The Holy Qur'an, like a profound ocean, contains boundless meanings, each verse serving as a gateway to understanding truth and guidance. Verse 99 of Surah Younus, with its emphasis on Divine Will and the negation of coercion in faith, is one such gateway of knowledge that invites reflection on the relationship between Gods will, human free will, and the path of guidance. This writing, reflecting a deep and mystical lecture, explores this verse and, through examination of the concepts of Divine Will, infallibility, and the perfection of the cosmos, endeavours to guide the reader towards elevated horizons of understanding. The text employs clear and structured language, utilising semantic connections and metaphors to provide a foundation for profound contemplation.
وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ لَآمَنَ مَن فِي الْأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتَّىٰ يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ
And if your Lord had willed, all those on earth would have believed altogether. Will you then compel mankind until they become believers?
This verse of the Holy Qur'an, like a shining light, reveals two fundamental truths: firstly, the absolute power of God in guiding all towards faith, and secondly, the negation of any form of coercion on the path of faith. Divine Will, like an infinite current, is capable of guiding all creatures towards faith, yet this will, according to the wisdom of God, is deferred to a sublime time in the future. The word law (if) in this verse points to the impossibility of this occurring at the present time, without negating its potentiality. This verse addresses the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and, through a rhetorical question, denies any compulsion in faith, as though God declares: true guidance does not flourish by force, but through human will and choice.
Divine Will acts as a key that unlocks the locks of the universe, guiding all beings towards the light of faith. In this verse, the Almighty God states that if His will is bestowed, all inhabitants of the earth, without exception, will become believers. However, this will refers to a period in the distant future, perhaps billions of years from the present time. In that era, humanity will reach a level of perfection whereby, by a creative will, they attain faith and infallibility. This period, which may be called the era of Will, is a time when the world is liberated from coercion and hypocrisy, and faith flows like a clear stream in the hearts of mankind.
From this perspective, Divine Will is not merely a divine power but a sublime state guiding humans towards infallibility and purity. This concept aligns with verse 29 of Surah Al-Kahf:
فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ
So whoever wills, let him believe; and whoever wills, let him disbelieve.
This verse emphasises human free will and demonstrates that Divine Will, in the present time, operates while preserving human freedom of choice. In the era of Will, this choice reaches its perfection, and humans, by a creative will, step towards faith.
The Holy Qur'an, like a clear mirror, separates the truth of faith from coercion and compulsion. Verse 99 of Surah Younus, by questioning the Prophet (peace be upon him), negates any compulsion in faith. This question serves as a warning to the Messenger of God that human guidance is possible not by force, but by invitation and knowledge. Faith is like a flower growing in the soil of free will; coercion yields nothing but hypocrisy and misguidance. This concept is deeply connected with verse 256 of Surah Al-Baqarah:
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ
There is no compulsion in religion; the right way has become distinct from the wrong.
This verse explicitly negates coercion and emphasises that growth and guidance arise only under the shadow of free will and awareness. In daily life as well, coercion in familial or social relations results only in separation and hypocrisy. True faith blossoms from the heart of knowledge and free will, and any compulsion, like a scorching wind, withers this sapling.
Divine Will, in mysticism, is like a lofty summit towards which the seeker approaches through spiritual practice and knowledge. In the era of Will, humans, by a creative will, step towards infallibility and purity. This infallibility does not arise from compulsion but from knowledge and a pure will. At present, attaining this station requires great effort and complete knowledge. The seeker must avoid sin, falsehood, and harm to others and, by reiterating Divine Will, draw closer to God.
This spiritual journey is like a voyage across a boundless ocean, elevating the seeker from the earthly plane to the celestial. In this path, acts of worship such as prayer and fasting, if performed with creative will and sincere intention, become connected to Divine Will. However, if these acts are carried out by habit or compulsion, they become empty shells, devoid of meaning. For instance, the phrase "Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een" from Surah Al-Fatiha, if recited without knowledge and understanding, remains false; but with knowledge, it opens a gateway to Divine Will.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
Mystical experiences, like sparks of the light of Will, illuminate the path for the seeker. In this lecture, examples of such experiences, such as prolonged fasting or enduring harsh conditions, are mentioned as signs of closeness to Divine Will. For example, fasting for two months without water or food, or enduring boiling water without feeling burning, indicates a state in which the seeker harmonises with Divine Will. These experiences, like mirrors, show that Divine Will liberates humans from material constraints and guides them towards spiritual freedom.
In one such experience, the seeker drinks a four-litre bottle of lemon juice in a single breath, not out of material need, but as an expression of unity with Divine Will, reaching a sublime state. This act, astonishing to others, demonstrates the power of Will in freeing humans from bodily bonds. In another instance, sitting in boiling water without feeling heat shows that Divine Will elevates the human to a state immune to material effects.
The universe, like a growing sapling, progresses towards spiritual perfection. This development began from the time of Adam (peace be upon him) and culminates with the appearance of the prophets and divine saints such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and ultimately Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance). In the era of Divine Will, which may occur in a distant future, humans reach a stage of infallibility and faith whereby, without coercion, they proceed towards God by a creative will. This era is like a springtime that leads the world from the darkness of misguidance to the light of guidance.
This concept relates to verse 2 of Surah Al-Mulk:
الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا
He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed.
This verse considers the purpose of creation as testing and perfecting humans, reaching its zenith in the era of Divine Will.
True mysticism, like a brilliant jewel, is distinguished from superficial appearances. In many mystical sources, Divine Will is misunderstood, and excessive attention to external appearances, such as beard and moustache, has reduced mysticism to a superficial level. However, Divine Will is a profound current beyond these externals, requiring complete knowledge and genuine spiritual practice. True mystics seek truth, not outward form, and Divine Will is one of the exalted stages of this spiritual journey.
This concept aligns with verse 112 of Surah Al-Baqarah:
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
He begets not, nor is He begotten.
This verse emphasises the absolute self-sufficiency (As-Samad) of God and points to true mysticism as the recognition of Divine reality.
Although the era of Divine Will will be realised in a distant future, humans in the present can approach this reality through mystical practice. This path, though arduous, is glorious, requiring firm faith, abandonment of sin, and sincere deeds. The seeker must, by reiterating Divine Will, draw closer to God and perform acts with a creative will. This endeavour is like planting a seed that will one day grow into a mighty tree.
This concept relates to verse 186 of Surah Al-Baqarah:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ
And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the call of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.
This verse reveals Gods closeness to His servants and strengthens the invitation towards Divine Will.
