of Nokounam, May His Secret be Sanctified (Session 1459)
The Holy Quran, like a radiant lamp, illuminates the path of guidance for humanity and with profound and noble expression, elucidates the relationship between man, the Lord, and the divine signs. Verses 42 of Surah Yunus and 94 to 96 of the same Surah, alongside relevant verses from Surah Al-Imran, reflect like a clear mirror the truths of monotheism, the human responsibility towards revelation, and the distinctions among the ranks of the Prophets and their nations. These verses, with a language as refreshing as a gentle breeze upon the hearts, invite mankind to contemplate the previous heavenly scriptures and to abstain from doubt and denial of divine signs. In this treatise, through a scientific and systematic approach, the content of these verses is extracted, analysed, and presented with supplementary explanations in a coherent framework, so that their profound meanings shine forth like a precious gem for seekers of truth.
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِي شَكٍّ مِنْ دِينِي فَلَا أَعْبُدُ الَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنْ أَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Say: O mankind, if you are in doubt concerning my religion, then I do not worship those whom you worship besides God; but I worship God, who takes your souls at death, and I am commanded to be among the believers.
فَإِنْ كُنْتَ فِي شَكٍّ مِمَّا أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ فَاسْأَلِ الَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ ۚ لَقَدْ جَاءَكَ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ
وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
So if you are in doubt concerning what We have revealed to you, then ask those who read the Scripture before you. Verily, the truth has come to you from your Lord, so be not of the doubters. And be not of those who deny the signs of God, lest you be among the losers.
Verse 42 of Surah Yunus begins with a general address O mankind like a celestial melody and, like a shining star, emphasises monotheism in worship. This verse commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to disassociate from worshipping others besides God and to commit to worshipping the One God who takes your souls at death. This address is like a pure current, inviting a reconsideration of polytheistic beliefs and a return to pure monotheism that shines as an incomparable gem at the core of divine religion.
Verses 94 and 95 of Surah Al-Imran, like a mirror reflecting truth, recommend those who doubt the divine revelation to consult the scholars among the People of the Book so that the truth shines upon them like a radiant sun. These verses issue a serious warning to those who deny Gods signs, cautioning them against falling into the eternal loss.
The Final Prophet (peace be upon him), like a steadfast mountain against the storms of doubt, was free from any hesitation regarding receiving revelation and divine mission. The phrase if you are in doubt in Surah Yunus and so if you are in doubt in Surah Al-Imran does not refer to him, but rather to nations or individuals who harboured doubts about the divine verses. This distinction, like a golden line, differentiates the exalted faith status of the Final Prophet from other prophets and previous nations.
The Holy Quran, like a profound ocean, contains apparent and inner layers. The apparent address of some verses is ascribed to the Final Prophet, but in essence refers to earlier Prophets such as Moses, Jesus, Abraham, David or their nations. This style of address, which is elucidated as a brilliant gem in the commentary of Al-Mizan, reflects divine wisdom in using the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the vessel for conveying messages to previous nations.
This section, through elucidation of verse 42 of Surah Yunus and verses 94 and 95 of Surah Al-Imran, emphasised the centrality of monotheism, the Final Prophets immunity from doubt, and the multilayered nature of Quranic addresses. These verses, like a guiding light, invite humanity to avoid polytheism, contemplate previous heavenly books, and accept the truth so as to be saved from eternal loss.
فَإِن كُنتَ فِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ فَاسْأَلِ الَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكَ ۚ لَقَدْ جَاءَكَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ
وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
So if you are in doubt concerning what We have revealed to you, then ask those who read the Scripture before you. Verily, the truth has come to you from your Lord, so be not of the doubters. And be not of those who deny the signs of God, lest you be among the losers. Indeed, those upon whom the word of your Lord has been fulfilled do not believe.
Verses 94 to 96 of Surah Yunus, like waves washing over the shore of truth, warn those who harbour doubts about the divine verses and show the path out of uncertainty. These verses, continuing the story of the Children of Israel and Pharaoh, affirm the truth of revelation, the necessity to avoid doubt, and the danger of denying Gods signs. The apparent address to the Final Prophet, like a golden vessel, carries a message for previous nations who doubted the divine verses.
The Holy Quran, like a golden ring in the chain of divine revelation, is linked to the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel in its content of monotheism and guidance. Although these scriptures differ in expression and law according to their respective times and places, they shine like stars in the same sky in their call to monotheism and resurrection. The advice to refer to the scholars of the People of the Book in verse 94 is like a key that opens the doors to truth and guides humanity to reflect on this continuity.
The Final Prophet (peace be upon him), like a lofty peak in the chain of prophets, is distinguished from others in terms of faith rank and infallibility. This distinction does not negate the status of other prophets but is due to the finality and
