The Holy Qur'an, like a radiant lamp, illuminates the path of human guidance. Among its verses, Quran 7:35, with profound expression and unparalleled eloquence, elucidates the role of the Prophets in conveying Divine revelations and the responsibility of human beings in response to this guidance. This verse acts as a mirror reflecting the relationship between humans and revelation, as well as the eschatological consequences of acceptance or denial.
The present treatise, through contemplation on this verse and drawing upon the discourses of religious scholars, examines its theological, philosophical, and psychological dimensions. The objective is to present these lofty Qur'anic concepts in a clear and coherent manner, employing an ornate language appropriate for a scholarly context, so that they may flourish like a sapling in the soil of the readers intellect.
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ إِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِنْكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِي ۖ فَمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا عَنْهَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
O Children of Adam, whenever messengers come to you from among yourselves who recite to you My signs, then whoever fears (God) and reforms (his condition) shall have no fear concerning them, nor shall they grieve. But those who deny Our signs and are arrogant towards them they are the companions of the Fire, therein abiding eternally.
Quran 7:35, with the phrase "إِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِنْكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِي" (whenever messengers come to you from among yourselves who recite to you My signs), highlights the role of the Prophets as intermediaries in the transmission of Divine revelation. The word "يَقُصُّونَ", meaning to recount or narrate, signifies the Prophets duty to convey the message of the Lord without omission or alteration.
This narration is not a fabrication of fanciful stories but rather a Divine melody flowing from the source of revelation, with the Prophets acting as truthful trustees delivering it to the hearts of humanity.
This perspective rejects any misinterpretation that reduces revelation to mere psychological dreams or mental illusions. Revelation is like a clear stream sent forth from the Lord, which Prophets with pure hearts and sincerity present to humankind. This transmission does not depend on human knowledge or superficial scientific ranks but stems from Divine connection.
The linguistic construction of the verse, employing "إِمَّا" (a combination of "إِنْ" and "ما") along with the emphatic "نون ثقیله" in "يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ", underscores the inevitability and certainty of the coming of messengers. These rhetorical devices act as signposts on the path of guidance, drawing human attention to the significance of the mission.
One common misconception among some circles is interpreting "أُمِّي" (ummi) as indicating the Prophets illiteracy. This interpretation, rooted in historical misunderstandings, is strongly critiqued in the lectures. The term "أُمِّي" in the Qur'an refers to belonging to a nation or a great region such as Mecca and Medina (Umm al-Qur), not a sign of illiteracy.
How can the Prophet, who knows the ways of the heavens and is entrusted with human guidance, be deprived of the ability to read and write? This interpretation obscures the lofty status of the Prophet like a fog on the mirror of truth.
To clarify this notion, a poem by Rumi is cited:
My beloved, who never went to school nor wrote letters, through a mere glance taught a hundred teachers.
Though this poem is beautiful and meaningful in literary terms, interpreting it as proof of the Prophets illiteracy is incorrect. The Prophet, endowed with Divine knowledge and celestial guidance, surpasses human sciences and shines as a blazing torch showing the path to happiness.
The concept of "Umm" (mother) in Qur'anic culture refers to Mecca as "Umm al-Qur" (Mother of Cities). In the lectures, the earth is likened to a mother who, like a compassionate cradle, embraces human beings even during calamities such as earthquakes. This metaphor, rooted in Qur'anic culture, views the earth as a refuge for humans which, despite hardships, provides protection.
In this regard, a poem from a religious scholar is quoted:
The earth is my kingdom, God is my sovereign.
This verse portrays the earth as a sanctuary that, under Divine command, accompanies humans on their life journey. This viewpoint harmonises with the Qur'anic respect for nature and its role in human existence.
The verse continues with "فَمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ", presenting piety and reform as the key to liberation from fear and grief. "اتَّقَىٰ" denotes individual abstention from sin, while "أَصْلَحَ" refers to societal and personal betterment. Piety acts as a shield protecting one from deviation, and reform is a seed planted in the soil of society to nurture the sapling of felicity.
The lectures distinguish between "خوف" (fear of the present) and "حزن" (sorrow for the future), showing that the pious, by commitment to these two principles, free themselves from material and spiritual anxieties. This interpretation aligns with the Qur'anic concept of piety as a shield against deviations.
The verse states "وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا عَنْهَا", identifying denial of the signs and arrogance towards them as the cause of entry into the Fire. Denial is the rejection of Divine truth, and arrogance is self-exaltation that prevents acceptance of guidance. These two traits act like chains dragging humans towards destruction.
The lectures critique the belief in eternal damnation, interpreting "خَالِدُونَ" (abiding) as long-lasting permanence rather than absolute eternity. This view is supported by the verse "كُلُّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ" (Ar-Rahman: 29), which depicts the world as in constant flux. Paradise and Hell, as parts of existence, are not exempt from this dynamism.
This interpretation criticises views that transform punishment into pleasure and emphasises that punishment corresponds proportionally to the sin. Punishment is like a fruit borne from the tree of sin, with its duration commensurate with the severity of the fault.
The lectures, citing "كُلُّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ", portray the cosmos and even Divine affairs as constantly changing and dynamic. This perspective denies absolute permanence and depicts existence as a flowing river in continual motion. Even Paradise and Hell, in this view, are influenced by the universes transformation and dynamism.
To elucidate this concept, an analogy is presented: a person living in a magnificent palace might flee due to restrictions or monotony. This metaphor highlights the human need for dynamism and freedom, even in apparently ideal circumstances.
The lectures criticise distortions in religious comprehension, pointing to the loss of Divine knowledge into the hands of those devoid of its depth. Such deviations act like weeds obscuring the truth of religion and propagating erroneous beliefs. Religious knowledge requires a rational and profound outlook to be freed from superstition and misunderstandings.
The lectures emphasise human beings intrinsic need for freedom and change, even under seemingly favourable conditions. Humans resemble birds seeking flight even within a golden cage. This need originates from their nature and may lead to boredom and escape even in a material paradise.
The exegesis of Quran 7:35 serves as a window into understanding the Divine system of guidance, the role of Prophets in transmitting signs, and human responsibility toward them. This verse, with eloquent expression, presents the path to felicity through piety and reform and the road to perdition through denial and arrogance.
The lectures, by critiquing erroneous beliefs such as the Prophets illiteracy and eternal damnation, emphasise the universes dynamism and the necessity for a scientific understanding of religion. This treatise, by reflecting these concepts in a dignified and scholarly manner, endeavours to offer the Qur'anic truth like a radiant jewel to the reader.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
