The Holy Qur'an, the Book of Guidance and Salvation, reveals the secrets of creation and the mysteries of existence in a clear and profound language for both humans and jinn. Verse 131 of Surah Al-Anm, like a brilliant gem, articulates the boundless justice of God and the responsibility of accountable beings regarding their deeds. This treatise, through reflection on this verse and deep analyses drawn from religious scholars lectures, endeavours to elucidate its exalted concepts in an eloquent and clear language, with a structured format and extensive semantic connections, addressing erudite audiences. With a focus on the responsibilities of humans and jinn, self-awareness, and the role of consciousness in divine guidance, it explicates the principles of God's justice and wisdom.
That is because your Lord would not destroy the cities unjustly while their people were unaware.
This verse, like a clear mirror, reflects the limitless justice of the Lord. The pronoun "ذَٰلِكَ" (that) refers to the preceding discourse in verse 130, which summons humans and jinn to judgement and inquires about their acceptance or rejection of the prophets message. This connection reveals an integrated system of guidance and justice in which no nation is punished before acquiring awareness and receiving the divine message.
Divine justice, like a firm pillar, constitutes the foundation upon which the system of creation is established. This verse states that the Lord does not destroy cities and communities due to their injustice unless they have been adequately informed. This principle aligns with another verse from the Holy Quran:
And We would never punish until We sent a messenger. (Al-Isr 17:15)
This verse indicates that the destruction of societies only occurs when wrongdoing is accompanied by awareness. The Lord does not annihilate any people on account of their sins prior to the dispatch of messengers and the proclamation of laws. This matter, like a shining sun, manifests divine mercy and wisdom in the system of guidance.
Awareness acts as a key that opens the doors of guidance. In this verse, the ignorance of the inhabitants of the cities means their unawareness of the prophetic message. God does not destroy communities immersed in ignorance due to their injustice but instead, through the sending of prophets, casts the light of awareness upon them. This concept is corroborated by another verse:
Indeed, upon him is only the clear delivery [of the message].
Prophets are tasked with clearly conveying the divine message, and human awareness of this message holds them accountable for their deeds. Even a simple comprehension of the message suffices to extricate a person from ignorance and render them answerable for their actions.
Verse 131 of Surah Al-Anm, like a blazing torch, emphasises divine justice. The Lord punishes societies only when their injustice is accompanied by awareness of the prophets message. This principle beautifully manifests the divine system of guidance and shows that the Lords mercy and wisdom never lead to the destruction of any people in ignorance.
From the Quranic perspective, the common understanding of victimhood holds little ground. Both oppressors and the weak are accountable for their actions. This viewpoint, like a clear mirror, reflects the truth that no one is exempt from the responsibility of their deeds. The Holy Quran states:
And whatever misfortune befalls you is because of what your own hands have earned. (Ash-Shr 42:30)
This verse indicates that calamities are the consequences of ones own deeds. Even the weak, if they remain silent in the face of oppression or assist it, share in the chain of wrongdoing. For instance, a person who remains silent about anothers cigarette smoke, through either inability or indifference, contributes to the continuation of injustice. This perspective calls humans to action and standing against oppression.
To clarify this concept, consider an original parable: a person drinks contaminated water from a river, heedless of warnings. A knowledgeable individual warns him that this water is harmful and may cause illness. If he continues drinking and asks, What is the harm?, this very question signifies awareness. If, despite this awareness, he persists in the harmful action, he is responsible for its consequences. This parable illustrates the role of prophets in conveying the message and the human responsibility in accepting or rejecting it.
The notion of victimhood has no place in the Quranic viewpoint. Every individualwhether oppressor or weakis responsible for their own deeds. This responsibility summons humans to awareness and activism against oppression. The parable of contaminated water demonstrates the prophets role in illuminating the path of guidance and the human responsibility to accept it.
The Holy Quran considers humans and jinn as possessing degrees or levels which are the outcomes of their actions:
And for each [of them] are degrees [corresponding] to what they have done. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do. (Al-Anm 6:132)
This verse shows that the deeds of humans and jinn elevate or degrade them to higher or lower degrees. Disbelievers, due to their evil deeds, are placed in lower levels, as the Quran states:
Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.
These degrees function as the steps of a ladder upon which humans and jinn ascend or descend through their conscious deeds. Advancement or regression is the result of their deliberate actions.
Jinn are accountable beings endowed with unique abilities, as mentioned in the Holy Quran:
And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.
Ignorance about the nature of jinn constitutes an obstacle to positive interaction with them. Jinn, with their distinctive powers, can profoundly affect humans. This ignorance acts as a dark veil preventing the comprehension of the reality of these beings and their role in the cosmic system.
Degrees and levels are the consequences of the conscious deeds of humans and jinn. These degrees, like a ladder, determine each beings position within the system of creation. Ignorance about jinn is a barrier to understanding the truth, and recognising them contributes to a deeper comprehension of the divine system of guidance.
Self-knowledge is like a golden key that opens the path to the cognition of the Lord. The Holy Quran states:
And in yourselves. Then will you not see? (Adh-Dhriyt 51:21)
This verse invites humans to reflect upon their own selves. Self-knowledge begins with the recognition of ones counterpart. The counterpart, whether in a biological or spiritual sense, forms part of a persons identity. A human is like a tree whose roots are embedded in their counterpart. Without knowledge of these roots, cognition of the Lord collapses like a foundationless structure.
The recognition of the counterpart can be likened to a mirror in which a human sees their true self. A person who does not know their counterpart is like a traveller lost in an endless desert. The knowledge of the counterpartwhether human or jinnopens the path to understanding the reality of existence. This recognition requires contemplation and dedication, as a human must stand before the mirror of their being and ask: Who am I?
Self-knowledge is a foundation for divine cognition. Recognition of the counterpart, whether biologically or spiritually, brings a person closer to understanding their own reality. This recognition demands reflection and awareness, guiding humans from ignorance towards divine guidance.
The current educational system resembles a garden whose fruits nourish the body but starve the soul. Modern education has deprived humans of self-knowledge and divine cognition. The Holy Quran commands:
Do they not then ponder on the Quran? (An-Nis 4:82)
This verse invites humans to reflect on the meanings of the Holy Quran. The educational system, rather than cultivating understanding and consciousness, focuses solely on material sciences and distances humans from the truth of their existence.
Cultural development is like pure water that quenches the thirst of society from ignorance. Investing in culture is more valuable than material projects. The Holy Quran states:
