The Holy Quran, like a clear spring, conceals divine knowledge within the depths of its verses, each verse serving as a gateway towards understanding truth and guiding humanity. Verse 71 of Surah Yunus, which narrates a segment of the story of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him), is among those verses that beautifully depict the profound concepts of reliance upon God, entrusting affairs to Him, and self-sufficiency from others. This writing, through reflection upon this verse and analysis of religious scholars discourses, endeavours to examine these concepts comprehensively and multifacetedly in mystical, theological, psychological, and social dimensions. The following text, structured systematically and composed in clear language, elucidates these teachings and, by employing metaphors and literary allusions, strives to convey a deep and spiritual message to the reader.
وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ نُوحٍ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ إِنْ كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَقَامِي وَتَذْكِيرِي بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَعَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ فَأَجْمِعُوا أَمْرَكُمْ وَشُرَكَاءَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُنْ أَمْرُكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ غُمَّةً ثُمَّ اقْضُوا إِلَيَّ وَلَا تُنْظِرُونِ
Translation: And recite to them the news of Noah when he said to his people: O my people, if my presence and my reminder of the signs of God is burdensome to you, then I have relied upon God. So assemble your plan and your partners, then let there be no distress upon you. Then decide concerning me and do not delay.
Verse 71 of Surah Yunus, like a luminous mirror, reflects the unconditional reliance of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) amid the hardships of his mission. The phrase فَعَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ (So I have relied upon God) testifies to his complete trust in God when his people rejected and opposed the path of guidance. Reliance, from the perspective of Islamic mysticism, is akin to entrusting the vessel of ones existence to the sea of divine wisdom and power, which frees the individual from the whirlpool of dependence on others and directs them towards the shore of tranquility.
This reliance does not stem from weakness but arises from the strength of faith. Prophet Noah (peace be upon him), faced with his apparent inability to persuade his people, refrained from resorting to material means or futile resistance and instead sought refuge in God, entrusting the affairs to Him. This act of entrusting serves as a key that unlocks the chains of despair and guides the individual towards independence from others.
Entrusting to God is like placing the heavy burden of problems upon the steadfast shoulders of divine wisdom. Religious scholars emphasise that in the face of ones incapacities, one must turn to God and say: O God, my strength is insufficient; whatever You will, do. This entrusting is not surrender to defeat but trust in the greatest power of existence. From a positive psychological perspective, this approach functions as a mechanism for coping with psychological pressures, transforming anxiety into tranquillity. In Islamic mysticism, this concept is deeply connected to surrender and contentment with divine will, which leads the individual towards inner peace.
Religious discourses draw a clear distinction between reliance and insolence. Insolence is a hollow shout in the face of incapacity, arising from arrogance and ignorance. The insolent person, confronted with difficulties, instead of seeking refuge in God, resorts to cursing and futile resistance, which exacerbates hardships. Conversely, reliance is like a soothing breeze originating from faith and trust in God, guiding the individual towards steadfastness and serenity. From a psychological standpoint, insolence is an unhealthy defensive reaction that complicates problems rather than resolving them, whereas reliance is a sign of resilience and spiritual self-confidence.
The phrase فَأَجْمِعُوا أَمْرَكُمْ وَشُرَكَاءَكُمْ (So assemble your plan and your partners) in verse 71 of Surah Yunus is a call by Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) to his people to gather all their might and allies. This invitation is not borne out of weakness but from assurance in the superiority of divine power over all material and polytheistic forces. Theologically, this expression demonstrates the impotence of polytheism and material means before the will of God. Prophet Noah (peace be upon him), through this invitation, challenges his people, highlighting that no force can stand against divine power.
From a psychological viewpoint, this call can be seen as a challenge to overcome fears and material dependencies. Without reliance, people turn to material means, but these means are like broken canes, ineffective against the storms of problems. Reliance frees the person from this dependency and guides them towards trust in God.
The phrase ثُمَّ لَا يَكُنْ أَمْرُكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ غُمَّةً (then let there be no distress upon you) is advice to the people of Noah (peace be upon him) to liberate themselves from doubt and anxiety in decision-making. Interpretations emphasize that entrusting to God frees the person from sorrow and turmoil. The term غمة (distress) is symbolised as a dark cloud representing psychological anxiety and doubt, which, through reliance on God, dissipates like radiant sunshine. Mystically, this liberation is linked with the concept of anniq il Allh (disconnection to God), where the individual detaches from dependence on others and is led towards God.
فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَمَا سَأَلْتُكُمْ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Translation: So if you turn away, then I have not asked you for any reward. My reward is only with God, and I have been commanded to be among the Muslims.
Verse 72 of Surah Yunus, like a shining gem, portrays the self-sufficiency of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) from others besides God. The phrase إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ (My reward is only with God) indicates that the Prophet neither sought material reward from his people nor was dependent on their approval or acceptance. This self-sufficiency is like a deeply rooted tree, springing from his faith and reliance upon God. In Islamic mysticism, this notion corresponds with asceticism and contentment, which liberate the individual from greed and attachment to the world.
Self-sufficiency from others is not only a sign of spiritual dignity but also serves as a paradigm for the faithful person who, in the face of hardships and adversities, relies on God rather than seeking refuge in others. This approach frees one from the captivity of material desires and guides towards eternal felicity.
The firmness of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) is like a steadfast rock against the storm of opposition and tribulations, clearly manifested in verse 71 of Surah Yunus. He, relying on God and self-sufficient from others, remained unbowed before the disbelief and hostility of his people and fulfilled his mission with perseverance. From the perspective of positive psychology, this firmness is an indicator of spiritual resilience rooted in faith and trust in God. In Islamic mysticism, this firmness corresponds with the concept of steadfastness in the path of God, which leads the believer towards perfection.
Religious scholars have critiqued dependency on material means such as canes, spectacles, and money, regarding these tools as inadequate in comparison to the infinite power of God. In the absence of divine knowledge, people resort to these means, whereas God is an inexhaustible source fulfilling all human needs. From a sociological viewpoint, this critique addresses materialistic culture that drives humans towards dependence on objects and material tools, while reliance on God liberates from this captivity.
The metaphor of canes and spectacles reflects the human weakness against materialism. Humans, in their incapacity, resort to material tools instead of seeking refuge in God, but these tools are like a deceptive mirage, ineffective in confronting real problems.
Knowing God is like a key that opens the doors to reliance and entrusting. Religious scholars emphasize that due to ignorance of God, humans seek material tools, although God is the greatest power of existence. From a religious epistemological perspective, knowledge of God is a prerequisite for reliance and faith; without it, humans remain trapped in the whirlpool of fear and dependency. The Holy Quran, through invitation to contemplation and reflection, guides humanity towards divine knowledge, which forms the foundation for living under the shadow of reliance and tranquillity.
Entrusting to God is like a flower that grows in the soil of sincere intention. Religious scholars have stressed that this entrusting must be with justice and without oppression. Entrusting out of ignorance or injustice does not lead to liberation but rather ensnares the person in difficulties. From an Islamic ethical perspective, pure intention and action in the way of truth are conditions for acceptance of entrusting. Psychologically, this condition refers to avoiding cognitive biases that divert humans from truth.
Verse 71 of Surah Yunus, like a shining lamp, illuminates the path of reliance, entrusting to God, and self-sufficiency from others for humanity. The story of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) is an unparalleled model of firmness in faith, who
