of Nokounam, (Session 1650)
The Holy Qur'an, akin to a deep and boundless ocean, encompasses meanings and concepts each of which, like a shining jewel, guides the seekers and travellers of truth. This essay embarks upon an exploration of the key concepts of "Kabir", "Jabbar", "Mutakabbir", "Dhul-Jalali wal-Ikram", and "Batsh", which are manifested in the verses of the Holy Qur'an with unparalleled subtlety and profundity. These concepts, not only as divine attributes but also as a mirror for reflection upon human inner states and the relationship between man and the Truth, have been examined within the Surahs Ghaafir, Ar-Rahman, Ash-Shu'ara, Al-Qasas, and Al-Buruj. The purpose of this treatise is to elucidate these meanings in a clear and dignified language so as to direct the reader towards a deeper understanding of the Divine Word.
The concept of Kabir in the Holy Qur'an refers to the intrinsic greatness and perfection of the Divine Truth, which is a manifestation of grandeur and self-sufficiency within the Divine Essence. This greatness stems from the Sacred Divine Essence, in which no deficiency or limitation can enter. Conversely, Mutakabbir in the created beings means the pursuit of greatness and a claim to independence which is far removed from their existential truth. This distinction, like a clear line between reality and metaphor, demarcates the boundary between the Divine and the creation.
In the Qur'anic verses, Mutakabbir is applied to one who, by claiming greatness, distances themselves from the Truth and resorts to tyranny and oppression. It is this arrogant heart that, by separation from the Truth, strides towards pride and manifests tyranny as a natural consequence of this deviation.
The human heart is like a mirror that can reflect the Truth or be a place for selfish desires. When the heart is separated from the Divine Truth, it claims divinity and reaches arrogance. This claim does not originate from the limbs but from the heart, for the heart is the centre of perception and decision-making. The Holy Qur'an states:
أَشْرَبُوا فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْعِجْلَ بِكُفْرِهِمْ
(Al-Baqarah: 93)
Because of their disbelief, [the love of] the calf was instilled in their hearts.
This verse clearly demonstrates that the heart is the place where disbelief and arrogance penetrate. The calf-worship of the Children of Israel did not take root in their eyes and ears but in their hearts, for it is the heart that can turn away from the manifestation of truth towards deficiency and arrogance. A sound heart, on the other hand, like a clear mirror, reflects only the manifestation of the Truth and is free from any claim to independence.
In the Divine realm, Jabbar means intrinsic greatness and authority accompanied by wisdom and justice. However, in creation, tyranny is the result of arrogance and the pursuit of greatness that leads to oppression and aggression. This difference, like that between light and darkness, indicates Divine perfection and human deficiency. The Qur'an states:
كَذَٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ قَلْبِ مُتَكَبِّرٍ جَبَّارٍ
(Ghaafir: 35)
Thus Allah seals over every arrogant, tyrannical heart.
The arrogant, tyrannical heart is subject to Divine rejection because of its claim to divinity and separation from the Truth. This rejection is like a seal on the heart that blocks the path of return to the Truth. In contrast, Divine tyranny is a wise authority that guides the servants towards perfection.
For instance, in the conduct of certain leaders and rulers, this arrogance appears as unnecessary reshuffles and demonstrations of power to consolidate their existence.
The attribute Dhul-Jalali wal-Ikram in Surah Ar-Rahman, like a brilliant jewel, simultaneously displays Divine majesty and generosity. Jalal refers to Divine power and grandeur that is majestic in appearance and beautiful in essence, while Ikram signifies honour and benevolence that encompass both majesty and beauty. This combination is like a mirror reflecting the permanent aspect of the Lord.
وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
(Ar-Rahman: 27)
And the Face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honour will abide forever.
تَبَارَكَ اسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِي الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
(Ar-Rahman: 78)
Blessed is the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honour.
