The Holy Qur'an, like a radiant lamp, illuminates the path of guidance towards truth and presents exalted concepts such as blessing, expansion, and sustenance within its verses in a manner that both enlightens the heart with the light of knowledge and summons the intellect to ponder divine wisdom. This treatise, focusing on these three key concepts, endeavours to elucidate their profound meanings in the light of divine verses. Blessing, like a clear stream, refers both to material matters and the pinnacles of spirituality; expansion, like an open sky, signifies the vastness of Divine mercy accompanied by wise predestination; and sustenance, like timely rain, manifests the boundless grace of God. This examination, through a deep contemplation of the Qur'anic verses, seeks to present these concepts to the reader in a coherent structure and articulate language.
In the Holy Qur'an, blessing is categorised into two types: material and spiritual. Surah An-Nahl, like a fruitful garden, depicts the manifestations of material blessings, mentioning shade, mountains, the honeybee, and honey. These blessings, beautifully described in the verses of this Surah, represent the Divine grace in providing for human material needs. However, blessing in the Holy Qur'an transcends these apparent forms and alludes to sublime spiritual concepts such as light, guidance, guardianship (wilayah), pilgrimage (Hajj), purity, and the straight path.
"Thus does He complete His favour upon you, that you may submit (to Him)."
(An-Nahl: 81)
This verse links blessing to submission before the truth, as though blessing is a bridge between human beings and their Creator that guides them towards surrender and servitude. In another verse, blessing is connected with guidance:
"And He completes His favour upon you that you may be guided."
(Al-Baqarah: 150)
Spiritual blessings such as light, guidance, guardianship, pilgrimage, and purity, by virtue of their divine and luminous nature, are free from any contamination. These blessings flow like clear streams in the believers heart, guiding him towards the straight path. Conversely, material blessings, though bestowed by Divine grace, are susceptible to human defilements such as negligence, greed, and selfishness. It is as if material blessing is like pure water that, when mixed with the soil of heedlessness, becomes muddy and loses its spiritual value.
The Holy Qur'an contrasts blessing with adversity. Material blessings, if accompanied by heedlessness and neglect of Divine remembrance, transform into adversity. For example, a table spread without saying Bismillah or wealth consumed without purity and guidance is not merely a blessing but becomes a calamity. This distinction indicates that true blessing is that which is accompanied by Divine light, purity, and sincerity.
Blessing in the Holy Qur'an, like a precious gate, encompasses both material manifestations and spiritual pinnacles. Spiritual blessings, owing to their connection with Divine light and guidance, are free from contamination and possess a supreme value. In contrast, material blessings, if accompanied by negligence and neglect of Divine remembrance, turn into adversity. This distinction calls humans to reflect on the proper utilisation of blessings and their connection to Divine remembrance.
Expansion in the Holy Qur'an, meaning facilitation and enlargement, is an aspect of the Divine beautys mercy, accompanied by wise predestination. Unlike contraction (qabd) which refers to limitation and restriction, measure (qadr) denotes regulation and balance, complementing expansion and preventing chaos. The Qur'an prioritises expansion over contraction and associates it with measure:
"God extends provision for whom He wills and restricts it."
(Ash-Shura: 12)
This verse introduces expansion as a principle within the system of creation that is regulated by measure, i.e., Divine wisdom and balance. In contrast, contraction appears only once in opposition to expansion:
"And God contracts and expands, and to Him you will be returned."
(Al-Baqarah: 245)
This verse, the sole instance where contraction precedes expansion, alludes to Divine majesty and the Resurrection. Yet, the predominance of expansion over contraction in the Qur'an reflects the beautiful nature of creation that favours facilitation and breadth over limitation.
The Qur'anic worldview describes the universe as an open sky in which expansion and facilitation occur alongside wise predestination. This worldview, termed "predestined expansion," negates limitation, stagnation, and rigidity, emphasising dynamism and life:
"And indeed, We are expanding (it)."
(Adh-Dhariyat: 47)
This verse presents the universe as a boundless and open space where expansion and facilitation are regulated by Divine wisdom. Predestined expansion flows not only in the material creation but also in laws, legislations, and even human ethics. This worldview calls Islamic societies towards openness, dynamism, and the reduction of bigotry and rigidity.
Expansion in the Holy Qur'an, like an open door to Divine mercy, is accompanied by wise predestination. This facilitation, prevailing over contraction and limitation, reveals the beautiful nature of creation. The worldview of predestined expansion presents the universe as a dynamic and vast space where Divine wisdom regulates expansion with measure. This outlook invites humanity towards openness, dynamism, and avoidance of rigidity and limitation.
Sustenance in the Holy Qur'an signifies livelihood granted gradually and diversely to creatures. The attribute "Razzaq" (Provider) appears nominally only once in the Qur'an and indicates the generality of Divine provision:
"Indeed, God is the Provider, the Possessor of Strength, the Firm."
(Adh-Dhariyat: 58)
Conversely, the verbal form "Yarzuqu" (He provides) repeatedly stresses the gradualness and diversity of sustenance. Sustenance varies in quality and quantity and is described in the Qur'an in diverse forms such as "good," "pure," "lawful," and "unrestricted":
"We provide for you."
(Taha: 132)
This verse addresses the Prophet directly and signifies special Divine attention to servants. Such sustenance, "We provide for you," reaches the believer with ease and without the need for strenuous effort, as though the entire cosmos is employed in his provision.
Sustenance in the Holy Qur'an is divided into two types: lawful (halal) and pure (tayyib), each with distinct characteristics. Lawful sustenance is that which is permitted legally, though it may not be pure. For example, income from selling a shroud, while lawful, is not pure due to its mournful nature. Conversely, pure sustenance is that which is clean and delightful, though it may not be lawful, such as wealth obtained with the owners consent but deemed unlawful by law:
"And He provides for him from where he does not expect."
(At-Talaq: 3)
Pure sustenance, due to its cleanliness and delightfulness, holds a higher value and is distinguished from merely lawful sustenance. This distinction underscores the importance of intention and spiritual quality in benefiting from sustenance. Pure sustenance, like sweet honey, invigorates the heart and soul, whereas lawful but impure sustenance resembles dry bread that only satisfies physical needs.
Sustenance in the Holy Qur'an is like rain that descends gradually and diversely upon servants. The attribute Razzaq indicates the generality of Divine provision, while Yarzuqu emphasises variety and gradualness. The distinction between lawful and pure sustenance reflects the importance of intention and spiritual quality in the utilisation of provision. Pure sustenance, due to its purity and delightfulness, guides the believer towards light and guidance.
The Holy Qur'an, like a comprehensive mirror, portrays the concepts of blessing, expansion, and sustenance in the light of Divine wisdom and mercy. Blessing, encompassing both materiality and spirituality, transforms into light and guidance when connected to Divine remembrance. Expansion, like a boundless facilitation in creation, accompanies wise predestination and presents the universe as a dynamic and vast space. Sustenance, like a gradual and diverse gift, with distinctions between lawful and pure, emphasises the importance of purity and intention in receiving provision. These concepts collectively call humanity to reflect upon Divine wisdom and to live under the shadow of light and guidance.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
