The Holy Quran, like a radiant light amid the darkness of ignorance and bewilderment, opens the path of guidance towards humanity. This celestial book is not merely a collection of divine verses but a fountain of knowledge that quenches every thirsty heart. In this treatise, we contemplate verse nine of Surah Al-Anfal, which, like a luminous gem, speaks of the supplication of the believers to the Divine Presence and the merciful response of their Lord. This verse portrays divine assistance and the descent of angels, who, like a life-giving breeze, soothe the spirits of the believers during times of hardship. The purpose of this writing is to elucidate the profound meanings of this verse and its connection to the life of the faithful, guiding the reader towards deeper intimacy with the Holy Quran.
Verse eight of Surah Al-Anfal, like a clear mirror, reflects the noble purpose of the revelation of the divine verses: That He might make the truth prevail and falsehood vanish, even though the criminals may dislike it. This verse emphasises the self-sufficiency and inherent permanence of truth. Truth, like a steadfast mountain, requires no proof, for its essence is actualisation itself. Falsehood, in contrast to this stability, is like a transient shadow doomed to perish. This concept represents the most fundamental principle of divine guidancethat truth is intrinsically eternal and falsehood inherently unstable.
In the preceding verse (verse seven of Surah Al-Anfal), God refers to the establishment of truth by His word: He establishes the truth by His words. This emphasis on the role of the divine word in reinforcing truth presents a subtle distinction from verse eight, which contains no such qualification. This difference indicates the comprehensiveness of truth in verse eight, which is stable in its essence beyond any condition or stipulation. This point serves as a key to a deeper understanding of the verses, signalling the independence and inclusiveness of truth.
Verse nine of Surah Al-Anfal depicts, as in a scene from a divine drama, a moment when the believers, at the height of their helplessness, seek refuge at the threshold of their Lord:
When you were seeking help from your Lord, He responded to you: Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand angels in succession.
Supplication is a cry from the depths of the soul that rises towards the heavens in moments of weakness and incapacity. This verse, like a pure spring, manifests the boundless mercy of God which, in response to this cry, descends with an immediate and generous answer.
Gods response to the believers supplication is the descent of a thousand angels who come to aid in groups with astonishing order. The term in succession (مُرْدِفِينَ) evokes an image of an organised army, indicating continuity and sequence in the angels descent. This order demonstrates divine wisdom in delivering aid. The number thousand in this verse is not merely numerical but serves as a metaphor for the abundance and multitude of divine assistance that, like a roaring flood, clears hardships from before the believers.
Verse ten of Surah Al-Anfal clarifies the purpose of this divine assistance: And God did not appoint it except as good news and so that your hearts might be reassured. This verse elucidates two noble aims for the descent of the angels: glad tidings and the tranquillity of hearts. These two, like wings of flight, guide the believers soul towards peace and steadfastness. Glad tidings, like a cool breeze, soothe weary hearts, while the reassurance of the heart, like a solid rock, protects the soul against lifes storms.
Glad tidings and heart reassurance act as two complementary gems in the psychology of faith. At times of sorrow and turmoil, a person, like a tree in a storm, is uprooted from their firm foundations. This verse shows that joy is a prerequisite for the reassurance of the heart. As emphasised in psychological sciences, anxiety and despair are significant barriers to inner peace. Divine assistance, through the angels, not only strengthens the believers spirit but also serves as a sturdy bridge leading them to the shore of assurance and tranquillity.
The invocation Bismillhir-Ramnir-Ram acts as a celestial key that unties the knots of life. This invocation is not merely a verbal phrase but a gateway to knowledge and inner transformation. The experience mentioned in the lecture shows that the repetition of this invocation, like a sharp blade, cleaves obstacles and smooths the path for receiving divine blessings. This point invites the faithful to familiarise themselves with this invocation and adopt it as the commencement of every action.
The Holy Quran, like a comprehensive book, answers all human needs: No wet or dry thing exists except that it is in a clear Book.em> This verse presents the Quran as an infinite ocean wherein every problemfrom ignorance to illness and hardshiphas a solution. This perspective regards the Quran not only as a religious scripture but also as a source of guidance in all aspects of life.
A central criticism of this lecture concerns the replacement of human sciences with Quranic knowledge. Disciplines sometimes introduced as substitutes for the Quran in educational systems have, like a false shadow, dimmed the light of divine knowledge. This view stresses the necessity of returning to the Holy Quran as the axis of guidance and urges believers to embed this celestial book in their hearts and deeds.
Verse ten of Surah Al-Anfal emphasises the reality that true victory is from God: And victory is not but from Allah. Although angels play a role in assistance, the principal cause of victory is divine will. This point, like a luminous torch, clarifies the unity of God in granting victory and invites believers to place complete trust in their Lord.
Educational systems that sometimes prioritise human sciences act like a high wall, preventing intimacy with the Holy Quran. This lecture, with a critical perspective, condemns the substitution of Quranic knowledge with human sciences and stresses the need to reconsider these systems. The Holy Quran, as a living book, must become the core of education and life so that believers may benefit from its guiding light.
Religious scholars, as guardians of divine knowledge, bear the responsibility of preserving and propagating the Holy Quran. Any negligence in this duty is like extinguishing a lamp on a dark night, blocking the path to guidance. This lecture invites scholars to return to the Holy Quran and place it at the centre of education and action.
Joy, like a flower in the garden of faith, is a vital element in the believers life. A sorrowful and despairing person, like a wingless bird, is prevented from soaring towards divine knowledge. This lecture links faith with joy and heart reassurance and calls believers to avoid despair and grief.
Acquiring unlawful sustenance acts like a deadly poison, depriving the heart of receiving the light of Quranic knowledge. This lecture emphasises the necessity of lawful sustenance and considers it a condition for intimacy with the Holy Quran. A believer who chooses lawful sustenance benefits from divine blessings like a tree in fertile soil.
Intimacy with the Holy Quran, like a journey towards the sources of light, guides the believer to inner and outer transformation. This intimacy is not limited to outward recitation but is defined by living in accordance with the divine verses. By placing the Holy Quran in the heart and actions, the believer shines like a star in the sky of faith.
Verse nine of Surah Al-Anfal, like a clear mirror, displays the profound relationship among the supplication of the believers, divine response, and the descent of angels. This verse introduces the Holy Quran as a comprehensive source for guidance, joy, and heart reassurance. The critique of replacing Quranic knowledge with human sciences underscores the necessity of returning to this celestial book as the axis of life. Intimacy with the Holy Quran means not only reading it but living by its divine verses, leading to inner and outer transformation. The invocation Bismillhir-Ramnir-Ram and connection with angels serve as keys to unlocking the doors of knowledge and power, facilitating the believers path. Ultimately, this lecture stresses the importance of avoiding unlawful sustenance, fostering joy in faith, and placing the Holy Quran as the book of action and life.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