The precedence of Jalal over Ikram indicates the primacy of Divine authority over generosity. This combination appears not only in Surah Ar-Rahman but also in supplications such as Jawshan Kabir, uniquely manifesting Divine grandeur and kindness simultaneously.
Jalal, like a lofty peak, displays Divine greatness, while Ikram, like a flowing river, conveys Divine kindness and generosity to the servants. These two attributes, in the Divine Essence, like two wings, manifest the enduring aspect of the Lord. Surah Ar-Rahman, through the repetition of this compound, emphasises the perpetuity of the Divine Face and the blessing of His Name.
Batsh means severe and forcible taking and is used in the Qur'an both in the Divine realm and the human realm. Regarding God, Batsh is a perfect and educational attribute accompanied by wisdom and justice, whereas in creation, tyrannical Batsh is oppressive and blameworthy. The Qur'an says:
إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ
(Al-Buruj: 12)
Indeed, the might of your Lord is severe.
وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُمْ بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ
(Ash-Shu'ara: 130)
And when you exert force, you do so tyrannically.
Divine Batsh, like a wise lightning bolt, guides the servants towards reform and perfection, whereas human Batsh, like a destructive storm, originates from arrogance and leads to oppression.
Batshahu al-Kubraa (His Great Might) refers to the immense Divine force that will be fully realised in the Hereafter but has also manifested in this world against arrogant and tyrannical peoples such as Ad. This Batsh is like a mirror that displays Divine absolute authority.
يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ الْبَطْشَةَ الْكُبْرَىٰ إِنَّا مُنْتَقِمُونَ
(Ad-Dukhan: 16)
The Day We will exert the greatest force; indeed, We are the ones avenging.
This verse emphasises the actualisation of the great Divine force on the Day of Resurrection, yet Qur'anic evidence indicates that this force has occurred in this world as well for rebellious nations, like the punishment that befell the people of Ad.
The Divine force, like a powerful wave, draws the friends of God into humility and submissiveness. This force is not only a punishment but also a kindness that removes selfish gains from worship and guides servants towards the vision of Truth and Divine modesty. The friends of God, like leaves before the wind of Divine authority, become humble and submissive under Divine Batsh.
Divine Batsh, like the stern but kind hand of a trainer, guides servants towards perfection. This force, with its wise severity, in the educational culture of the Holy Qur'an, is not only a punishment but also a means for correction and education. Conversely, human Batsh, like a tool in the hands of arrogance, results in oppression and aggression.
Within educational culture, excess and deficiency are like two edges of a scissor that can disrupt education. Sometimes excessive severity, like a stick and lash, leads to harshness in education, and sometimes excessive leniency, like a lack of authority, renders education ineffective. Divine Batsh, however, like a precise scale, combines severity and kindness.
The Holy Qur'an portrays examples of Divine Batsh in past nations such as Ad. These peoples, due to arrogance and tyranny, were subject to Divine Batsh which, like a lightning strike, crushed their power.
وَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَأُهْلِكُوا بِرِيحٍ صَرْصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ
(Al-Haqqa: 6)
And as for Ad, they were destroyed by a furious, violent wind.
This verse portrays Divine Batsh as a natural punishment resulting from the arrogance of the people of Ad.
The concepts of Kabir, Jabbar, Mutakabbir, Dhul-Jalali wal-Ikram, and Batsh in the Holy Qur'an, like a shining light, serve as guides for reflection upon the Divine Essence and human conditions. Kabir and Jabbar in the Divine represent attributes of perfection that display Divine grandeur and wise authority, whereas Mutakabbir and Jabbar in creation denote deficiency and deviation. Dhul-Jalali wal-Ikram is a compound reflecting Divine grandeur and kindness simultaneously. Divine Batsh, as an educational instrument, guides servants towards perfection, while human Batsh originates from arrogance and leads to oppression. These concepts, like a mirror, invite humanity to reflect on their relationship with the Divine Truth.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
