the Lectures of Nokounam Session 1716
The Holy Qur'an, a Book of guidance and light, directs humanity towards truth and certainty. This treatise, through reflection upon divine verses and elucidation of the degrees of certainty, seeks to illuminate the path of spiritual journey in the light of the revealed word. The core of this examination is the concept of certainty, the widespread heedlessness of humans, and the means of liberation from the snares of excess and disbelief, all of which are beautifully depicted in the Qur'anic verses. This writing, with a profound gaze on the verses and employing precise analyses, endeavours to explicate these concepts in a lucid and eloquent manner for the audience.
Certainty is the essence of knowledge and the gateway to truth, which in the Holy Qur'an is categorised into various degrees: 'Ilm al-Yaqn' (Knowledge of Certainty), ''Ayn al-Yaqn' (Eye of Certainty), and 'Haq al-Yaqn' (Truth of Certainty). These degrees represent the stages of human spiritual progression towards proximity to the Almighty. 'Ilm al-Yaqn' is the awareness and cognizance that awakens a person from heedlessness and enables them to perceive the truth in this world. The Qur'an in Surah At-Takathur portrays this stage thus:
كَلَّا لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ الْيَقِينِ * لَتَرَوُنَّ الْجَحِيمَ * ثُمَّ لَتَرَوُنَّهَا عَيْنَ الْيَقِينِ
Nay, if you but knew with knowledge of certainty, you would surely see the Hellfire, then you would surely see it with the eye of certainty.
These verses clearly indicate that 'Ilm al-Yaqn' guides a person to awareness of Hellfire in this world, whereas 'Ayn al-Yaqn' actualises its vision in the Hereafter. These degrees manifest the dynamic nature of knowledge on the path of spiritual journey. Just as the sun, at dawn, first spreads its light and then, at midday, reaches the zenith of its heat and illumination, certainty begins with initial cognition and advances towards complete witnessing.
Key Point: Knowledge of Certainty and the Vision of Hellfire
Knowledge of certainty enables awareness of the reality of Hellfire in this world; its absence plunges humans into heedlessness and excess. Such awareness is not impossible and is attainable through spiritual endeavour.
The Holy Qur'an considers heedlessness a major barrier against certainty. Humans trapped in excess are heedless of the reality of Hellfire and deny it. This heedlessness manifests in two stages: 'Ind al-Mawt' (at death) and 'Ind al-Nushr' (at resurrection). At these two stages, humans become aware of the truth, but this awareness sometimes comes after the opportunity has passed. The Qur'an states:
كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ * ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ (Surah At-Takathur: 3-4)
Nay! You shall come to know. Then, nay! You shall come to know.
This repetition is not mere emphasis but indicates two stages of awareness in the intermediate realm and resurrection. A heedless person is like a traveller lost in the darkness of night, who only realises his error with the dawn of the sun. Religious knowledge must dispel this heedlessness by clarifying the degrees of certainty and guide humanity towards awakening.
The degrees of certainty, from knowledge of certainty to eye of certainty, form a path that leads humans from heedlessness to the witnessing of truth. The vision of Hellfire in this world is possible through knowledge of certainty, a matter that is neither impossible nor distant. Religious knowledge must elucidate these concepts with precision and depth to liberate humans from the snare of excess and heedlessness.
'Haq al-Yaqn', the highest degree of certainty, is the stage where a person attains full arrival at the Truth of the Almighty. This rank is exclusive to the Near Ones (al-Muqarrabn), who have kept away from excess and heedlessness and attained the spirit, basil, and the Garden of Delight. The Holy Qur'an in Surah Al-Wqiah describes this station as follows:
فَأَمَّا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ * فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّةُ نَعِيمٍ * ... * إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ الْيَقِينِ * فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ
As for him who is of the Near Ones, there will be [for him] rest and bounty and a Garden of Delight... Indeed, this is the truth of certainty; so exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
'Haq al-Yaqn' is like a summit that the seeker reaches after traversing the winding valleys of spiritual journey. The Near Ones, by faith and righteous deeds, attain this rank and are free from heedlessness and excess. Religious knowledge must present this rank as the ultimate goal of spiritual progression.
