of Nokounam, may his sanctity remain (Session 1494)
The Holy Quran, like a guiding lamp, manifests the path of felicity and salvation to mankind and, through the stories of the Prophets and previous peoples, presents profound lessons on reliance (tawakkul), self-sufficiency from all but God, and the eventual outcomes of human choices before all. Verses 71 to 73 of Surah Yunus, centred on the story of Prophet Nuh (Noah), peace be upon him, portray a depiction of steadfast faith, trust in God, and the ultimate fate of both the misguided and the believers. This essay, relying on the themes of these verses, elucidates concepts such as self-sufficiency from worldly reward, adherence to the divine mission, and the necessity of companionship with the righteous. The present text, with a comprehensive and multifaceted approach, examines these verses from mystical, theological, psychological, and sociological perspectives, articulating the divine messages to readers with a refined and lucid language.
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
And recite to them the news of Nuh when he said to his people: O my people, if my staying and my reminding you of the verses of Allah is burdensome upon you, then I have relied upon Allah. So, resolve your plan and your partners, then there should be no concealment in your plan, and then decide concerning me, and do not delay.
This verse, like a clear mirror, displays the firmness and reliance of Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) before his rebellious people. With resolute expression, he invites his people to accept the divine verses and declares his complete reliance upon God in the face of their defiance and enmity. The phrase فَعَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ acts as a steadfast pillar, indicative of his absolute trust in the divine will. This reliance is not merely a sign of firm faith but also an embodiment of self-sufficiency from the approval and acceptance of creation. From a mystical perspective, this state corresponds with the concept of fan f Allh (annihilation in God); where the human being, like a drop in the ocean of the Divine, is freed from any dependency on others besides God.
فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَمَا سَأَلْتُكُمْ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
So if you turn away, I have not asked you for any reward. My reward is only with Allah, and I have been commanded to be among the Muslims.
Verse 72 of Surah Yunus shines like a radiant gem, revealing Prophet Nuhs self-sufficiency from material rewards and human approval. He explicitly declares that his mission is not for worldly gain but for guiding his people and obedience to the divine command. The expression إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ demonstrates that his true recompense is with God alone, not in the hands of creation. This self-sufficiency, like a mighty tree, is deeply rooted in profound faith and submission to divine will. Mystically, this condition is connected with the concepts of contentment and disconnection to God (inqi il Allh), which liberate the individual from greed and covetousness of the world. From a sociological viewpoint, this verse serves as a critique of the exploitation of religion for material benefit, a phenomenon observed in some societies.
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ خَلَائِفَ وَأَغْرَقْنَا الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا ۖ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ
So they denied him, and We saved him and those with him in the ship, and made them successors (caliphs), and We drowned those who denied Our verses. So behold how was the end of the warners.
This verse, like a veil of divine history, narrates the denial of the people of Nuh and the salvation of him and his companions. The denial by the people was the consequence of their rebellion and rejection of divine signs which led to their destruction. In contrast, the salvation of Prophet Nuh and his companions, who were aboard the ship of faith, exemplifies Gods mercy upon the believers. The phrase وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ خَلَائِفَ indicates that the believers became righteous successors on earth, like good seeds planted in fertile soil, while the misguided were destroyed by the divine flood like weeds. Theologically, this verse underscores human free will and its consequences. Psychologically, the story highlights the importance of adherence to spiritual values in the face of misleading temptations.
The phrase فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ is an invitation to contemplate the fate of those who denied the divine verses. This summons acts like a warning bell, urging humanity to reflect on the eventual consequences of their actions. The misguided, due to hardness of heart and rejection of truth, sank into the whirlpool of destruction. This outcome serves as a cautionary lesson for contemporary societies that, by turning to materialism and distancing themselves from spiritual values, are exposed to misguidance and ruin. Sociologically, this verse critiques communities that, through denial of truth, lead themselves to destruction. Mystically, hardness of heart resembles a darkness that extinguishes the light of guidance from the souls.
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ رُسُلًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِمْ فَجَاءُوهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَمَا كَانُوا لِيُؤْمِنُوا بِمَا كَذَّبُوا بِهِ مِنْ قَبْلُ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَطْبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
Then We sent after him messengers to their peoples, and they brought them clear proofs; but they would not believe in what they had denied before. Thus We seal the hearts of the transgressors.
This verse flows like a continuous river illustrating the perpetuation of the prophetic mission. After every prophet, God sends other messengers with clear evidence to offer guidance to the peoples. However, the misguided, due to hardness of heart, reject the truth. The phrase كَذَٰلِكَ نَطْبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ الْمُعْتَدِينَ signifies that a seal is placed upon the hearts of the transgressors, who, because of their rebellion and denial, are deprived of the light of guidance. Psychologically, this hardness may result from cognitive biases and resistance to truth. Mystically, this seal acts like a dark shadow depriving the misguided hearts of the light of faith.
The misguided are like lost travellers wandering a barren desert without water or pasture, dragged to destruction due to their denial of truth. This destruction is not merely material but also spiritual deprivation of felicity. The Holy Quran, by reiterating the stories of previous peoples, invites humanity to ponder this truth: misguidance is like a scorching wind that devastates everything in its path. Conversely, the believers, like deeply rooted trees, stand firm against the storms of misguidance.
The Holy Quran, through the stories of previous peoples, also invites contemporary societies to reflection. Many societies, whether those with an outward religious appearance or those inclined toward materialism, have distanced themselves from divine truth. This misguidance, like a dense fog, obscures the vision of truth-seekers and deprives hearts of the light of guidance. Sociologically, this condition results from a crisis of identity and values in the modern world, which drives individuals toward hypocrisy and injustice. Mystically, this misguidance roots in hardness of heart and estrangement from God.
Against this misguidance, the Holy Quran calls upon humans to accompany the qurab al-ummat (the righteous companions of the community). Such companionship is like joining a luminous caravan in a dark night, rescuing the person from misguidance. The righteous companions are like stars in the sky of guidance, showing the way to felicity. From a social psychological perspective, this companionship strengthens spiritual identity and diminishes the negative influences of misguided groups. Mystically, this bond corresponds with the concept of sohbat-e slehn (companionship of the righteous), which illuminates the heart with the light of faith.
The Holy Quran invites humanity to a pure and good life, where the forbidden finds no path to the believers heart and life. This purity, like a clear stream, cleanses the heart from the stains of sin and guides the human towards divine proximity. A pure life is not only a condition for faith but also guarantees psychological tranquillity and eternal felicity. From the perspective of Islamic ethics, purity is an essential prerequisite for nearness to God and joining the righteous companions. Psychologically, a pure life aids in reducing anxiety and enhancing inner peace
