of Nokounam (May His Soul Rest in Peace) Session 1541
The Holy Quran, like a radiant lamp, has illuminated the path of guidance before humanity, and the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), as a trustworthy messenger, conveyed this divine speech to mankind. In verses 15 to 17 of Surah Yunus, the role of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the messenger of revelation and his incapacity to alter the word of God are elucidated with clarity. These verses, by delineating the status of the Messenger and critiquing the demands of the disbelievers to alter the Holy Quran, affirm the authenticity and sanctity of this celestial scripture. Furthermore, the present lecture, through contemplation on these verses, critiques deviations from the Holy Quran in Islamic societies and underscores the necessity of returning to the recitation and intimacy with the divine word. This treatise, with a profound and precise perspective on the content of the verses and the lecture, examines the position of revelation, the humility of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the factors contributing to estrangement from the Holy Quran, articulating with eloquence and solemnity the path of return to divine guidance.
Verses 15 to 17 of Surah Yunus, like a clear mirror, reflect the role of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) in delivering divine revelation and responding to the disbelievers' requests to change or replace the Holy Quran. The text of these verses is as follows:
And when Our clear verses are recited to them, those who do not expect to meet Us say, Bring us a Qur'an other than this or change it. Say, It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I follow only what is revealed to me. Indeed, I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day. Say, Had Allah willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. Indeed, I have dwelt among you for a lifetime before it. Then will you not reason? So who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah or denies His verses? Indeed, the criminals will not succeed.
These verses, like stars in the firmament of guidance, clarify the position of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the messenger of revelation. The demand of the disbelievers to alter the Holy Quran is a sign of their ignorance and arrogance, while the response of the Prophet (peace be upon him), like a gentle breeze, testifies to his humility and submission before the divine will.
In these verses, the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) introduces himself as a trustworthy messenger who conveys divine revelation to the people without any omission or addition. This metaphor acts as a golden key opening the doors to understanding the role of the Messenger. Unlike ordinary couriers who are unaware of the content of the message, the Prophet (peace be upon him) is cognisant of the revelations essence; however, this awareness does not prevent him from submitting to the divine command. He neither can nor wishes to tamper with the word of God, as such interference, akin to a grievous sin, would expose him to punishment on the Day of Resurrection.
Key point: The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), as a trustworthy messenger, is solely tasked with delivering the revelation and possesses no authority to alter or transform it. This humility and submission serve as a model for Gods servants in their attitude toward divine scripture.
The verse "Indeed, I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day" reflects the Prophets (peace be upon him) fear of disobeying God like a mirror. This fear stems not from weakness but from profound knowledge and awareness of the greatness of the Lord. The emphasis on the punishment of the Day of Resurrection signifies the importance of this day in the divine system and the necessity of submission to Gods commands. By this declaration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) considers himself a humble servant before the divine grandeur who has no path other than adherence to the revelation.
The verses of Surah Yunus emphasise the role of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the messenger of revelation and his incapacity to alter the divine word. These verses, like a shining torch, illuminate the path of submission and humility before God and introduce the Prophet (peace be upon him) as an exemplar for servants in absolute obedience to the Lord. The metaphor of the Prophet as a messenger testifies to the authenticity and sanctity of the Holy Quran and condemns any attempt to alter or distort it.
The Holy Quran, like a pure spring, is the source of guidance and happiness for humanity; however, over time, this spring has been marginalised in certain Islamic societies and supplanted by human sciences and books. This estrangement has not occurred through textual alteration of the Holy Quran but rather through replacing it with other sources. Previously, merchants and ordinary people would begin their day with the recitation of the Holy Quran in the early morning, and this divine word flowed like a celestial melody in their lives. Today, however, this valuable tradition has been forgotten, replaced by treatises and non-Quranic books.
Key point: The marginalisation of the Holy Quran in Islamic societies results from reliance on human sciences and neglect of the recitation and intimacy with the divine word. Returning to the Quran is the path to liberation from this deviation.