Key Point: Truth of Certainty and the Near Ones
Truth of certainty is the station of the Near Ones who, through glorification and drawing near to God, attain the spirit, basil, and the Garden of Delight. This rank is the pinnacle of spiritual journey, removed from heedlessness and excess.
The Holy Qur'an in Surah Al-Wqiah divides humanity into three categories: the Near Ones, the Companions of the Right, and the Companions of the Left. The Near Ones reach truth of certainty and enter the Garden of Delight. The Companions of the Right, through faith and righteous deeds, achieve peace and security. The Companions of the Left, trapped in heedlessness and denial, suffer in blazing and scalding fire. This classification reflects differences in degrees of knowledge and spiritual journey.
This categorisation resembles the branches of a tree, each growing in a different direction: the Near Ones as upright branches reaching skyward, the Companions of the Right as fruitful branches in the middle, and the Companions of the Left as fallen branches upon the ground.
Truth of certainty is a station attained by the Near Ones through faith, righteous action, and glorification of God. Surah Al-Wqiah, with its classification of humanity, illustrates diverse spiritual pathways. Religious knowledge must explicate these stations so that seekers may recognise the path of drawing near to the Truth.
The Holy Qur'an considers the majority of people deprived of certainty due to disbelief, transgression, and denial of the verses. This heedlessness is rooted in attachment to the world and excess. The Qur'an states in Surah Al-Isra:
وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ كُلِّ مَثَلٍ فَأَبَى أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ إِلَّا كُفُورًا
And We have certainly diversified for the people in this Qur'an from every [kind of] example, but most of the people refused [anything] except disbelief.
The majority of people are like a lost caravan in the desert of the world, turning away from the divine verses. This turning away is not merely due to ignorance but arises from attachment to conjecture, transgression, and polytheism. Religious knowledge must reveal this reality and guide humanity towards certainty.
Key Point: The Heedlessness of the Common People
The majority are deprived of certainty due to attachment to the world and excess, and are entangled in disbelief and transgression. The community of certainty is defined by quality, not quantity, a distinction that must be clarified by religious knowledge.
The community of certainty is recognised not by quantity but by quality. Abraham (peace be upon him) alone was a nation, because his faith and knowledge distinguished him from others. The Qur'an says in Surah An-Nahl: Indeed, Abraham was a [comprehensive] leader. This quality is rooted in spiritual journey and liberation from worldly attachments.
The community of certainty is like shining stars in the firmament of knowledge, illuminating the path for others with the light of faith. Religious knowledge must introduce this quality as the criterion of faith.
The majority of people are deprived of certainty due to heedlessness and attachment to the world. The community of certainty, with the quality of their faith and knowledge, have freed themselves from this heedlessness. Religious knowledge must elucidate this distinction and guide people towards qualitative knowledge.
The Holy Qur'an regards the loss of humanity as the default, and faith and righteous deeds as the exception. In Surah Al-Asr it states:
وَالْعَصْرِ * إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ * إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ
By the time, indeed mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds.
Being among people means accompanying the heedless majority and is not perfection. However, being a person of the people means compassion and service to creation after reaching the Truth, which is true perfection. This distinction is like the difference between wheat and chaff: one fruitful and beneficial, the other barren and transient.
Key Point: The Perfection of Being a Person of the People
Being among people is not perfection; but being a person of the people, i.e., serving others after reaching the Truth, is perfection. This distinction must be clarified in religious knowledge.
The Qur'an repeatedly forbids following the majority. In Surah Al-Anam it says: And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah. These verses demonstrate that the majority, due to heedlessness and worldly attachment, are distant from certainty and meeting God.
Following the majority is akin to stepping onto a path leading to a precipice. Religious knowledge must rescue humans from this snare and guide them towards the path of truth.
The distinction between being among people and being a person of the people is a fundamental lesson of the Holy Qur'an. Being among people means following the heedless majority, whereas being a person of the people means serving creation after attaining the Truth. Religious knowledge must clarify this distinction to guide humans towards perfection.
The journey towards certainty necessitates both intellectual and practical purification. The Holy Qur'an in Surah Al-Hijr commands:
