of Nekounam, (Session 1222)
The discourse on the luminous Verses 116 and 117 of Surah Al-Anm, akin to two resplendent jewels in the Divine Revelation, elucidates the relationship between divine guidance and the misguidance of the majority, the vulnerability of the Prophets to societal pressures, and God's boundless knowledge of the followers of the path of truth and the misguided. These verses, like a mirror reflecting the truth of humanity and society, invite us to contemplate the meaning of guidance, the hardships of prophethood, and the rarity of the saved. This treatise, through profound insight into these verses, endeavours to present their exalted concepts in a clear and dignified language, within a scientific and coherent framework for seekers of truth.
Translation: And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you from the path of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture, and they do nothing but lie.
Verse 116 of Surah Al-Anm, like a celestial warning, cautions the Prophet against following the majority on earth. This verse characterises the majority as those who have deviated from the path of God, as though wandering lost in the darkness of misguidance and relying solely upon conjecture and supposition. This warning is addressed not only to the Prophet but to all truth-seekers, urging them to preserve their independence against social pressures. The majority, akin to a rushing but aimless current, can divert even the most steadfast travellers from the path of truth.
The majority on earth, in this verse, is portrayed as a people severed from God, as though their hearts are void of the light of monotheism. This estrangement is not merely external disobedience but a neglect of divine truth. Instead of reasoning and certainty, they are ensnared in the trap of conjecture and imagination. This fancifulness is like a mirage leading the traveller towards destruction, unbeknownst to themselves. A society that turns away from divine guidance is like a rudderless ship in a stormy sea, drifting everywhere but towards its destination.
The verse subtly alludes to social psychology. The pressure of the majority, like a powerful wind, can bend even the most resilient trees. The Prophet, although human and exposed to these pressures, is safeguarded by divine warning from this danger. This point, like a glowing torch, emphasises the necessity of independence against misleading social norms. Society, sometimes like a broken mirror, distorts the truth, and only the aware travellers can escape this snare.
The phrase "يُضِلُّوكَ" in verse 116 points to the possibility of the Prophet being influenced by the majority. This is not a sign of weakness but a testimony to his humanity. The Prophet, as a human among humans, is subject to social pressures, yet divine grace protects him from misguidance. This humanity is like a bridge between heaven and earth, bringing the Prophet close to the people while divine guidance prevents his slip.
The narration "ما أُوذِيَ نَبِيٌّ مِثْلَ مَا أُوذِيتُ" (No prophet was ever afflicted like I was) stands as evidence of the severity of the hardships endured by the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him). These hardships were not solely physical but psychological and spiritual, as if the Prophet's heart ached in the face of people's disobedience and the society's misguidance. This burden, like a heavy weight on the shoulders of prophethood, signifies the greatness of his mission.
Some have mockingly described the Prophet as overly delicate and sensitive, as if he was affected by the slightest disrespect. However, this sensitivity stems not from weakness but from the depth of his mission. The Prophet, like a compassionate shepherd, suffers from the misguidance of his flock. This pain is not a sign of fragility but a testimony to his profound responsibility in guiding the community.
To comprehend the Prophets hardships, one might compare them to modern high-risk occupations such as driving a heavy truck on the icy roads of Alaska. Drivers on this route face cold and danger and sometimes lose their lives, yet they do not claim unprecedented affliction. This difference arises not from weakness but from the Prophets sensitivity to the misguidance of the community. Prophethood is like a journey through an unrelenting storm that can only reach its destination by divine guidance.
Among the Alaskan drivers, some are repulsed by hardship, while others regard it as a testament to their strength. However, the Prophet, due to his divine mission, bore hardships with a spiritual outlook. This difference is like two branches of a single tree, reflecting the diversity of human responses to difficulty. Through reliance on faith, the Prophet transformed these hardships into opportunities for drawing nearer to God.
Of millions of humans, only a few pursue high-risk vocations, and among these few, fewer still persist. This rarity, like a precious gem, is also observed in the endurance of the Prophets. The Prophet, on this path, shines like a brilliant star in the sky of prophethood, illuminating the way for the community with unparalleled endurance.
Some reduce the hardships of the Prophets to everyday problems such as being prevented from visiting their daughters or facing disobedience from people. Yet these hardships are like a drop compared to the ocean when measured against the greatness of the mission. The Prophet suffered not from apparent limitations but from the misguidance of the community, as if his heart ached with every step of their deviation.
A story from Qom narrates a youth complaining about restrictions on disobeying his father, as if disobedience was his right. This story reflects, like a mirror, the widespread disobedience towards legitimate authoritiesfrom parents to Prophets. Such disobedience is rooted in a society estranged from divine truth.
Some have mockingly described the Prophets as "hand-kissers" and idle, implying their hands were soft and unaccustomed to work. However, this humour pales in comparison to the real hardships endured by the Prophets, such as Abraham in the fire or Moses confronting Pharaoh. These hardships were accompanied by divine salvation, yet their spiritual burden remains weighty.
Abraham was saved from the fire, but this salvation did not diminish the magnitude of his hardship. Similarly, icy road drivers are sometimes saved, yet the Prophets hardship, due to his divine mission, stands firm like a mountain against the breeze of divine deliverance. This difference testifies to the grandeur of the mission and the wisdom in the trials.
Verse 116, with the phrase "إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ", depicts the majority as followers of conjecture and supposition. This conjecture is like a mirage in the desert, drawing humans toward misguidance. The majority, instead of certainty and reasoning, are ensnared in illusions, as if wandering in a world of delusions.
The expression "وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ" refers to the majoritys guessing and speculating, like one estimating the weight of fruit from a tree without certainty. This khars is like a kite in the wind, unstable and rootless. In this fancifulness, the majority drift away from truth.
