the Lectures of Nokounam, may his sanctity be preserved (Session 1665)
The Holy Qur'an is a book which, like a pure spring, flows divine knowledge towards thirsty souls. Among its contents, the concepts of t, Mu, and Amr stand out as radiant gems with a distinctive splendour. These concepts invite humanity to reflect upon divine power, generosity, and the systematic order of creation. t is a sign of divine authority and firmness, manifesting within the faith of the believers; Mu represents an aspect of the Lord's boundless and effortless generosity, bestowing the world's beneficence upon creation; and Amr is a command that, like an invisible thread, unites all creation within a divine order. This treatise, through a profound examination of Qur'anic verses, explores these three concepts and, with clear and sober expression, guides humanity towards a deeper understanding of their relationship with God and the cosmos.
The Holy Qur'an calls humanity towards both spiritual and material authority. The concept of t, meaning coming with power and firmness, is introduced in the Qur'an as a sign of strong and dynamic faith. This concept invites the believer to possess a certainty that not only illuminates the heart but also transforms him into a powerful entity in the face of life's challenges. The weakness and incapacity of some believers are indicative of a detachment from this Qur'anic intimacy, as the Holy Qur'an cultivates a powerful community that attains perfection and authority through faith.
لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ الْيَقِينِ * لَتَرَوُنَّ الْجَحِيمَ
"If you were to know the knowledge of certainty,* then surely you would see the Hellfire."
This verse regards certainty as the key to perceiving the realities of the world. A person who attains certainty not only sees Hellfire but gains, through spiritual power, the ability to comprehend and confront truth. Hellfire, due to its deeper impact on the mind and memory, is more readily perceived than bliss, which requires a higher degree of certainty. This distinction indicates the various levels of power in faith. If believers suffer weakness and incapacity in their lives, this signals a lack of true intimacy with the Holy Qur'an, which, like a radiant sun, illuminates the path of authority for them.
The concept of Mu in the Holy Qur'an refers to divine generosity bestowed upon creatures with ease, delight, and without hardship. This attribute portrays God as the Bestower who grants blessings, knowledge, wisdom, and power to the Prophets, the believers, and even the non-Prophets. This giving flows like a pure stream to all creatures with no limitation. The Holy Qur'an illustrates this generosity in numerous verses, from the giving of the Scripture to Moses and Jesus to the granting of the Psalms to David and wisdom to the Prophets.
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَالْفُرْقَانَ
"Indeed, We gave Moses the Book and the Criterion."
This verse exemplifies divine giving, which was bestowed with ease and delight to Moses, peace be upon him. Mu is an attribute emphasizing ease and mercy in generosity. God has granted not only the Prophets but all creatures blessings of this world and the Hereafter, knowledge, wisdom, and power. This gift includes the keys to all matters (min kulli shay'in sabab), which, like an endless treasure, have been placed at humanity's disposal.
In the Holy Qur'an, divine giving has various levels. t refers to a general grant given to all creatures, whereas Ayyadn represents a higher and more sublime rank. This difference is akin to the distinction between Ramn and Ram; Ramn is a universal mercy encompassing all, and Ram is a special mercy for the believers. Verses such as وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ ("And indeed We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Holy Spirit") demonstrate these levels. Ayyadn is a confirmation that strengthens and fortifies the initial gift.
Amr in the Holy Qur'an refers to decrees and systems that, like a firm thread, link all creation within a divine order. These decrees have both a creative aspect, flowing within nature and existence, and a legislative aspect, guiding humanity towards righteous action. Contrary to some interpretations that limit Amr to the realm of abstract beings and creation to the material world, the Holy Qur'an presents Amr as a divine decree in all of creation.
أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ ۗ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
"Behold, His is the creation and the command. Blessed is Allah, Lord of the Worlds."
This verse demonstrates the unity of creation and command. Creation encompasses all creatures, from angels to physical objects, and command consists of the decrees active within this creation, such as the hardness of stone, the sweetness of fruit, or the movement of the wind. These decrees are signs of divine order and power that dominate all existence.
Divine Amr is a creative and existential reality whose fulfilment is inevitable and flawless. This Amr operates not only within God but also throughout creation. For example, Satan commands obscenity, while believers are called towards good and virtue. This universality indicates the systematic order of the world under divine decrees.
إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ
"His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, 'Be,' and it is."
This verse illustrates the inevitable realisation of divine will. Amr, as a divine command, flows throughout the universefrom the movement of ships at sea to the descent of angels. This Amr is not merely a formal or legislative decree but an existential reality encompassing all creatures.
The Holy Qur'an, like an inexhaustible treasure, directs humanity towards spiritual and material authority. Intimacy with this celestial book extracts humans from weakness and incapacity, transforming them into powerful beings. This power flows not only in the spiritual domain but across all spheres of life.
وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ
"And We gave him of the treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men."
This verse alludes to Gods gift to Qarun, whose treasury keys were too heavy for a group of mighty men. However, his failure to utilise these gifts correctly led to his destruction. This highlights the necessity of actively benefitting from divine bestowals. Humanity must expose itself to these gifts to harness their power and perfection.
Humans, like seeds in the soil, benefit from the world's blessings and perfections by being exposed to divine decrees. This interaction resembles standing beneath rain or sunlight, leading humans towards growth and perfection.
وَأَوْحَىٰ فِي كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ أَمْرَهَا
"And He revealed in each heaven its command."
This verse indicates the presence of divine Amr in all heavens and creation. Humans, by being subjected to this Amr, partake in the perfections of angels, nature, and all creatures. Weakness and incapacity result from estrangement from this interaction, while intimacy with the Holy Qur'an guides humans towards authority and perfection.
The concepts of t, Mu, and Amr, like stars in the sky of Qur'anic knowledge, guide humanity towards a deeper understanding of power, generosity, and the systematic order of creation. t invites the believer to strong and firm faith; Mu portrays divine boundless generosity bestowing the worlds blessings upon creation; and Amr reveals divine order and wisdom within creation. Intimacy with the Holy Qur'an frees humanity from weakness and incapacity, leading them towards spiritual and material authority. This celestial book, like a blazing torch, illuminates the path to perfection and divine proximity, inviting humans to active interaction with the universe.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
