The Holy Quran, akin to a profound and boundless ocean, encompasses meanings and concepts, each like a radiant gem guiding the seekers of the path of Truth. Among these, the two fundamental concepts of Satisfaction and Aversion, as the dual wings of the human souls flight along the divine path, play an unparalleled role in elucidating Islamic culture. This treatise, through reflection upon the luminous verses of the Holy Quran, examines these two concepts and, by exploring their meanings and manifestations, endeavours to present a clear portrayal of the merciful and invigorating culture of Islam. The objective is to elucidate, with a deep and coherent perspective, the connection of these concepts to faith, adherence to truth, and civilized life, while dispelling any misunderstandings concerning violence in Islam.
Satisfaction in the Holy Quran is like a light illuminating the believers heart and guiding them towards their Lord. This concept is not merely a characteristic attributed to believers but a sign of complete harmony between the servant and the Creator. The Holy Quran states:
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِيَ رَبَّهُ (Surah Al-Bayyina, 8)
Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him; that is for those who fear their Lord.
This verse depicts satisfaction as a bridge between servant and Lord, wherein fear of God, as the vessel for following the truth, is the prerequisite for this harmony. Believers who are satisfied with Allah and whose satisfaction pleases Him belong to the Party of Allahthose attracted to divine truth and who walk the path of noble ethics and the pure thoughts of the Lord. This mutual satisfaction signifies a conscious submission and active acceptance of divine will, rather than passivity or indifference.
In other verses, such as رَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا (Surah Al-Maidah, 3), Allah introduces Islam as the complete religion with His satisfaction. This divine satisfaction indicates the perfection of Islam and invites acceptance of it as the path to salvation. Conversely, satisfaction with worldly life instead of the hereafter, as in رَضُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ (Surah Ibrahim, 3), is condemned because it distances one from the truth and is tied to material attachments.
Satisfaction in the Holy Quran possesses various levels and manifestations, each reflecting an aspect of human relation to God and society. For instance, in the verse لَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰ (Surah Ad-Duha, 5), the Prophets satisfaction with divine gifts is linked to the highest submission and acceptance of divine will. Similarly, verses such as وَأَنْ تَعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ (Surah Az-Zumar, 7) emphasize performing righteous deeds as a means to earn divine satisfaction.
Altogether, the Quran utilises words related to satisfaction (such as رَضُوا, تَرْضَى, تَرْضُون, and اَرْتَضَى) approximately seventy-five times, each referring to an aspect of this concept. This frequency indicates the centrality of satisfaction in Quranic culture, which, like a pure stream, nourishes the believers life.
True satisfaction in the Holy Quran is contingent upon following the truth, not merely possessing religion or knowledge. This reality is clearly articulated in the verse:
لَنْ تَرْضَىٰ عَنْكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلَا النَّصَارَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ (Surah Al-Baqarah, 120)
The Jews and the Christians will never be pleased with you unless you follow their religion.
This verse reveals that although the Jews and Christians have received divine religion, due to their lack of adherence to the truth, they are not satisfied with the Prophet. This dissatisfaction stems from their distance from divine truth. True satisfaction is neither in knowledge nor religion without action but in conscious obedience to the truth. A person may possess abundant knowledge or a heavenly religion, but without adherence, these assets do not result in satisfaction.
This concept demonstrates that satisfaction in Islam is dynamic and based on conscious choice. By following the truth, the believer not only attains divine satisfaction but also establishes a society characterised by mutual satisfaction and social harmony.
Mutual consent, or reciprocal satisfaction, like a thread of prayer beads, connects human relations within the Islamic society. The Holy Quran emphasises this concept in two key areas: commerce and divorce:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِنْكُمْ (Surah An-Nisa, 29)
O you who believe, do not consume one anothers wealth unjustly, except by trade conducted with mutual consent among you.
فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِنْهُمَا (Surah Al-Baqarah, 233)
And if they both desire weaning by mutual consent.
Mutual consent denotes concordance, companionship, and shared understanding in human relations. This concept, whether in union (such as commerce) or separation (such as divorce), is founded upon welfare and health. The Holy Quran insists that even separations must be accompanied by consent and goodwill, not violence and dissatisfaction. This culture, contrary to what is observed in some societies influenced by despotic rulers, directs human relations towards well-being and felicity.
This emphasis on reciprocal satisfaction illustrates the precise design of the Holy Quran in constructing a society where human relations rest upon mercy and goodness. Even in anger and separation, divine mercy is present, as the ultimate aim is human health and happiness.
Aversion in the Holy Quran is like a sanctuary preventing the believer from deviation and corruption. This concept is articulated in a key verse:
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ فِيكُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ۚ لَوْ يُطِيعُكُمْ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَزَيَّنَهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْيَانَ (Surah Al-Hujurat, 7)
And know that among you is the Messenger of Allah. If he were to obey you in much of the matter, you would surely be in difficulty. But Allah has endeared to you the faith and has made it pleasing in your hearts and has made hateful to you disbelief, defiance, and disobedience.
This verse indicates that Allah has placed aversion towards disbelief, defiance, and disobedience within the hearts of believers to keep them away from these evils. This aversion is a sign of sound faith that guides the believer towards truth.
