of Nokounam, (Session 1760)
Surah Al-Qasas, one of the Meccan chapters of the Holy Quran, delves into profound narratives from divine and human history, exploring foundational concepts of authority, social identity, and the relationship between mankind and God. Centered around stories such as the lives of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), Qarun, and Pharaoh, this Surah invites humanity to reflect on their position within the cosmic and societal order. The focus of this treatise is on verses 68 to 88 of Surah Al-Qasas, which, through a profound examination of divine authority, human limitations, and social structures, provide a systematic framework for understanding the universe and humanitys place therein. This study, relying on the content of religious scholars' lectures, addresses the nexus among truth, creation, and humanity, and offers a lucid and dignified guide for spiritual and social living under the light of the Holy Quran.
In verses 68 to 70 of Surah Al-Qasas, the Holy Quran, with an expression echoing like thunder in the sky of wisdom, portrays the unparalleled authority of God. These verses introduce God as the sole Creator and Sovereign, negating any partners or equals.
And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses; there is no choice for them. Glory be to Allah and exalted is He above what they associate with Him. (28:68)
And your Lord knows what their breasts conceal and what they declare. (28:69)
And He is Allah; there is no deity except Him. To Him belongs all praise in the first and the last. His is the judgement, and to Him you will be returned. (28:70)
These verses, like a blazing torch in the darkness of ignorance, introduce divine authority as the axis of the cosmic system. The phrase And your Lord creates what He wills refers to the limitless divine creation, as if God, like a masterful painter, draws whatever He wills upon the canvas of existence. The clause there is no choice for them reminds of human limitation in the face of divine will, as though man is a bird in the cage of nature, powerless before his Creator. Verse 70, with the nominal structure And He is Allah, places God's uniqueness and self-sufficiency as a crown atop the throne of wisdom, and by To Him belongs all praise and His is the judgement, confines praise and sovereignty solely to Him.
Due to their brief lifespan and the continuity of daily experiences, humans are like a child who sees themselves in the mirror every day but fails to perceive their transformations. Just as a person recognizes a friend's aging only after a long absence, the changes of the world become apparent only through distance and contemplation. This perceptual limitation inclines humans towards superficiality, as if in the ocean of knowledge they settle merely for the surface waves, neglecting its profound depths.
This section, based on verses 68 to 70, presents divine authority as a firm pillar within the cosmic order and illustrates human perceptual limitations before this grandeur. Under Gods mercy, humans may progress from superficiality toward deep knowledge and recognise their place within the universe.
Verses 71 to 73 of Surah Al-Qasas employ rhetorical questions, like a bell rung in the temple of wisdom, inviting human reflection on the cosmic system. These verses depict a hypothetical world where only night or only day prevails, to demonstrate mankinds incapacity to establish natural balance.
Say, Have you considered if Allah should make for you the night continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you light? Then will you not hear? (28:71)
Say, Have you considered if Allah should make for you the day continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you a night in which you may rest? Then will you not see? (28:72)
And from His mercy He made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein and seek from His bounty, and perhaps you will be grateful. (28:73)
These verses, employing the rhetorical structure Say, Have you considered, act as a mirror reflecting truth, revealing human incapacity in relation to the cosmic order. The hypothetical questions about a world dominated exclusively by night or day prompt humans to ponder divine mercy. The phrases Then will you not hear? and Then will you not see? serve as keys to unlocking the doors of knowledge, inviting mankind to perceive the divine signs. Verse 73, referencing divine mercy, presents night and day as two wings enabling humans to soar towards tranquillity and divine bounty.
The universe, like an open book before the eyes of wisdom, is constantly undergoing transformation and change. The Quran, by alluding to the possibility of a world governed solely by night or day, reminds humans that the current order of creation is merely one among countless divine possibilities. This transformation, like a roaring current within the flow of time, remains concealed from human sight due to their brief lifespan, which is but a drop compared to the vast ocean of creation.
This section, focusing on verses 71 to 73, depicts the cosmic system as a magnificent tableau of divine mercy. The balance between night and day is a sign of divine wisdom urging humans to contemplate their limitations and express gratitude for boundless divine blessings.
