The Holy Quran is a clear spring of Divine knowledge, which in its verses delineates the path to human felicity and perfection. Verse 29 of Surah Al-Imran, like a jewel within this luminous collection, calls the believers to piety and promises discernment (Furqan), forgiveness of sins, and immense Divine grace. This treatise, with a profound view on this noble verse, endeavours to explicate its exalted meanings in a systematic manner and with a clear, solemn language for seekers of truth. In this journey, piety is like a key that opens the doors of insight and knowledge, guiding man towards the distinction of truth from falsehood and the reception of boundless Divine favours.
In this verse, the Holy Quran addresses the believers directly and intimately, indicating the lofty responsibility borne by the faithful towards their Lord. It is as if God, having chosen the believers as precious gems, invites them to the field of action and piety.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا
O you who have believed
This address calls the believers as a distinguished group, urging them towards righteous deeds and adherence to faith. Faith is not merely a belief in the heart, but a commitment manifest in behaviour and conduct. God in this verse invites the believers to a great test, a trial of which piety is the criterion.
Piety is like a shield that protects man from spiritual defilements and sins. This concept is introduced in the noble verse as a fundamental condition for receiving Divine blessings.
إِن تَتَّقُوا ٱللَّهَ
If you fear Allah
Here, piety means companionship and conformity with the Lord. The pious person is one who considers God as their refuge and becomes intimate with Him. This companionship purifies the heart from duplicity and hypocrisy and guides man towards the purity of the soul.
One of the main pillars of piety is attention to lawful sustenance. Unlawful provision is like a poison that darkens the heart and deprives the soul of insight. In Islamic culture, lawful sustenance not only nourishes the body but also directs the soul towards purity and knowledge. The pious person avoids unlawful, corrupt, and impure sustenance because these defilements hinder proximity to God and the reception of insight.
As narrated from the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him): Seeking lawful sustenance is an obligation upon every Muslim. This emphasis demonstrates the fundamental role of lawful sustenance in the purity of the soul and piety.
Piety is not limited merely to refraining from sin but also encompasses the purity of the soul and the hearts soundness. The pious person abstains from malice, bias, and duplicity. A pure heart is like a mirror that reflects truth without any dust. This purity is a prerequisite for receiving discernment (Furqan) and insight.
The Holy Quran states in Surah Ash-Shams: Indeed, he succeeds who purifies it. This verse underscores the role of soul purification in human felicity.
Furqan is a Divine gift bestowed upon the pious person. This ability is like a lamp within the heart that distinguishes truth from falsehood, good from evil, and friend from foe.
يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا
He will grant you [the power of] discernment
Furqan is a knowledge that renders man independent of superficial proofs. The pious believer, through inner insight, perceives the truth and recognises right from wrong without mediation. This ability is like a key that opens the doors of unseen knowledge to man.
Insight is the fruit of piety. The pious person, by abstaining from spiritual defilements, acquires a discerning eye with which he sees the truth beyond the veils of appearances. This insight frees man from prejudice and malice and grants him the ability to judge with a pure and impartial heart, even towards the enemy.
The Holy Quran says in Surah Al-Hashr: And do not place hatred in our hearts. This verse invites believers to cleanse their hearts of bias and enmity.
God, through piety, covers the sins of the believer and forgives him. This process is like a remedy that heals the wounds of the soul and restores the spiritual visage of man to its original purity.
وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ
And He will expiate for you your sins and forgive you
Expiation is like removing a wound from the face of the soul, and forgiveness is like polishing it, restoring man to a state of purity and faultlessness. This process is the result of piety and liberates the believer from the burden of sins.
Sin is like a wound that mars the face of the soul. Expiation removes this wound, and forgiveness smooths and cleanses the face, as if the soul returns to its original beauty. This analogy illustrates the profound effect of piety in spiritual purification.
The great Divine grace is like rain falling upon the dry land of the believers soul, saturating him with both material and spiritual blessings.
وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
And Allah is the Possessor of Great Bounty
This grace includes knowledge, perfection, and rewards in the hereafter. God grants the pious more than they deserve and shelters them under His boundless kindness.
One of the concerns of religious scholars is the absence of piety and insight in some Islamic societies. Worship performed without piety and lawful sustenance is like an empty shell, leaving no effect on the human soul. Religious knowledge emphasises that worship is effective only when accompanied by soul purification and piety.
The Holy Quran states in Surah Al-Ankabut: Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing. This verse indicates that worship attains perfection only when performed under the shade of piety and purity.
To revive insight in the Islamic society, returning to piety and lawful sustenance is essential. Worship is effective only when accompanied by a pure heart and a purified soul. The pious person, by offering two units of prayer with lawful sustenance, obtains a discerning eye to see the truth beyond outward veils.
Piety elevates man to a stage where he desires nothing except God. The pious believer, even in the face of hardships and calamities, finds tranquillity in his heart through love for the Lord.
As narrated by religious scholars: Whoever loves Allah asks nothing from Him except Allah. This love is the pinnacle of piety that frees man from material greed.
The pious believer is like a lover who, in the face of calamity, says: O God, close the doors of mercy and open the doors of calamity, for I desire only You. This independence reflects the depth of faith and piety, which elevates man to Divine proximity.
Verse 29 of Surah Al-Imran, like a blazing torch, illuminates the path of felicity for the believers. Piety is the key that opens the doors of discernment (Furqan), forgiveness of sins, and great Divine grace. Lawful sustenance and purity of the soul are prerequisites on this path, and insight is the fruit that grows from the tree of piety. The critique of religious knowledge emphasises the necessity of returning to piety and avoiding spiritual defilements. Divine love is the summit of this path, freeing the believer from the bonds of the world and guiding him towards perfection. This interpretation is an invitation towards piety, so that in its light, man may attain knowledge, insight, and the boundless Divine grace.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
