of Nekounam, May His Soul Rest in Peace (Session 1339)
The Noble Qur'an, like a radiant lamp, illuminates the path of guidance towards truth for all humanity. Among its verses, Ayah 158 of Surah Al-Imran presents a universal invitation, offering the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to all mankind and addressing the challenges faced by nations in accepting this invitation. This treatise, relying on exegetical lectures and profound analyses, undertakes an examination of this verse and its associated concepts. The objective is to elucidate the global mission of the Prophet (PBUH), the notion of human loss, the deviations of nations, and eschatological reflections as expounded in the lecture. The following text conveys these concepts with eloquence and a coherent structure suitable for scholarly research, reflecting the truth to the reader as in a mirror.
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ وَاتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
Say: O mankind! I am the Messenger of Allah to all of you; He whose is the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him. He gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him so that you may be rightly guided.
Ayah 158 of Surah Al-Imran proclaims the universal mission of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a heavenly call, commencing with the address يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ("O mankind"). This address encompasses all human beings, regardless of being Jews, Christians, Muslims, or non-believers, emphasising the universality of the Prophet's mission. Unlike previous prophets whose missions were confined to specific peoples, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sent to all of humanity. The phrase إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا ("I am the Messenger of Allah to all of you") clarifies this inclusivity as clearly as the sun that shines upon the entire earth.
God is described in this verse with three sublime attributes: firstly, sovereignty over the heavens and the earth (الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ), which sits like a crown upon the absolute divine dominion. Secondly, the oneness of God (لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ), which acts as a steadfast root strengthening the foundation of faith. Thirdly, the power of giving life and causing death (يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ), like a gentle breeze that manifests divine greatness in the creation and governance of existence. These attributes collectively introduce God as the sole deity and Creator, whose call is a call to truth.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is also introduced with three descriptors in this ayah: firstly, as the Messenger, bearer of revelation and the divine scripture, the Noble Qur'an. Secondly, as the unlettered Prophet (النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ), interpreted as native and belonging to the geographical region of Arabia. This term does not imply illiteracy but refers to the Prophets cultural and geographic identity, like a deeply rooted tree in Arabian soil presenting the divine message to the world. Thirdly, faith in God and His words (الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ), which introduces the Qur'an as the Word of God and exemplifies the Prophets faith as a model for the community.
The invitation to faith (فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ) and following (وَاتَّبِعُوهُ) is offered with the aim of guidance (لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ). The phrase لَعَلَّكُمْ ("perhaps you") opens a window to human free will, making guidance conditional upon acceptance and action. This invitation functions as a bridge guiding humanity from the darkness of ignorance to the light of faith, though crossing it depends on human volition.
إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ
Indeed, mankind is in loss.
This verse acts like a mirror reflecting the natural condition of human beings who, without faith and righteous deeds, are engulfed in the whirlpool of loss. The discussed lecture links this concept with the phrase لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ in Ayah 158 of Surah Al-Imran, asserting that guidance, as a rare jewel, is bestowed only upon a minority of humans who remain steadfast in faith and obedience. The majority, due to disobedience and betrayal of truth, remain in loss.
This viewpoint is reinforced by another Qur'anic verse:
وَقَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ
And few of My servants are grateful.
Like a breeze blowing from the truth, this verse indicates that the truly grateful those who combine faith and righteous deeds are few. The lecture, citing loyal companions of the Prophet such as Salman, Abu Dharr, and Miqdad, regards this minority as stars scattered in the celestial sky of the community, while the majority resemble yellowed leaves on branches, distant from the truth.
The lecture profoundly emphasises that guidance is like a seed that only flourishes in the fertile soil of faith. Due to intrinsic loss and inclination to disobedience, humans often reject the divine invitation. This disobedience is evident across all religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), with only a minority, like sparks in darkness, stepping towards guidance. This limitation of guidance does not stem from any deficiency in the divine call but originates from human free will and choice.
The lecture critically examines the deviations of religious nations (Jews, Christians, Muslims), arguing that wrongdoers within these religions have, like weeds, overtaken the righteous. These deviations stem from failure to adhere to Qur'anic principles (monotheism, faith, obedience) and have resulted in afflictions such as poverty, hunger, and war. Particularly, the current condition of some Islamic societies, such as Afghanistan, reflects these deviations like a shattered mirror. The people of this land are trapped in hunger, insecurity, and sectarian conflicts (such as ISIS and the Taliban), estranged from the truth of religion.
The lecture laments the surrender of a nation's army to groups like the Taliban without resistance, relinquishing weapons and power. This situation exemplifies the disorder and leaderlessness of the world, indicating profound deviations of the Islamic nation from the Qur'anic call. Simultaneously, non-Muslims, sometimes pioneers in defending human rights and justice, are portrayed as a mirror in which the Islamic nation should reflect upon itself.
Referring to the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), the lecture magnifies these deviations. The injustice towards the Ahl al-Bayt, like a dagger in the heart of the Islamic nation, is a sign of betrayal to the Prophets (PBUH) invitation. This injustice is reflected not only historically but also in current deviations, where the nation, instead of following the truth, is entangled in discord and disobedience.
The lecture, citing a narration stating يَفِرُّ مِنَ الْجَبَلِ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ ("Fleeing from one mountain to another"), depicts the eschatological condition. This narration, like an image of a chaotic world, shows humans fleeing from one insecurity to another without finding refuge. Contemporary examples, such as the surrender of an army