The Surah Al-Arf, one of the Meccan chapters of the Holy Quran, with profound and epistemological verses, summons humanity towards reflection on the reality of creation and its position within the cosmic order. This Surah, emphasising concepts such as the mission of the Prophets, the celestial dominion of the heavens and the earth, and the inscrutability of the Hour (Qiymah), paves the way towards a deeper comprehension of the Divine Truth. In this treatise, verses 184 and 187 of this Surah are examined from a philosophical and epistemological perspective, enabling contemporary humanity, through contemplation on these verses, to attain an understanding of their spiritual and ethical responsibilities. Employing an exalted language and a coherent structure, this work endeavours to present the sublime Quranic meanings in a lucid and inspiring manner.
أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا مَا بِصَاحِبِهِمْ مِنْ جِنَّةٍ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ
Have they not reflected that there is no madness in their companion? He is but a clear warner.
This verse, with decisive expression, refutes the doubts raised by the disbelievers regarding the Prophets mental soundness. The Holy Quran, by inviting thought and contemplation, calls the addressees to reconsider their erroneous prejudices. The Prophet, as a manifest warner, is not only free from any intellectual deficiency but, endowed with Divine wisdom and knowledge, guides humanity on the path of salvation. This purification, akin to a clear mirror, presents the truth of the mission before the eyes of seekers of truth.
The Prophet is introduced in this verse as the continuator of the path of previous Prophets. Just as David and Solomon, by Divine wisdom and mission, guided their nations, the Prophet of Islam similarly illuminates the path to felicity for humanity by the same Divine light. This connection, like an unbreakable bond, portrays the continuity of Divine guidance throughout human history.
أَوَلَمْ يَنْظُرُوا فِي مَلَكُوتِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ
Have they not looked into the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that God has created?
The Celestial Realm (Malakt) signifies the inner and spiritual reality of creation, which stands in contrast to the material exterior (Mulk). The Holy Quran invites humanity to gaze into this profound reality. This invitation is akin to a call towards a deep journey into the depths of existence, where Divine signs manifest in every particle of creation. Contemplation on the Celestial Realm is a gateway to faith and knowledge, transcending material appearances and directing man towards the Divine Truth.
Modern science, with its advancements, investigates the external features of the heavens and the earth. Scientists analyse everything from planetary characteristics to cosmic structures, engaged in a materialistic study of creation. However, despite all their progress, these sciences fail to grasp the truth of the Celestial Realm. The Holy Quran, by emphasising the observation of the Celestial Realm, invites humanity to transcend these limitations. This critique serves as a wake-up call to prevent mankind from drowning in material superficialities and to awaken towards spiritual reality.
Failure to contemplate the Celestial Realm equates to estrangement from faith and belief in God. A person neglecting this reality falls into the darkness of misguidance. This misguidance resembles a quagmire drawing the individual towards destruction. The Holy Quran, with a thought-provoking question, urges humanity to reassess their beliefs:
فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَهُ يُؤْمِنُونَ
So by what statement after it will they believe?
This question acts as a mirror revealing the futility of misguidance to humanity. Without faith in God and reflection upon the Celestial Realm, no truth can guide mankind towards felicity.
وَعَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدِ اقْتَرَبَ أَجَلُهُمْ
And perhaps their appointed time has drawn near.
This verse, with a cautionary tone, calls humanity to awareness of mortality and the nearness of the moment of death. The appointed time is like a shadow ever accompanying man, liable to arrive at any instant. This truth invites reflection on ones deeds and beliefs and preparation for the encounter with death. Neglecting this reality traps man in the quagmire of disbelief.
وَيَذَرُهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
And He leaves them in their transgression, wandering blindly.
Rebellion is the consequence of mans own deeds, leading him into darkness and confusion. This confusion resembles falling into a quagmire in which, the more one sinks, the deeper the darkness and destruction experienced. God, in accordance with His justice, leaves the misguided to their self-constructed paths to witness the outcome of their actions.
وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ
And whoever Allah leads astray, there is no guide for him.
This verse emphasises Divine justice in misguidance. Misguidance is the consequence of ones deeds, and God, as the most just Judge, guides or misguides a person ir conduct. This principle is akin to a scale weighing human actions with precision, determining their ultimate fate.
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَاهَا قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ رَبِّي
They ask you about the Hour: When will it be established? Say: Its knowledge is only with my Lord.
This verse explicitly stresses the unknowability of the timing of the Resurrection. The knowledge of the Resurrection is like a treasure kept solely in the Divine treasury. This unknown nature invites reliance and submission to Divine will, for no one except God knows its time.
لَا يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَا إِلَّا هُوَ ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَا يَأْتِيكُمْ إِلَّا بَغْتَةً
No one will disclose it at its time except Him. It weighs heavily upon the heavens and the earth; it will come to you suddenly.
Thaqalat denotes the weightiness and majesty of the Resurrection, impacting the entire cosmic order. This gravity is like a burden encompassing the heavens and the earth. Its suddenness invites perpetual readiness, as this moment resembles a piece falling abruptly into the pit of death.
In this verse, the Resurrection is understood as the Minor Resurrection or individual death, not the Major Resurrection. Death is the moment when man unexpectedly confronts reality. This moment resembles the fall of a piece in the game of existence, the timing of which is known only to God. This distinction highlights the difference between individual death and collective Resurrection.
Faith serves as a shield protecting man from calamities and the darkness of both this world and the hereafter. The person who seeks refuge in God through faith is delivered from confusion and despair in all conditions, externally and internally. This faith is like a light illuminating the path through the darkness of life.
A person who sinks in the quagmire of rebellion and sin, due to the absence of faith, finds life meaningless and yearns for death. This state resembles being trapped in endless darkness, leading the individual towards despair and destruction. Yet, the believer, even in the harshest circumstances, through Divine remembrance and hope in God, is freed from this darkness.
The Divine Saints, due to their profound connection to the Divine Truth, possess elevated levels of knowledge. Some among them are not only aware of their time of death but also will it. This knowledge is like a summit attained by only a few. This concept is emphasised in mystical teachings and manifests the depth of the Saints relation to God.
وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
But most people do not know.
The majority of humans, due to negligence or epistemic limitations, remain unable to comprehend Divine secrets. However, a minority of Gods Saints, through connection with the Truth, attain this knowledge. This difference is like the distance between a summit and its foothills, with only a few reaching the peak of knowledge.
The notion of the Resurrection as a single collective event conflicts with the reality of the Divine system. The Minor Resurrection, as individual death, occurs gradually yet suddenly. This truth is akin to a current confronting each human at a specific moment with reality. The system of creation advances progressively, and the idea of a simultaneous universal death does not accord with this system.
