of Nokounam, (Session 1715)
The Holy Quran is a book that guides humanity towards divine knowledge and nearness to God. One of the foundational concepts of this celestial scripture is the "Meeting with God," which is presented with unparalleled subtlety and profundity in numerous verses. This concept not only signifies the encounter with the Lord in the Hereafter but also serves as an invitation to contemplate the grandeur of creation, divine guidance, and the human relationship with its Creator. Alongside this, the subject of prayer and its acceptance holds a distinguished position in the Holy Quran, functioning as a bridge between the servant and the worshipped. This treatise, through a profound examination of the verses related to the Meeting with God and the acceptance of prayer, elucidates these concepts in the light of Quranic knowledge. Employing eloquent language and a coherent structure, it strives to present these notions in a manner that is clear and inspiring for readers interested in Quranic teachings.
One of the key concepts in the Holy Quran is the denial of the Meeting with God and its consequences. This denial is not merely a rejection of death or the Hereafter, but a negation of the encounter with the divine truth, which leads humanity to immense loss. The Holy Quran vividly and effectively depicts this loss.
"Those who deny the Meeting with God have indeed lost, until when the Hour suddenly comes upon them."
(Surah Al-Anm: 31)
This verse considers the denial of the Meeting as a tremendous loss that continues until the moment of death. The deniers do not reject death itself but disregard the meeting with God. This negligence persists until the Hour of death arrives suddenly, revealing the reality of the Meeting to them unveiled. Just as the sun unexpectedly rises at dawn after sunset, so too the truth of the Meeting becomes apparent at the moment of death without any concealment.
This verse invites humanity to contemplate divine signs to be freed from heedlessness. Religious knowledge, by elucidating this concept, must guide humans towards faith in the Meeting with God to safeguard them from spiritual loss.
The Holy Quran introduces the Divine Book as a means of guidance towards faith in the Meeting. This guidance is characterised by completeness, elaboration, mercy, and directs humans towards divine knowledge.
"Then We gave Moses the Book in full for him who does good, an explanation of all things and a guidance and a mercy, that they might believe in the Meeting with their Lord."
(Surah Al-Anm: 154)
The Divine Book, like a radiant lamp, illuminates the path of faith in the Meeting. The word "that they might" (لَعَلَّهُمْ) in this verse indicates the ultimate goal of guidance, inviting humans to faith in the encounter with their Lord. This faith, beyond death or the Hereafter, points to the meeting with divine truth, as if humanity embarks on a spiritual journey towards an infinite destination.
Religious knowledge must promote this guidance through teaching the Quranic verses so that people are directed towards faith in the Meeting.
The signs of creation, like a mirror, display the grandeur of the Lord and invite humans to certainty in the Meeting with God.
"It is Allah who raised the heavens without pillars that you see, then He established Himself upon the Throne and subjected the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term. He arranges [each] matter; He details the signs that you may be certain of the Meeting with your Lord."
(Surah Ar-Rad: 2)
This verse presents the greatness of creation as an unparalleled tableau before humanity. The raising of the heavens, the establishment upon the Throne, and the subjugation of the sun and moon all aim to produce certainty in the Meeting with God. The phrase "that you may be certain" (لَعَلَّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ) signifies the epistemic pinnacle which goes beyond superficial faith to reach heartfelt certainty.
Religious knowledge should explicate these verses to encourage reflection on creation and foster certainty in the Meeting.
Disbelief in the Meeting with God deprives a person of the breeze of divine mercy. The Holy Quran expounds this deprivation in profound terms.
"But those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah and in the Meeting with Him those have despaired of My mercy."
(Surah Al-Ankabt: 23)
Divine mercy flows like a pure stream within all beings; however, disbelievers, due to ignorance and heedlessness, despair of this mercy. This despair results from disbelief in the signs and the Meeting with God, plunging the person into the darkness of ignorance.
Religious knowledge should teach this reality to prevent believers from denying the Meeting and guide them towards faith.
Prayer and invocation are two modes of connection between the servant and the worshipped, occurring in different states; yet, from Gods perspective, both are met with acceptance.
> "And [mention] Dh al-Nn (Prophet Jonah), when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree anything upon him. And he called out within the darkness, 'There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.'"
(Surah Al-Anbiy: 87)
This verse recounts the story of Prophet Jonah (peace be upon him) who, in the triple darkness (the sea, the night, and the belly of the fish), invoked God with the phrase "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers," and his prayer was accepted. This invocation serves as a heavenly key opening the doors of divine mercy. The difference between prayer and invocation lies in the state of the servant: prayer occurs in a normal state, while invocation arises in distress; however, both are answered by God.
Religious knowledge should teach this phrase to believers so that they may resort to it in moments of urgency and need.
Prayer (alh) and patience are like two wings that enable humans to soar towards humility and faith in the Meeting with God.
"Seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him."
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 45-46)
Prayer is an affectionate dialogue between the servant and the worshipped, which, alongside patience, leads to humility. The humbly submissive, due to their faith in the Meeting, do not find prayer burdensome but rather experience it as a gentle breeze on the path to divine proximity.
Religious knowledge should clarify this relationship among prayer, humility, and the Meeting to enable believers to attain divine closeness through these means.
The Meeting with God is a concept in the Holy Quran that transcends death and the Hereafter. This notion refers to the encounter with divine truth, which, through contemplation of the cosmic and personal signs, is comprehensible in both this world and the Hereafter.
"Have they not contemplated themselves? Allah created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in truth and for an appointed term. And indeed, many of the people, about the Meeting with their Lord, are disbelievers."
(Surah Ar-Rm: 8)
This verse invites humans to reflect upon themselves and creation. Disbelief in the Meeting is the result of neglecting this reflection. The Meeting with God is like a gem hidden in the shell of human existence that is revealed through thought and knowledge.
The acceptance of prayer is contingent upon repentance and faith. Repentance, like pure water, cleanses the heart from impurities and actualises prayer.
"Then he called out within the darkness, 'There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.'"
(Surah Al-Anbiy: 87)
The invocation of Prophet Jonah (peace be upon him) exemplifies repentance and prayer opening the way to acceptance in darkness. This phrase begins with monotheism and glorification of God and concludes with an admission of ones own wrongdoing, as if the servant humbles himself before the worshipped to attain proximity.
The Meeting with God in the Holy Quran is a concept that invites humans to contemplate creation, divine guidance, and their relationship with the Lord. Denial of this Meeting results in great loss, whereas faith in it paves the way to divine proximity. The signs of creation and the Divine Book guide humans towards certainty in the Meeting, and disbelief in it entails deprivation of divine mercy. Prayer and invocation, in different states, are both accepted by God, with the invocation phrase serving as a key to unlocking mercys gates. Prayer and humility enable the human soul to soar towards the Meeting, and repentance actualises prayer. Religious knowledge must expound these teachings with precision and depth so that believers are guided towards divine knowledge and nearness.
