This treatise, relying on profound and contemplative discourse, elucidates a verse from the Holy Quran that illuminates the path of guidance for the believers and the route of misguidance for the criminals. With a critical perspective on history and human behaviour, this text seeks to manifest the distinction between faith and misguidance with clear and reflective language. Like a river flowing from the source of truth, this writing endeavours to guide the reader towards a deeper understanding of guidance and deviation by linking Divine verses with a critique of undesirable behaviours.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
(Surah Al-Imran, Ayah 55)
"And thus We detail the verses so that the path of the criminals becomes clear."
The Holy Quran, in verse 55 of Surah Al-Imran, speaks of the detailed exposition of the verses; a process in which God, by expressing details and signs, facilitates the path of guidance for the believers. This detailed explanation is like a lamp that illuminates the path of faith and guides believers, adorned with intellect and faith, towards righteous deeds. This process is connected to another Quranic verse which states: وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ الْحَقِّ (Al-Anam: 126) "And thus We detail the verses so that the path of truth becomes manifest."
Alongside the detailed explanation of the verses for the believers, the Holy Quran also speaks of clarifying the path of the criminals. This clarification means the unveiling of the wrongful deeds and behaviours of those devoid of intellect, faith, and ethics. The criminals, like rudderless ships in the sea of misguidance, perform any accessible action without consideration of its consequences. This clarification acts like a mirror reflecting the true face of the misguided to others, so that they may avoid their path. This concept aligns with another verse: وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُبَيِّنُ الْآيَاتِ (Al-Hajj: 16) "And thus We make the verses clear."
The difference between detailing and clarifying in this verse is like two branches of a river, each reaching a different destination. Detailing is intended for the believers who, through deep understanding and adherence to the verses, find the path of guidance. Clarifying, however, is for the criminals, exposing their actions so others may take heed. This distinction is reinforced by another Quranic verse: كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ (Al-Baqarah: 242) "Thus Allah makes the verses clear to you."
Criminals, in this discourse, are those deprived of intellect, faith, and ethics. They resemble darkness before light, performing any available action without contemplating its repercussions. This trait aligns with a Quranic verse reprimanding the misguided for their lack of reasoning: أَفَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ (Ya-Sin: 68) "Do they not reason?"
Believers, like stars in the sky of guidance, avoid oppression, murder, and crime, whereas criminals are immersed in the sea of corruption and destruction. This difference constitutes the essence of the distinction between faith and misguidance. The Holy Quran states: وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ (Al-Baqarah: 190) "And do not transgress, for Allah does not love transgressors."
The world, like a stage for a tragic drama, witnesses endless killings resulting from the lack of faith and intellect among criminals. Such conduct is like a thorn in humanitys side, a clear sign of the criminals path. The Quran admonishes: وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ (Al-Isra: 33) "And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden."
A society in which falsehood and deceit grow like weeds cannot claim to possess faith. Ignorant people, like sheep before a deceitful shepherd, fall into the trap of trickery. This critique aligns with the Quranic verse: وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ (Al-Baqarah: 42) "And do not mix the truth with falsehood."
The freedom granted to criminals is like sowing the seeds of corruption in fertile land, a consequence of the rulers ignorance and lack of faith. This behaviour, like a destructive flood, leads societies towards misery. This critique connects with the concept of ignorance in the Quran: وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً (Al-Ahzab: 33) "And We placed coverings over their hearts."
Assigning significant responsibilities to unqualified individuals is akin to entrusting a jewel to unclean hands, which results only in ruin. This principle is supported by a Quranic verse: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا (An-Nisa: 58) "Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due."