One of the principal causes of estrangement from the Holy Quran is the arrogance of certain religious scholars and their claims of superiority in knowledge. This arrogance, like a dark shadow, has fallen upon the light of the Holy Quran and pushed it to the margins. Some, by claiming "I am knowledgeable" or "I am the most knowledgeable," have relied on human sciences instead of referring back to the Holy Quran, thereby sidelining the divine word. This approach not only leads to distortion of the meanings of the Holy Quran but also diminishes the status of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Examples of this deviation reflect the current situation like a mirror. In the past, non-Quranic treatises and books entered homes and displaced the Holy Quran. Some did not even open these treatises but merely possessing them was considered a sign of religiosity. This replacement is akin to a dagger struck into the body of the Holy Quran, distancing it from peoples daily lives.
The verse "So who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah or denies His verses? Indeed, the criminals will not succeed." serves as a divine warning, delineating the injustice of those who deny revelation. Those who reject the divine verses or fabricate lies against God rank among the most unjust individuals. This injustice results from arrogance and neglect of the divine word, culminating in failure in both this world and the hereafter.
فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَٰتِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
So who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah or denies His verses? Indeed, the criminals will not succeed.
Estrangement from the Holy Quran in Islamic societies results from arrogance, reliance on human sciences, and replacement of the divine word with non-Quranic books and treatises. This deviation, like a storm, has distanced the Holy Quran from peoples lives and surrendered its place to human sources. The verses of Surah Yunus, by warning against the injustice of those who deny revelation, emphasise the necessity of returning to the divine word and avoiding arrogance.
The recitation of the Holy Quran, like a celestial melody, once flowed in the lives of people not long ago. Merchants in the bazaars of Tehran would open the Quranic stand and begin their day with the divine word, even prioritising recitation over commerce in the presence of customers. This tradition, like a precious jewel, manifested a profound intimacy with the Holy Quran. Today, however, this jewel has been forgotten, replaced by superficial sciences and human treatises.
Key point: The recitation of the Holy Quran is a means of intimacy with the divine word and a return to guidance. The neglect of this tradition results from neglecting the Quran and relying on human sciences.
Some students and religious scholars, instead of fostering intimacy with the Holy Quran and adherence to divine rulings, have turned towards superficial sciences such as music. This deviation, like a slippery path, has led them away from the path of guidance. Music, though valuable in its proper place, when it replaces the recitation of the Holy Quran and the performance of prayer, leads to misguidance. How can those distant from prayer and the Holy Quran claim to guide others? This question acts as a wake-up call, signalling the necessity of returning to divine rulings.
To return people to the Holy Quran and divine rulings, harshness and severity are not effective means. Compassion, humility, and kindness, like a golden key, open hearts towards guidance. Instead of reproach, one must invite others to the recitation of the Holy Quran and prayer with kindness and respect. This approach, like a cool breeze, directs hearts towards the Almighty God.
Key point: Inviting others to the Holy Quran and divine rulings with compassion and humility is an effective path to guidance. Harshness only leads to alienation from religion.
Returning to the recitation and intimacy with the Holy Quran is the path to liberation from deviation and misguidance. The tradition of Quranic recitation, once prevalent in peoples lives, has now been forgotten and replaced by human sciences. Critiquing deviation in religious sciences and inviting with humility and compassion are strategies for revitalising the status of the Holy Quran in Islamic societies. This section emphasises the necessity of adherence to divine rulings and intimacy with the word of God.
Verses 15 to 17 of Surah Yunus, like a shining torch, elucidate the role of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) as the messenger of revelation and his incapacity to alter the divine word. These verses, by illustrating the humility of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and warning against the injustice of those who deny revelation, affirm the authenticity and sanctity of the Holy Quran. The present lecture, by critiquing estrangement from the Holy Quran in Islamic societies, investigates the causes of this deviation in arrogance, reliance on human sciences, and abandonment of Quranic recitation. This treatise, like a celestial invitation, calls its audience to return to the divine word, to humility before God, and to intimacy with the Holy Quran. True guidance is attainable only under the shadow of submission to the divine will and adherence to the Holy Quran, a path which shines forth like a luminous road leading towards eternal felicity.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
