of Nokounam (May His Sanctity Remain) Session 1754
Surah Al-Furqan, one of the Meccan chapters of the Holy Quran, centres on elucidating the distinction between truth and falsehood, and portrays the exalted status of prophethood and guardianship within the framework of monotheistic knowledge. Verses 6, 7, and 15 of this Surah specifically address the reality of revelation, the inner power of the Prophets and the saints, and the sublime station of human will both in this world and the hereafter. This treatise adopts a mystical and scholarly approach to analyse these verses, utilising spiritual metaphors and allusions to elucidate their fundamental concepts through the lens of two types of power: apparent (dental) and inner (gastric). The objective of this work is to illuminate the station of revelation as a divine secret, critique the materialistic perspectives of the opponents of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), and clarify the station of will as the elevated capacity of human beings manifesting in the realm of perfection both here and in the hereafter.
This verse responds to the polytheists denial of the reality of revelation by emphasising the descent of the Holy Quran from the Lord who is fully aware of the secrets of the heavens and the earth. Revelation, as a divine secret, is a truth that descends from the unseen realm to the realm of sensory perception, and it is only received within the pure heart of the Prophets, who are polished like a mirror, enabling them to receive it. In Islamic mysticism, the term "secret" denotes the inner reality hidden behind outward appearances, visible only through the eye of the heart. Revelation, like a divine light, unveils this secret and is presented to humanity through the heart of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
From a scientific perspective, revelation can be regarded as a process of transmitting exalted information from a metaphysical source to a human receptacle. This process requires a pure and immaculate vessel, exemplified perfectly by the Prophets heart, which receives and conveys divine information without distortion. In modern sciences, this concept is analogous to data transmission processes involving encoding and decoding, yet on a higher plane transcending material tools.
The polytheists, adopting a materialistic viewpoint, criticised the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) due to his human attributes such as eating food and being present in marketplaces, expecting him to be a supernatural entity or to appear with an accompanying angel. This view reflects their incapacity to comprehend the inner reality of revelation and prophethood. In Shii mysticism, the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Infallibles (peace be upon them) manifest divine light and possess an inner power transcending material limitations. This power is akin to a stomach that digests the cosmos without reliance on apparent instruments.
From a social psychology viewpoint, the reaction of the polytheists exemplifies cognitive bias whereby individuals reject truth based on materialistic presuppositions. Their expectation that the Prophet should possess outward signs such as an angel or treasure indicates a profound lack of understanding of spiritual reality. Cognitive sciences reveal that humans often rely on tangible and observable signs and struggle to grasp abstract concepts.
This verse alludes to the exalted station of the righteous in Paradise, wherein they attain the station of will, a place where whatever they desire is realised. This station signifies the supreme capability of human beings, which also manifests in this world for the Infallibles (peace be upon them) and, to lesser degrees, for perfected individuals. The station of will denotes complete alignment of human volition with divine will, such that the will of the Infallibles (peace be upon them) actualises within the sphere of divine wisdom.
From the perspectives of cognitive sciences and philosophy of mind, will can be understood as the capacity for conscious volition and actualisation of intentions. Neuroscience recognises will as a complex brain process, which in perfected humans appears as a seamless coordination among cognition, emotion, and action. This coordination reaches its zenith in the Infallibles (peace be upon them) owing to their innate purity and connection to the divine origin.
In this analysis, power is divided into two types: apparent (dental) and inner (gastric). Dental power refers to material and observable aspects such as wealth, property, or physical strength, whereas gastric power relates to inner and spiritual realities such as revelation, knowledge, and divine will. Due to their inability to perceive gastric power, the polytheists sought only apparent signs and overlooked the inner truth of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Gastric power is the essence of the existence of the Prophets and saints, emerging from their connection to divine light. This power manifests as revelation, honour, and guidance, flowing through the heart and soul rather than through external instruments. The Infallibles (peace be upon them) digest the cosmos with this power and provide guidance without reliance on visible tools.
Biologically, dental power resembles the external bodily functions such as chewing food, while gastric power pertains to internal processes such as digestion and absorption. Psychologically, inner power is recognised as the human internal force for decision-making and influencing the environment, which in the Infallibles (peace be upon them) attains a sublime degree due to perfect harmony with divine will.
This verse refers to the presence of criminal adversaries for every prophet. These adversaries act as obstacles within the divine system designed for human trial and perfection. The station of will in the Infallibles (peace be upon them) is not contradicted by the existence of calamities and obstacles. Calamities function as divine sieves separating the light from darkness. The Infallibles (peace be upon them), by accepting calamities within the divine wisdom, perfect the guidance of humanity.
From the standpoint of complex systems theory, obstacles and challenges form part of the process of evolution and growth. In biology, environmental pressures drive species evolution. Regarding the Infallibles (peace be upon them), acceptance of calamities as part of divine will reflects their harmony with the macrocosmic system, where each phenomenon holds meaningful place.
One key point raised is the absence of scientific instruments for measuring inner (gastric) power of human beings. This deficiency hampers precise understanding of the value of spiritual actions and degrees of luminosity. Within the guardianship system, the Infallibles (peace be upon them) serve as luminous criteria and standards of truth. Developing spiritual measurement toolssuch as for faith, remembrance, and worshipcould render religious values tangible and motivate spiritual growth.
In modern sciences, measurement instruments exist for physical phenomena such as blood pressure and glucose levels, yet similar tools are absent in the spiritual domain. Creating such instruments requires integrating religious sciences with cognitive sciences, psychology, and modern technologies like artificial intelligence to evaluate spiritual indices such as concentration in worship or depth of faith.
Verses 6, 7, and 15 of Surah Al-Furqan, by elucidating the reality of revelation, critiquing materialistic viewpoints, and introducing the station of will, provide a comprehensive system of human inner power. Revelation, as a divine light, descends from a source knowledgeable of cosmic secrets and flows within the Prophets heart. Due to their limited comprehension of inner power, the polytheists denied the Prophet based on his human traits, whereas these traits indicated his connection to the divine order of creation. The station of will, as the supreme human capacity, manifests not only in Paradise but also in this world for the Infallibles (peace be upon them) and perfected humans. This will operates within the framework of divine wisdom despite obstacles and calamities and is distinct from apparent (dental) power. Surah Al-Furqan, by emphasising the distinction between truth and falsehood, provides a foundation for establishing new scientific and spiritual systems capable of integrating religious and modern sciences to create instruments measuring human inner power.
