise from oppression and tyranny.
The text employs the analogy of childbirth to represent Divine punishment as a natural consequence of human actions. God is likened to a midwife who must inevitably administer the punishment but is not culpable, as the punishment results from the individual's own choices. This analogy portrays Divine justice as a natural law where every action yields a consequence.
The text identifies manifestations of practical denial in everyday behaviours such as neglecting prayer, backbiting, and slander. These acts are like ignoring a valuable coin on the street, thereby devaluing the Divine signs.
The hadith "Whoever deliberately abandons prayer has committed disbelief" emphasises that intentional neglect of prayer constitutes practical disbelief. This inaction, as implicit denial of Gods signs, subjects one to punishment.
This section introduced denial of Divine signs as the root of punishment and demonstrated that inaction vis--vis commandments is itself a form of denial. Divine punishment is the natural consequence of this denial, and God, being absolutely just, is free from any transgression.
The text describes God as vulnerable due to His adherence to justice. He cannot transgress justice or repent, as this would contradict His wise essence. God is likened to a just judge who does not deviate even by the weight of a mustard seed from justice.
This concept invites humans to avoid sin and repent, as repentance is possible for humans but meaningless for God, who is free from any sin or error.
The text strongly criticises beliefs that regard sin as forgiven through excessive supplication and weeping. God is just and punishes sin based on justice, not through favoritism or unfounded mercy.
This critique functions like a mirror reflecting the reality of Divine justice and cautions humans against the illusion of limitless forgiveness.
This section presented Divine justice as a fundamental attribute of God, demonstrating that this justice precludes any transgression or repentance. Humans are responsible for their deeds and cannot evade their consequences by boundless supplication.
The text defines infallibility as abstaining from sin in constant awareness of Gods presence. Sin committed in privacy is tantamount to denying God, as He witnesses all actions. The infallible person is one who perceives themselves in Gods presence both in solitude and public.
The example of public nudity as a sign of denying religious values indicates negligence of Gods presence. The infallible person refrains from sin even in privacy as they feel observed as in public.
The text mentions those who seek infallibility in trivial matters, such as stretching ones legs. Infallibility means refraining from sin and denial of God, not adherence to meaningless external etiquettes.
This critique acts as a beacon illuminating the correct path of infallibility and warns against mystical and superficial deviations.
The text recounts a personal experience of undergoing tonsil surgery without anaesthesia, demonstrating the endurance of pain through reliance on faith. This experience testifies that faith protects the human from fear.
Additionally, rejecting an offered sum of money and relying on Gods providence illustrates trust in Divine sustenance and independence from material needs. This experience is like a breeze that breathes the fragrance of reliance into the readers soul.
This section defined infallibility as abstinence from sin and constant awareness of Gods presence, criticised deviations in its understanding, and introduced personal experiences, faith, and reliance as keys to liberation from hardships and material dependence.
The text refers to phenomena such as public nudity, which signify denial of religious values. These behaviours resemble storms that destabilise the moral foundations of society.
This section invites reflection on social conduct and its impact on religious identity. Neglecting values, like ignoring Divine signs, entails punishment.
The text mentions recent developments in cyberspace, such as Facebooks control over WhatsApp, which jeopardise information security. This is a warning
