The Holy Quran, the Book of Divine guidance and light, has continually flowed forth like a pure spring, imparting endless knowledge to seekers of truth. This writing, by meditating upon the Divine verses and extracting their profound meanings, endeavours to open a gateway to a deeper understanding of the revealed word. The content of this work is derived from lectures that, through scholarly and insightful perspectives, elucidate the Quranic verses and connect them with religious teachings. The aim of this treatise is to provide an exegesis that, whilst preserving the originality of the Quranic meanings, invites the audience to contemplate the Divine speech in a clear and steadfast language.
Faith, like a radiant jewel within the heart of the believer, holds a most exalted position. The Holy Quran regards faith not merely as verbal affirmation but as a reality that takes root in the depth of the soul and governs human conduct and behaviour. This concept is explicated in numerous verses, with emphasis on its connection to righteous deeds. Faith is like a mighty tree whose roots are firmly established in heartfelt belief, and its branches manifest through virtuous actions and commendable behaviours.
In this regard, the Holy Quran, in a luminous verse, links faith with righteous action and states:
Those who have believed and done righteous deeds for them is happiness and a good return.
This verse, like a shining lamp, demonstrates that true faith is contingent upon its union with righteous deeds. Righteous action is the fruit of faith, and faith is the root that bears this fruit. In this lecture, it is emphasised that faith is not merely a mental belief but a transformation that affects all aspects of the believers life.
Faith, like a refreshing breeze, delivers the human soul from the darkness of sin and ignorance and guides it towards the light of guidance. This section addresses the effects of faith in both individual and social life. Firstly, faith brings about tranquillity of the heart. The Holy Quran states regarding this:
Indeed, by the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace.
This tranquillity, like a bubbling spring, originates from the depth of the believers soul and strengthens them against the storms of life. Another effect of faith is the reinforcement of willpower and endurance in the face of hardships. The believer, relying on their faith, stands firm like a mountain against adversities.
This section examined the reality of faith as the principal axis of religious life. Faith is not merely a heartfelt belief but a transformative power that influences all dimensions of the believers existence. The connection between faith and righteous deeds, the tranquillity of the heart, and perseverance in the face of difficulties are among the prominent effects emphasised by the Holy Quran.
Religious knowledge, like a precious jewel, serves to comprehend and explain Divine teachings. Nonetheless, existing approaches in this domain require reconsideration and reflection. Some methods in religious knowledge, due to excessive focus on outward forms or detachment from contemporary needs, lack the necessary dynamism. This lecture underscores the need to revise methods in religious knowledgenot to negate its values, but to strengthen its epistemological foundations and respond to the needs of the time.
For instance, in some cases, religious knowledge, instead of flowing like a current that brings new understandings to society, remains confined within traditional frameworks. This has occasionally resulted in a gap between religious teachings and contemporary needs. Accordingly, it has been proposed that religious knowledge must adopt modern methodologies and connect with contemporary sciences to move towards dynamism and efficacy.
Religious scholars, like stars in the firmament of knowledge, bear the responsibility of guiding society. By relying on the Holy Quran and the Prophetic tradition, they can lead society towards felicity. This lecture emphasises that religious scholars must be aware of contemporary needs and elucidate Divine knowledge accordingly. This requires a profound understanding of the Quran and the ability to link it with contemporary issues.
For example, a religious scholar in the past, through contemplation of Quranic verses, offered solutions to the social problems of their time. This approach reveals the infinite capacity of the Holy Quran in providing solutions to human challenges.
This section explored the position of religious knowledge and the necessity of revising its methods. The emphasis on the dynamism of religious knowledge and the role of scholars in guiding society constituted the core points of this section. Religious knowledge, while preserving its authenticity, can respond to contemporary needs and become a beacon for society by employing modern methods.
Faith and religious knowledge are like the two wings of a bird that enable humans to soar towards the summits of knowledge and felicity. Faith is the inner motivation to move towards the truth, and religious knowledge is the instrument to comprehend and elucidate this path. This lecture stresses the inseparable bond between these two elements. Without faith, religious knowledge becomes dry and lifeless; and without religious knowledge, faith may deviate.
This section highlighted the importance of the connection between faith and religious knowledge in guiding humanity. Together, these two elements can lead individuals to a profound comprehension of Divine teachings and a faithful life.
This writing, through reflection on the Holy Quranic verses and religious teachings, endeavoured to present a clear picture of the reality of faith, the status of religious knowledge, and the bond between the two in guiding humanity. Faith, like a light in the believers heart, and religious knowledge, like a lamp on the path of knowledge, guide the human being towards eternal felicity. It is hoped that this work serves as a step towards a deeper understanding of the Divine word and acting upon it.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
