of Nokounam, (Session 1713)
This writing offers profound reflections on Quranic verses addressing the themes of negligence, prayer, and polytheism, exploring divine concepts within the framework of Quranic and narrational meanings through a scholarly and measured approach. The aim is to elucidate the relationship between negligence and estrangement from the remembrance of God, the role of sincerity and humility in the acceptance of prayers, and the impact of polytheism on the fruitlessness of supplications. This work, through a profound examination of verses and narrations, seeks to illuminate paths of deliverance from negligence and proximity to the Truth for the reader, as if lighting a lamp in the dark night of the human soul.
Negligence descends like a heavy veil upon the human heart, preventing it from remembering God. Whatever contains intoxication or frivolitybe it wine, gambling, or unbeneficial knowledgeblocks the path to the remembrance of God. This concept is elucidated in the Holy Quran as follows:
"Indeed, Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you desist?" (Surah Al-Maidah: 91)
This verse identifies wine and gambling as instances of obstacles to remembrance, yet its interpretation extends beyond to include anything that induces intoxication or futility. Unbeneficial knowledge, akin to wine, can distance the heart from the remembrance of God, as if a person is drowning in a sea of vain distractions, far from the shore of divine remembrance. Negligence is a force exploited by Satan to divert humans from the path of truth. Amidst this, the remembrance of God is like a light that pierces the darkness of negligence and guides the sinner towards repentance and devotion.
The battle between remembrance and sin takes place within the vessel of the human self. As long as a person remains captive to the self, this struggle continues. If remembrance is strong, it repels sin and transforms the sinner into a repentant worshipper; but if sin grows dominant, it weakens remembrance and drives the person toward negligence and forgetfulness. This struggle resembles a battle between light and darkness, elevating the human being to the heights of the heavens or plunging them to the depths of the earth.
One must vigilantly cleanse their environment from the sources of negligence. A friend, neighbour, or teacher who calls to the world instead of the remembrance of God can draw one into negligence. Yet, a spark of remembrance, like a fire in dry straw, can awaken the heart toward the truth. Here, the person must tread cautiously like a sailor on a stormy ocean, protecting themselves from the waves of negligence.
Negligence is the primary enemy of the remembrance of God, and everything containing intoxication or frivolityfrom wine and gambling to unbeneficial knowledgeturns one away from Gods remembrance. The struggle between remembrance and sin continues within the self, reaching the heart, where remembrance is indelible. Religious knowledge must promote abundant remembrance and avoidance of the sources of negligence to guide believers toward the light.
Prayer, as a bridge between servant and Lord, reaches its destination only within the vessel of sincerity. The Holy Quran expresses this reality thus:
"And when they board the ship, they supplicate Allah, sincere to Him in religion." (Surah Al-Ankabut: 65)
Sincerity in prayer means purity of intention and freedom from non-divine motives. A prayer motivated by worldly comfort or seeking relaxation is devoid of sincerity, similar to performing ablution merely for cooling, not for nearness to God. Sincerity makes the prayer a pure jewel accepted at the Divine Presence.
Humility, or broken-heartedness, is a vessel that even grants acceptance to the prayer of a disbeliever because God is near to broken hearts. This concept is referred to in traditions as "with broken hearts." Even a disbeliever who supplicates with humility in distress may receive divine mercy, as if God does not abandon His servants in moments of weakness.
Prayer within the vessels of sincerity and humility is closer to acceptance. Sincerity purifies prayer from non-divine motives, and humility connects even the heart of a disbeliever to Gods mercy. Religious knowledge must guide believers to sincere and humble supplications to benefit from the blessings of acceptance.
Polytheism in prayer is like a cancer that renders supplication fruitless. The Holy Quran states:
"Do not call upon besides Allah that which neither benefits you nor harms you." (Surah Yunus: 106)
Polytheism in prayer means attributing independence to other than God, whether in effecting causes or neglecting them. Requesting from beings lacking creative power is futile, like invoking a mosquito that possesses no power of creation. However, using divine intermediaries such as the Imams, who are from God, is not polytheism but a way of drawing near to God.
Divine intermediaries, such as the infallibles, due to their spiritual status and proximity to God, can act as intermediaries in prayer, but assigning independence to them constitutes polytheism. This distinction is like the difference between using a boat to cross a river and imagining the boat itself as the destination. Religious knowledge must clearly explain this difference.
Polytheism in prayer is the principal obstacle to acceptance, and attributing independence to causes or neglecting them renders prayer fruitless. Divine intermediaries, if considered from God, are a means of nearness. Religious knowledge must educate believers to avoid polytheism in prayer.
Prayer with humility and supplication is free from arrogance and reaches divine proximity. The Holy Quran states:
"Call upon your Lord humbly and privately; indeed, He does not love transgressors." (Surah Al-Araf: 55)
Prayer tainted with arrogance is like a request deprived of the sanctity of the Right, and thus is not answered. Humility is like prostration that brings the servant to the ground and lifts their
