the Lectures of Nekounam (May His Sanctity be Preserved) Session 1235
The Holy Quran, like a radiant beacon, illuminates the path of guidance for mankind and jinn, and with profound and sagacious expression, elucidates the system of Divine justice and the responsibilities incumbent upon accountable beings. Verses 130 to 132 of Surah Al-Anm, with an insightful view into the shared responsibility of mankind and jinn, Gods justice in the punishment of the cognisant, and the hierarchies of deeds, unveil truths whose comprehension demands contemplation and reflection. This treatise, inspired by these verses and the analyses presented therein, endeavoursthrough eloquent language and organised structureto present the essence of these verses clearly and coherently before the readers.
The Holy Quran, in verse 130 of Surah Al-Anm, portrays a scene from the Day of Resurrection wherein mankind and jinn are summoned for judgment before their Lord. This verse, like a mirror, reflects the reality of the deeds and disbelief of these beings.
يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالنَّاسِ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِنْكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِي وَيُنْذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا شَهِدْنَا عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِنَا ۖ وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَشَهِدُوا عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا كَافِرِينَ
O assembly of jinn and mankind! Did there not come to you messengers from among yourselves, reciting to you My verses and warning you of the meeting of this your Day? They said, "We bear witness against ourselves." Yet the worldly life deceived them, and they bore witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
This verse, like a celestial call, reminds mankind and jinn of their responsibilities. The Divine prophets, themselves from the same kind, conveyed clear signs and explicit warnings, illuminating the path of guidance. However, the deceptive allure of worldly life, like a mirage, distanced the hearts of disbelievers from the truth. On the Day of Resurrection, they sincerely confess their disbelief, and this confession testifies to Divine justice which accepts no excuse from the disbelievers.
The verses under discussion continue the discourse initiated in verses 128 and 129 of Surah Al-Anm. These verses regard mankind and jinn as equally responsible for their deeds and emphasise the unity of Divine guidance for both groups. The word "ذَٰلِكَ" (that) in verse 131 serves as a bridge linking this discourse to the preceding verses, indicating the continuity of these concepts.
One of the fundamental Divine principles is justice in punishment. The Holy Quran explicitly states this principle in verse 131 of Surah Al-Anm:
ذَٰلِكَ أَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَافِلُونَ
That is because your Lord would not destroy the towns unjustly while their people were unaware.
This verse, like a brilliant torch, illuminates the truth that God does not punish beings due to ignorance. Divine justice, like an exact scale, punishes only those who have perpetrated injustice knowingly. This principle is affirmed by another verse of the Quran: And We would never punish until We had sent a messenger (al-Isr 17:15).
To better comprehend this concept, one may refer to the analogy of a battlefield. In a ship or war, combatants seek moments of negligence from their opponents to overpower them. However, God, like a just sovereign, does not resort to such means. He does not punish humans in states of negligence but makes them aware through sending prophets and signs, so that their injustice is committed knowingly.
One of the emphasized topics in these verses is mankinds ignorance of the reality of jinn. Jinn are accountable beings who, like humans, bear Divine responsibilities. The Quran states elsewhere:
وَخَلَقَ الْجَانَّ مِنْ مَارِجٍ مِنْ نَارٍ
And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire (ar-Ramn 55:15).
These beings, possessing abilities beyond those of humans, dwell alongside us as powerful neighbours; yet, ignorance of them acts like a dark veil, obstructing constructive interaction.
Jinn surpass humans in physical strength and abilities; however, humans are distinguished by their intellect, which shines like a Divine light within their being. This intellect is akin to a torch illuminating the path of guidance, elevating humans to a high rank. Nevertheless, both groups are accountable, and prophets from among their own kind have been sent to guide them.
In certain instances, mankind and jinn interact. Sometimes, a jinn falls in love with a human, and occasionally a human becomes fascinated by a jinn. These interactions resemble a breeze blowing between two realms, sometimes beneficial and sometimes detrimental to one party. However, human ignorance of these beings acts as a high wall, preventing the benefits of such interactions.
Divine calamities, like a roaring flood, affect mankind and jinn differently. Whereas the destruction of a city is detrimental to humans, jinn may benefit from such devastation and inhabit ruins. This difference, like two sides of the same coin, reflects the distinct systems of life for these two groups.
One prominent point of these verses is the critique of the concept of the "oppressed". From the Quranic perspective, there is no truly oppressed person; for whoever suffers injustice is either an oppressor themselves or has assisted oppression through ignorance and weakness. The Quran states:
وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ
And whatever affliction befalls you is due to what your hands have earned (ash-Shr 42:30).
Acceptance of injustice itself constitutes a form of injustice. The Quran warns:
وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لَا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً
And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively (al-Anfl 8:25).
This verse, like an alarm bell, calls humanity to vigilance against injustice. Ignorance and silence in the face of oppression are like ashes that conceal fire and ultimately consume all.
Verse 132 of Surah Al-Anm points to the hierarchies of deeds of mankind and jinn:
وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَاتٌ مِمَّا عَمِلُوا ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
And for each [category] are degrees according to what they have done. And your Lord is never unaware of what they do.
This verse, like an exact scale, indicates that every individual is placed in ranks ir deeds. However, the disbelievers, due to their reprehensible acts, are placed not in degrees but in depths. The Quran elsewhere states:
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ
Indeed, the hypocrites are in the lowest depths of the Fire (an-Nis 4:145).
These depths resemble a dark abyss, the abode of those who, with full awareness, chose the path of disbelief.
Accurate understanding of degrees and depths requires contemplation and reflection upon the Holy Quran. This heavenly book, like a profound ocean, conceals truths accessible only through deep immersion in its verses. The Quran commands:
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ
Then do they not reflect upon the Quran? (an-Nis 4:82).
Verses 130 to 132 of Surah Al-Anm, like a panoramic mirror, depict the system of guidance, justice, and Divine responsibility for mankind and jinn. God, through sending prophets and clear signs, punishes no one in ignorance and places disbelievers in depths due to the deception of the worldly life. The critique of the concept of the oppressed, the call for vigilance against injustice, and the emphasis on contemplation of the Quran are among the lessons of these verses. This treatise, relying on these verses, has endeavoured, with eloquent language and orderly structure, to present these truths clearly and profoundly.
