of Nokounam (may his sanctity be revered), Session 1748
Surah Al-Muminun, one of the Meccan chapters of the Holy Quran, shines like a luminous gem among the Divine verses. It portrays, with profound eloquence, two fundamental dimensions of human existence: spiritual perfection and material creation. The opening verses of this Surah elucidate the attributes of the successful believers, guiding the way to genuine felicity and eternity. Meanwhile, the subsequent verses, by detailing the stages of human creation and the cosmic order, reveal the position of the material human within the vast scope of creation. This writing endeavours, through a refined and structured language, to present the exalted meanings of verses 1 to 22 of this Surah in a coherent and scholarly manner. The content is drawn from the discourses of religious scholars who have analysed and interpreted the Quranic concepts with an analytical and exegetical approach.
The Surah Al-Muminun commences with a verse that, like a radiant torch, illuminates the path of salvation:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Indeed, the believers have attained success.
Falah in this verse signifies not merely apparent victory but eternal triumph in truth and the attainment of the highest degree of human perfection. This salvation is exclusive to a group of believers characterised by prominent attributes. The Holy Quran, employing the plural form Al-Muminun, emphasises the presence of a collective of refined humans who, by adhering to divine principles, have reached an exalted rank.
Key Point: In the Quran, Falah denotes eternity in truth, achieved through the realisation of the believers attributes in three domains: relationship with God, self, and others.
The foremost characteristic of the successful believers is humility during prayer:
الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ
Those who are humble in their prayers.
Humility acts like a calming breeze that humbles the believers heart before the Divine Majesty. This trait signifies a profound and conscious relationship with God, stemming from concentration and heartfelt presence in worship. Humility is not a mere outward appearance but the inward manifestation of faith that prevents the believer from distraction and heedlessness.
The next attribute is avoidance of vain matters:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ
And those who turn away from futile talk.
Turning away from futility acts as a shield protecting the believer from wasting time and energy on worthless affairs. This feature strengthens the believers relationship with the self and directs him towards self-purification and concentration on matters valuable on the path of human perfection.
The Holy Quran then refers to the giving of Zakat:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ
And those who give Zakat.
Zakat, like a clear flowing stream, not only fulfils the material needs of the needy but also purifies the believers soul from stinginess and selfishness. This act solidifies the believers relationship with society and indicates his commitment to social betterment.
The following attribute is guarding the private parts:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ * إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ
And those who guard their private parts, except from their spouses or those whom their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed.
Chastity, like a firm fortress, protects the believer from the assaults of carnal desires. This characteristic not only pertains to avoidance of sexual sins but also to controlling all base inclinations. The exception of lawful relationships within marriage or possession by right hand delineates ethical and legal boundaries. The concept of those whom their right hands possess here refers to lawful and legitimate relations within the social system of that era, necessitating precise interpretation within historical and Quranic contexts.
The Quran then highlights trustworthiness and covenant-keeping:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ
And those who are faithful to their trusts and to their covenants.
Trustworthiness and fidelity, like two wings of flight, present the believer as a reliable and responsible individual in society. Trust encompasses everything entrusted to the believer, whether material or spiritual, and covenant includes his commitments.
The final attribute is preservation of prayer:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
And those who carefully maintain their prayers.
Preservation of prayer, unlike humility which pertains to the internal quality, emphasises continuity and orderliness in performing this worship. This attribute is like a nail that firmly holds the structure of worship, as a building without nails would collapse. The difference between humble (khshin) and preservers (yufin) is that the former indicates heartfelt presence while the latter refers to persistence and discipline.
Key Point: Humility and preservation of prayer are complementary wings for the believers spiritual ascent; the former ensures internal quality and the latter external continuity.
The Quran concludes this section by stating the result of the believers attributes:
أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ * الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
They are the heirs who will inherit Paradise; therein they will abide eternally.
Paradise, like a lofty summit in Heaven, is the ultimate destination of the perfect believers. By realising the aforementioned attributes, they attain eternity in truth and become the inheritors of the highest rank in Paradise.
Verses 1 to 11 of Surah Al-Muminun, like a precise blueprint, present the characteristics of the believers in three domains: relationship with God (humility and preservation of prayer), self (avoidance of futility and chastity), and others (Zakat and trustworthiness). This structure, contrary to conventional arrangements, manifests the depth and order within the Quranic discourse. The Quran, instead of repeating similar concepts, offers complementary features gradually and systematically, as if each verse forms a piece of a puzzle that constructs the complete image of the refined human.
Key Point: The Quranic geometry in Surah Al-Muminun, by presenting believers attributes in three axes, draws a comprehensive map for human perfection.
The initial verses of Surah Al-Muminun elucidate the attributes of the successful believers, illustrating the path to felicity and eternity in truth. These features, presented in three domains of relationship with God, self, and others, act like a ladder towards Paradise, guiding the believer to a sublime rank. The order and structure of these verses demonstrate the Qurans profoundness and precision in conveying concepts, as it is self-explanatory without need for external commentary.
From verse 12, the Quran addresses the material creation of man:
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ سُلَالَةٍ مِنْ طِينٍ * ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُطْفَةً فِي قَرَارٍ مَكِينٍ * ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغ
