the lectures of Nokounam, (Session 1509)
Surah Yunus, one of the Makkan chapters of the Holy Qur'an, serves as a mirror reflecting profound concepts of monotheism, prophethood, and humanitys confrontation with divine truth. Within this context, verses 84 and 87 of this Surah, which narrate a dialogue between Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and his people as well as his prayer against Pharaoh and his followers, hold a special status. This writing, through contemplations on these two verses, delves into the meanings of faith, reliance upon God (tawakkul), submission (islam), and the concepts of adornment (zeenah) and wealth in worldly life. The aim is to present the Qur'anic concepts with eloquent language and coherent structure that preserves the spiritual essence of the verses and provides guidance for researchers and seekers of truth.
Verse 84 of Surah Yunus narrates a conversation by Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) with the Children of Israel in which faith and reliance upon God are introduced as two fundamental pillars for deliverance from hardships and tribulations. This verse, like a luminous torch, illuminates the path of true faith against the darkness of doubt and hypocrisy.
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ يَا قَوْمِ إِن كُنتُمْ آمَنتُم بِاللَّهِ فَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلُوا إِن كُنتُم مُّسْلِمِينَ
Translation: And Moses said: O my people! If you have believed in God, then upon Him rely, if you truly submit.
Faith in this verse is not merely a heartfelt belief but an existential state that manifests itself in a persons conduct and behaviour. The phrase If you have believed in God is an invitation to ponder the depth of faith, which transcends mere verbal claim and demands practical adherence to divine values. Faith is like a tree whose roots are planted in the believers heart and whose branches become apparent in righteous deeds. The challenge of faith lies in the fact that mere speech is insufficient; one must stand firm against the temptations of the ego and society such as ostentation, arrogance, and unlawful consumption.
Within the exegetical tradition, faith is defined as heartfelt knowledge, verbal confession, and actions performed by limbs. This verse, by emphasising the practical aspect of faith, differentiates it from superficial claims. True faith is like a pure spring that originates in the believers heart and flows into their life.
The phrase then upon Him rely considers reliance as the logical consequence of faith. Reliance (tawakkul) is heartfelt trust in Gods wisdom and power, liberating a person from dependence on apparent causes. Like a bird entrusting its wings to the divine breeze, the believer, through reliance, entrusts affairs to God while simultaneously exerting effort. Reliance serves as a shield against the storms of doubt and temptation, sustaining the believer on the path of truth.
In mystical literature, reliance is described as a degree of certainty in God which frees the person from egocentrism and self-centeredness. Here, this concept is introduced as a bridge between faith and submission.
The repetition of the phrase if you truly submit stresses the difficulty and depth of submission to divine commands. Being a Muslim is complete submission to Gods will, blossoming like a flower in the garden of faith. This submission transcends superficial identity and necessitates self-discipline and self-accounting. The believer must reflect on their behaviour to ascertain whether hypocrisy, injustice, or forbidden acts have entered their life.
This self-assessment, known in Islamic tradition as muhasabat al-nafs, is presented in ethical literature as a mirror to cleanse the heart of spiritual impurities.
A true believer is one who refrains from the forbidden, does not oppress others, and benefits from the guidance of a mentor or inner intellect. These three criteria serve as steadfast pillars sustaining the edifice of faith. Avoidance of the forbidden acts as a fortress protecting the believers heart from sin; abstaining from oppression paves the way to justice; and the mentors guidance acts as a lamp illuminating the path of truth.
In Islamic tradition, the role of religious scholars in guiding individuals towards religious and ethical rulings is emphasised. These criteria not only distinguish faith from hypocrisy but also lead the person towards eternal felicity.
Verbal claim of being Muslim without corresponding actions is like an empty shell devoid of the essence of faith. Those who profess faith with their tongue but are tainted by sin, injustice, or hypocrisy in their deeds fall outside the circle of true faith. This critique is like a wake-up call urging the believer to self-assess and reform behaviour.
This concept is also reflected in the Qur'an in verses such as verse 14 of Surah Al-Hujurat, which distinguishes true faith from mere outward submission. A true believer is one whose faith manifests in behaviour and conduct.
Verse 84, by referring to the prayer of the people for deliverance from the tribulations of the oppressors, identifies these groups as those who have deviated from the path of faith. The oppressors, through committing forbidden acts, injustice, and lack of guidance, stand opposed to the believers. These individuals are like rootless trees estranged from divine mercy.
In exegeses, the oppressors are described as those who disobey God and oppress others, thereby depriving themselves of the light of guidance. Here, this concept is linked with disbelievers, indicating their profound deviation.
The peoples prayer for salvation from the trials posed by oppressors and disbelievers serves as a spiritual shield protecting faith from the corruption of polluted environments. This prayer reveals the communitys awareness of social and ethical dangers that can undermine faith. The believer, through reliance on divine mercy, beseeches God to keep them steadfast against such challenges.
This prayer, in exegetical tradition, symbolizes reliance and trust in divine mercy to preserve faith amid external challenges.
One who abstains from injustice, hypocrisy, and forbidden consumption is like a traveller equipped with pure provisions heading towards their eternal destination. True faith guarantees eternal bliss and protects the believer from severe divine reckoning. This concept aligns with verses such as verse 30 of Surah Al-Kahf, which regards righteous deeds as complementing faith.
Man must, like a farmer sowing seeds, examine his conduct in three domains: hypocrisy, oppression, and forbidden consumption. This self-assessment is a path to self-purification and heart-cleansing. Muhasabat al-nafs acts like a mirror revealing internal flaws and guiding towards correction.
Citing examples from the lives of individuals free from hypocrisy, injustice, and forbidden acts serves as a model illuminating the path of faith for others. These examples are like stars in the sky of knowledge, guiding the way to felicity and encouraging implementation of faith in real life.
Verse 87 of Surah Yunus narrates the prayer of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) against Pharaoh and his people, mentioning their adornment and wealth in the worldly life, as well as invoking destruction upon them. This verse acts as a window opening profound reflections on the nature of adornment, wealth, and their effects on faith and misguidance.
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءَاتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُۥ زِينَةًۭ وَأَمْوَٰلًۭا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيَضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِكَ ۖ رَبَّنَا ٱطْمِسْ عَلَىٰ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَٱشْدُد
