of Nekounam, (Session 1495)
The Holy Quran, akin to a radiant lamp, illuminates the path of guidance for humanity and, through its enlightening verses, unveils the reality of existence before the eyes of seekers of truth. Verses 74 and 75 of Surah Yunus, with profound and meaningful expression, address the fate of the misguided, the mission of divine prophets such as Moses and Aaron, and the confrontation with magic and sorcery in the face of divine miracles. This treatise, adopting a comprehensive and deep perspective, endeavours to elucidate these verses and, by linking Quranic concepts to theological, mystical, and sociological analyses, seeks to shed new light upon these truths. Relying on the content of the lectures of a learned scholar, it aims, with eloquent language and a coherent structure, to invite the audience to contemplate these verses and their messages.
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 people, and they came to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe in what they had denied before. Thus We seal the hearts of the transgressors."
This verse, like a mirror, portrays the reality of the hearts of the misguided. The hardness of heart, resembling a hard and impenetrable stone, prevents the penetration of the light of divine guidance. From a psychological perspective, this hardness can be understood as the consequence of cognitive biases that hinder a person from accepting the truth. From a mystical viewpoint, this seal upon hearts is the bitter fruit of estrangement from God, which, like a heavy shadow, plunges the soul into darkness.
The hardness of heart in the Quranic verses is introduced not merely as a spiritual state but as an obstacle to the comprehension of truth. The misguided, due to their insistence on denial, are deprived of receiving the light of guidance. This deprivation acts as a chain that binds them in ignorance and unawareness. Psychologically, this condition can be attributed to resistance to change and self-superiority, which prevent acceptance of truth. The Holy Quran shows the way to liberation in humility and acceptance of the divine verses.
Verse 74 of Surah Yunus, referring to the continuation of the sending of messengers after Noah (peace be upon him), emphasises the persistence of divine guidance. This continuity, like a clear flowing river, rescues the earth from the dryness of misguidance. Every prophet, with clear signs, calls his people towards the truth. This persistence is a sign of the boundless grace of God, who never leaves His creation without a guide.
From a sociological perspective, prophets, as spiritual leaders, play an unparalleled role in guiding societies. They are like torchbearers in the dark night, showing the path of felicity to their community. Prophets not only carry divine signs but also, through their conduct, provide a model for serving creation. This service is like a seed planted in the soil of society, bearing the fruits of justice and guidance.
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ بِآيَاتِنَا فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا مُجْرِمِينَ
"Then We sent after them Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people."
This verse vividly depicts the confrontation of Moses and Aaron with Pharaoh. Moses, the divine prophet, and Aaron, his helper, were sent with clear divine signs to Pharaoh and the elite of his people to guide them towards truth. However, Pharaoh and his people, like a mountain of arrogance, stood opposed to these signs.
From a mystical standpoint, the divine signs that Moses and Aaron bore reflected the truth of existence like a mirror. These signs can only be understood by a heart purified and free from arrogance. Sociologically, Pharaohs arrogance and that of his elite were the result of an authoritarian and power-centred social structure that marginalized truth. This confrontation, like a battle between light and darkness, has been repeated many times throughout human history.
The phrase فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا مُجْرِمِينَ in verse 75 speaks of the arrogance and sinfulness of Pharaohs people. Arrogance, like a high wall, blocks the light of truth from entering the human heart. By rejecting the divine verses, Pharaohs people plunged themselves into the abyss of sin and loss.
Psychologically, arrogance functions as a defensive mechanism to preserve self-superiority. Pharaoh and his people, clinging to this self-superiority, fled from accepting the truth. Theologically, this arrogance results from polytheism and estrangement from God, plunging a person into the darkness of misguidance. The Holy Quran, through this expression, invites humans to humility before the truth.
Pharaohs people regarded the divine signs presented by Moses and Aaron as magic:
فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ عِنْدِنَا قَالُوا إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ
(Surah Yunus, verse 76). This reaction, like an error on a dark night road, was the result of ignorance and hardness of heart.
"When the truth came to them from Us, they said, 'Indeed, this is clear magic.'"
A miracle, like a divine light, flows from the boundless power of the Lord, whereas magic, like a limited shadow, originates from human capability. Pharaohs people, immersed in the culture of magic and sorcery, equated divine truth with magic.
From the perspective of religious epistemology, Pharaohs peoples mistake in equating miracle and magic was due to ignorance and incapacity to discern truth. Sociologically, this reaction reflects the influence of prevalent cultural beliefs on the rejection of truth. At Pharaohs time, magic and sorcery were tools to maintain power and deceive people, and this culture obstructed the comprehension of divine signs.
Magic and sorcery, in some views, are regarded as an empirical science that held a special place in ancient cultures. If this science is properly utilised in the path of guidance, it can be a valuable capability. However, in the hands of the misguided, it becomes a double-edged sword, turning into a tool for deception and harm.
From the philosophy of science perspective, magic and sorcery can be seen as knowledge applied in ancient cultures to influence nature and humans. Theologically, this science is like a candle before the sun compared to divine miracles. A miracle, by connection to divine power, is distinct from magic and reveals the truth.
Religious science, if left behind in progress and innovation, like a rootless tree, will bear no fruit. It is necessary for religious scholars to acquire up-to-date sciences such as history and geography to guide society. Backwardness in these sciences casts a dark shadow that deprives religion of influence over society.
From a sociological standpoint, backwardness in religious science prevents it from responding to the contemporary needs of society. Epistemologically, this deficiency reduces the credibility of religious knowledge compared to other sciences. Religious scholars, like gardeners, must irrigate the garden of faith with modern knowledge.
The religious scholar, like a clear spring, must be at the service of creation. If a scholar neglects serving people, he becomes like a fruitless tree, devoid of value and credibility. Religious science is valuable only when accompanied by service to creation
