the Lectures of Nokounam, (Session 1673)
The term "Dowla" in the Holy Quran, akin to a master key, opens a gateway towards understanding the divine system in managing societies and nature. This concept, explicitly mentioned in two pivotal verses from Surahs l Imrn and ashr, not only denotes power and authority but also encompasses the cyclical course of time, trial and error, and equitable resource management. In this treatise, through a scholarly approach grounded in the Quranic verses, an exploration of the meaning of dowla, its manifestations in the forms of governance and wealth, and its connection with concepts such as faith, justice, and divine testing is undertaken. This examination, with a profound focus on the verses and narrations, aims to reveal the essence of this concept as a guiding light on the path to comprehending divine wisdom.
The word Dowla derives from the root dawala, signifying circulation, opening, and movement originating from capability. This term, like a flowing river, indicates dynamism and transformation within social and natural order. Contrary to common misconception, dowla does not merely signify rank and status, but rather a capability embodied primarily in two main manifestations: governance (political and social power) and wealth (economic power). This capability sometimes culminates in victory and other times in defeat, depending on how it is managed in accordance with divine guidance. The Holy Quran presents dowla as a dynamic force serving social order, whose success hinges upon adherence to divine principles.
إِنْ يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِثْلُهُ ۚ وَتِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنْكُمْ شُهَدَاءَ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ
"If an affliction should touch you, it has touched the people before; and those days We alternate among the people so that Allah may make evident those who believe and take to Himself from among you martyrsand Allah does not like the wrongdoers."
This verse introduces dowla as the circulation of days which God causes to pass among people. This rotation, like the changing seasons, serves as a test to reveal faith and societal capabilities. The word nudwiluha (We alternate it) signifies turning and mobilising, indicating divine management in the trial of communities. Here, dowla refers to a capability manifested in the battles of Badr and Uhud, both in the believers victories and the disbelievers defeats.
The term qar in this verse, likened to a wound on the body of society, refers to any kind of harm, deficiency, or defeat. This harm may be physical, such as battle wounds, or spiritual, such as mismanagement of capabilities. In the Battle of Badr, the disbelievers suffered qar, and in the Battle of Uhud, the believers were harmed due to erroneous decisions. This qar illustrates that dowla, if not managed with awareness and precision, results in failure. The use of the word qar here underscores the comprehensiveness of the concept, encompassing injury, death, or even retreat from the battlefield.
Further in verse 140 of Surah l Imrn, God establishes the condition for superiority in dowla as practical faith:
وَأَنْتُمْ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ
"And you will be superior if you are [true] believers."
Faith here is a steadfast pillar, encompassing not only heartfelt belief but also adherence to divine principles and righteous deeds. Dowla, whether in governance or wealth, endures only with sustained faith. Without such faith, capabilities stray and lead society towards qar and defeat.
مَا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ كَيْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنْكُمْ
"What Allah has given to His Messenger from the people of the townsbelongs to Allah and to the Messenger and to the relatives and orphans and the needy and the travellerso that it will not be a [means of] distribution among the rich from among you."
This verse, like a divine decree, forbids the concentration of wealth in the hands of a particular group. Dowla here signifies the circulation of wealth, which must be equitably distributed to prevent arrogance, exploitation, and oppression. Through this distribution, God guarantees social justice and forbids dowla from becoming a tool of corruption.
The concept of dowla in the Holy Quran shines like a brilliant sun, referring to capability and dynamism in the governance of societies. This concept manifests primarily in governance and wealth, with success dependent on practical faith, justice, and correct management. Verse 140 of Surah l Imrn links dowla to the circulation of days and divine testing, while verse 7 of Surah ashr forbids wealth monopoly by the rich. These two verses unveil divine wisdom in societal governance and underscore the importance of faith and justice for the sustainability of dowla.
Dowla in the Holy Quran serves as a field for divine testing, exposing societies to both victory and defeat. God, through the circulation of days (nudwiluha), reveals the strengths and weaknesses of humans. This trial extends beyond humans to all creatures. Even animals in nature act by trial and error, with their mistakes possibly leading to destruction. A narration states: If an animal is killed, it has forgotten its remembrance. This remembrance does not mean mere vocal glorification but refers to vigilance and precision in decision-making. An animal wandering in an unsuitable area or alone faces qar and perishes.
This concept similarly applies to human societies. Dowla, whether manifested as governance or wealth, if mismanaged, results in qar and failure. The Battle of Uhud exemplifies how errors among some believers led to defeat, whereas in the Battle of Badr, accuracy and faith culminated in victory. This divine test, like a burning fire, exposes the truth of deeds.
Improper management of dowla, like a wild wind, drives society towards corruption and failure. In governance, errors cause qar, defeat, or even state collapse. In wealth, resource monopoly leads to arrogance, exploitation, and oppression. Verse 7 of Surah ashr, by prohibiting wealth concentration, highlights that monopolisation of dowla by the affluent distances society from justice and causes corruption. Historical examples reveal that powerful states, due to mismanagement, have declined. Such decline, like a qar on societys body, results from errors in utilising capabilities.
Dowla, as a divine current, subjects societies to trial and error. This trial, manifest in the circulation of days, encompasses humans and other creatures alike. Success in this test requires practical faith, awareness, and precision in management. Mismanagement of dowla, whether in governance or wealth, leads to failure and corruption, whereas just management guides society toward prosperity.
The term dalllat in the Quran, like a guiding light, denotes awareness and guidance towards truth. This word appears in verses such as Surah Saba (verse 12) and Surah aff (verse 5). For example:
وَمَا دَلَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَوْتِهِ إِلَّا دَابَّةُ الْأَرْضِ
"And none showed them his death except a creature of the earth."
Dalllat here means awareness-raising, connected to the concept of dowla. Dowla is a capability which, with correct awareness and guidance, leads to victory, and dalllat is the instrument of such awareness. In the Quran, dalllat does not imply confusion or hesitation but clear and explicit guidance.
Dalllat, like a shining torch, signifies guidance and awareness in the Quran. This concept is deeply linked to dowla because capability without proper guidance leads to error. Quranic verses present dalllat as a tool to attain truth, which, alongside dowla, facilitates the path to societal prosperity.
The words dn and dn in the Quran, like two branches from one root, refer respectively to baseness and obedience. Dn means lowliness or inferiority and appears 92 times in the Quran, for instance:
مَنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ<
