of Nokounam , Session 1682
Surah Al-A'raf, one of the Meccan chapters of the Holy Qur'an, reflects the religious conduct and divine duties of human beings towards their Creator and His prophets like a clear mirror. This Surah, with profound and meaningful verses, opens a luminous path towards guidance from the universal mission of the unlettered Prophet to the responsibilities of nations and messengers. In this treatise, relying on verses 29, 32, 33, 157, 158, and 195 of Surah Al-A'raf, as well as the Prophetic tradition concerning the dispatch of Mu'adh ibn Jabal, various aspects of religious conduct from invitation towards truth to divine supervision over deeds are elucidated in a clear and dignified language. This work, with an organised structure and a semantic connection between the verses and narrations, aims to illuminate the sublime Qur'anic concepts and pave the way for reflection on the Divine Word.
الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِنْدَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ مَعَهُ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written with them in the Torah and the Gospel; he enjoins them to do good and forbids them from evil, and makes lawful for them the pure things and prohibits for them the impure, and removes from them their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So those who believe in him, honour him, aid him, and follow the light which was sent down with him those are the successful.
Verse 157 introduces the unlettered Prophet as a messenger whose characteristics are recorded in the prior divine scriptures, the Torah and the Gospel. The epithet "unlettered" does not denote illiteracy but signifies the purity and authenticity of a prophet free from all cultural attachments. This Prophet establishes the moral and social framework of religion through four fundamental dutiesenjoining good, forbidding evil, permitting the pure, and forbidding the impure. Enjoining good and forbidding evil act like wings of ascent, guiding society towards reform and elevation, while permitting the pure and forbidding the impure regulate human material and spiritual life.
The consequence of following this Prophet is the removal of Isr (heavy burdens) and Aghll (shackles), which metaphorically refer to doctrinal, social, and psychological difficulties. Their removal acts as a key that unlocks the chains of captivity, leading humans towards liberation and success. The successful are those who believe in the Prophet, honour him, support him, and follow the light revealed alongside him.
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ وَاتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
Say: O mankind, I am the Messenger of God to you all, to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; there is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death. So believe in God and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet who believes in God and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.
Verse 158 emphasises the universality of the Prophets mission: "to you all" denotes an invitation encompassing all humanity. This inclusiveness presents Islam as the complete and final religion, revealed for all times and places. The call to faith in God and the Messenger is a combination of theoretical belief and practical adherence, which leads to guidance through following the Prophet. The phrase "that you may be guided" subtly refers to human free will, making guidance contingent upon conscious choice.
Verses 157 and 158 of Surah Al-A'raf delineate the mission of the unlettered Prophet, outlining a universal call addressing not only Jews and Christians but all humanity. These verses, emphasising the Prophets responsibilities in guiding society and removing obstacles, present the path to salvation through faith, honour, support, and adherence to the light of revelation. This invitation acts like a light dispelling the darkness of ignorance and captivity, guiding humanity towards true guidance.
أَلَهُمْ أَرْجُلٌ يَمْشُونَ بِهَا أَمْ لَهُمْ أَيْدٍ يَبْطِشُونَ بِهَا أَمْ لَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا أَمْ لَهُمْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا قُلِ ادْعُوا شُرَكَاءَكُمْ ثُمَّ كِيدُونِي فَلَا تُنْظِرُونِ
Do they have feet with which they walk? Or hands with which they strike? Or eyes with which
