the Lectures of Nokounam, May His Soul Rest in Peace (Session 1533)
Surahs Yunus and Hud, like two radiant gems within the treasury of the Holy Qur'an, encompass profound knowledge and boundless perfections. These two surahs, with their steadfast and sagacious verses, serve as guides for humankind on the path to transcendence and the recognition of truth. This treatise, relying on invaluable lectures, endeavours to present these teachings in a clear and eloquent language to its readers. The content of this work has been organised meticulously, preserving all details and key points, so that it not only safeguards the spirit and message of the verses but also, through articulate expression and a coherent structure, illuminates the path for researchers and seekers of knowledge.
Surah Yunus commences with the disjointed letters "Alif Lam Ra", a symbol that remains enveloped in mystery and whose wisdom lies with the Wise and All-Knowing God. These letters, akin to a key unlocking the doors of knowledge, direct the mind towards contemplation on the depths of the Holy Qur'an.
الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْحَكِيمِ
These are the verses of the Wise Book.
The verses of this Surah are like a sturdy edifice, endowed with wisdom and firmness. This solidity does not originate from the prophets or scholars, but rather from the Wise and All-Aware God. God states in this verse that this Book has been detailed with firm and steadfast verses from Him, and all that it contains flows from the fountainhead of divine wisdom.
The prophets, such as Hud (peace be upon him), are humble before God and never consider themselves the centre of knowledge. They always speak of God and avoid self-display. Hud (peace be upon him) states: I am, like you, a human who is mute and powerless, and whatever I possess is by the grace of God. This humility is like a revitalising breeze, contrasting with the arrogance of some religious scholars who sometimes fall into the snare of self-adulation.
This distinction is like a mirror reflecting the truth: the prophets, with pure and unpretentious hearts, point solely to God, whereas some religious scholars, by emphasising I and self-display, stray from this path. This arrogance sometimes increases to such an extent that it distances one from the truth.
This section, by considering the firmness of the Quranic verses and the role of the prophets vis--vis scholars, demonstrated that divine wisdom is the sole source of true knowledge. The verses of Surah Yunus, with divine firmness and detail, guide humans on the path of truth, and the prophets, like shining lamps, lead this path towards God.
Religious knowledge sometimes becomes entangled in arrogance and estrangement from truth. Some seekers of knowledge, instead of pursuing divine knowledge, fall into the trap of self-adulation and fruitless disputes. This challenge casts a heavy shadow over the path of scientific transcendence.
In a personal experience, the narrator recounts encounters with students who, despite years of study, lacked profound knowledge. This experience acts as a reminder that religious knowledge, if not accompanied by sincerity and humility, deviates onto a misguided path.
The narrator speaks of his days studying in Qom, where he pursued truth with enthusiasm. He recalls teachers who sought knowledge not for themselves but for God. These teachers, like stars in the sky of knowledge, illuminated the way for him.
In one such memory, the narrator recalls debates with students who, despite claiming knowledge, lacked depth. This experience is like a mirror showing that true knowledge is attained only under the shadow of humility and sincerity.
This section, by examining the challenges of religious knowledge and personal experiences, demonstrated that true knowledge is attained only through sincerity and humility. The narrators memories act as a guiding light for seekers of knowledge.
Pious scholars, like rare gems, lived with simplicity and asceticism. The narrator recalls a scholar who, despite having access to many facilities, led a simple and unadorned life. This scholar even collected discarded cigarette butts from the street to avoid wastefulness.
This conduct is like a refreshing breeze that renews the spirit and shows that true scholars do not seek wealth or possessions but rather the satisfaction of God.
This section, by reviewing the conduct of pious scholars, demonstrated that asceticism and simplicity are prominent traits of true scholars. This conduct guides seekers of knowledge and wisdom on the path of transcendence.
This treatise, through reflection on the teachings of Surahs Yunus and Hud, endeavoured to illuminate the depth of divine wisdom and the role of prophets and scholars in guiding humanity towards the clear truth. The firm verses of the Holy Qur'an, like strong pillars, pave the way for seekers of knowledge. Personal experiences and the conduct of pious scholars act like shining lamps, revealing the path of sincerity and humility. It is hoped that this work serves as a step towards recognising truth and the elevation of the soul.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
