of Nokounam, May His Sacred Soul Be Honoured (Session 1637)
Surah An-Nahl, one of the Meccan chapters of the Holy Qur'an, with profound and meaningful verses, invites humankind to contemplate the fundamental concepts of faith, commitment, capability, and the divine system of invitation. This Surah, by addressing themes such as human capability in practising justice, Divine guarantee as the guarantor of covenant fidelity, the system of invitation within the faith community, and the role of the Holy Spirit in consolidating faith, provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the relationship between man and his Lord and his responsibilities on the path of truth. This treatise, through an in-depth examination of verses 76, 91, 124, and 102 of Surah An-Nahl, elucidates these concepts with eloquent language and coherent structure. Its purpose is to link the meanings of these verses to each other, shedding light on the rational and spiritual dimensions of religion, and to encourage mankind to steadfastness on the path of truth and to benefit from Divine guidance.
The Holy Qur'an, in verse 76 of Surah An-Nahl, portrays the distinction between the capable and incapable person through a parabolic expression. This verse, by presenting a rational parable, emphasises the significance of strength and righteous action on the path of truth. The capable human being not only possesses knowledge and benevolence, but also manifests justice through firmness and perseverance in practice. This parable acts as a mirror reflecting the true essence of human existence before his own eyes, prompting reflection upon his own capabilities.
Human capability lies not in mere knowledge or benevolence, but in strength and perseverance on the path of justice and the straight way. The capable human, like a steadfast pillar, shoulders responsibility and pursues the path of truth through righteous deeds.
وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَاهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّهْهُ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي هُوَ وَمَنْ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
And Allah sets forth a parable of two men: one of them is dumb and incapable of doing anything, and is a burden upon his master; wherever he directs him, he does not bring any good. Is he equal to the one who commands justice and is on a straight path?
Verse 76, by presenting a parable of two individuals one incapable and powerless (dumb), and the other capable and commanding justice reveals the distinction between the two. The incapable person is like a burden upon others, who, wherever sent, brings no benefit. Conversely, the capable individual is one who, with strength and perseverance, commands justice and treads the straight path. This capability is not confined to knowledge or benevolence alone but is embodied in firmness and righteous deeds. Just as a steadfast pillar supports a structure, the capable human guides society towards good by practising justice.
This verse, emphasising rationality (And Allah sets forth a parable), invites the audience to contemplate fundamental differences between incapacity and capability. The incapable human is like a withered branch bending before the wind, whereas the capable one is like a deeply-rooted tree standing firm against storms. This steadfastness manifests in adherence to justice and commitment to the straight path.
Verse 91 of Surah An-Nahl calls upon mankind to fulfil their covenant with Allah and introduces the Lord's guarantee as the guarantor of this commitment. This verse, like a shining torch, illuminates the way for the believing person and warns against breaking the covenant. Divine guarantee is not a compulsion upon humans but the result of their conscious choice to accept the faith commitment.
Divine guarantee results from human choice in accepting the covenant with God. This guarantee acts as a shield protecting the individual against hardships and losses on the path of truth, conditional upon the persons faithfulness to the covenant.
وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ إِذَا عَاهَدْتُمْ وَلَا تَنْقُضُوا الْأَيْمَانَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ
And fulfil the covenant of Allah when you have covenanted, and do not break oaths after their confirmation while you have made Allah a surety over you. Indeed, Allah knows what you do.
Verse 91 summons humanity to uphold the covenant with God and prohibits breaking oaths after their confirmation. The phrase and you have made Allah a surety over you indicates the conscious choice of placing God as the guarantor of ones commitments. This guarantee serves as an umbrella protecting humans from difficulties and damages along the path of truth. The faithful individual entrusts himself to the Lord, who, as guarantor, assumes responsibility for recompensing losses and rewarding loyalty.
This verse refers onward to verses 92 to 97, which underscore the endurance of what is with Allah (What is with Allah remains). Although the path of commitment may entail trials such as martyrdom, captivity, or financial loss, the Lord, like a compassionate gardener, returns the fruits of this perseverance in the form of eternal rewards. Breaking the covenant is like breaking a branch of the tree of faith, depriving one of Divine blessings.
The verse, by forbidding breach of faith after its confirmation (do not break oaths after their confirmation), cautions against covenant violation. Such breach is like the bursting of a bubble that abruptly shatters the beauty of faith. The believing human, having accepted the Divine covenant, commits himself to God, and any violation deprives him of Divine guarantee. This verse, especially in the context of companionship with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or the Divine saints, stresses the importance of loyalty.
Concrete examples such as the perseverance of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) with the words By the Lord of the Kabah, I have succeeded and the self-sacrifice of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) at Karbala exemplify this commitment and Divine guarantee. These saints, like shining stars in the sky of faith, illuminated the path for others and demonstrated that even in the most arduous circumstances, Divine guarantee protects the believer from harm.
Verse 124 of Surah An-Nahl defines the Islamic system of invitation in three levels: wisdom, good exhortation, and the best argumentation. This verse, like a precise map, delineates the path of invitation to God and guides the faith community towards piety and benevolence.
Islamic invitation rests upon three pillars: wisdom for scholars, good exhortation for believers, and the best argumentation for adversaries. This system, like a clear stream, directs society towards justice and piety, provided it is accompanied by patience and kindness.
ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good exhortation, and argue with them in a manner that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His
