Surah Saba, one of the Meccan chapters of the Holy Qur'an, has been opened as a gateway towards knowledge and human authority. This Surah, by emphasising Divine knowledge and the exalted capacities of humanity, extends an invitation to transcend material limitations and attain the highest degrees of existential perfection. Contrary to Surah Al-Ahzab, which primarily addresses social matters and quotidian life, Surah Saba concentrates on the scientific, spiritual, and existential dimensions of humanity, calling upon man to contemplate unseen realities, establish connection with transcendent realms, and gain profound understanding of existence. This treatise, with a deep and structured approach, analyses the initial verses of Surah Saba and, by utilising exegetical analyses, guides humanity towards recognition of its boundless capacities. The aim is to elucidate the concepts of human authority and to chart a clear path towards spiritual and scientific perfection.
In contemporary society, human beings commonly define success and perfection on two levels. The first level is ordinary life, in which the primary objective is securing basic needs such as housing, transportation, establishing a family, and enjoying fundamental life facilities. This level, which may be termed the "foot soldier" or "common life," is accepted by the general public but is, when compared to the intrinsic capacities of human existence, a low and limited level. The second level is a more exalted life, which besides fulfilling basic needs, pursues superiority, power, wealth, or fame. Although seemingly more prestigious, this level remains confined within the material domain and distant from true human authority, which is rooted in connection with exalted and transcendent realities.
These two levels, like two branches of a sturdy yet earthbound tree, confine humanity within a narrow circle of material desires. Man, as the Divine Caliph, has been created for loftier objectives such as understanding the unseen, communicating with angels, apprehending revelation, and perceiving the truths of existence. These exalted capacities, introduced in the Holy Qur'an as the zenith of human authority, transcend the prevailing societal standards and necessitate a novel perspective on the concept of perfection.
Modern man, due to immersion in material life, is deprived of apprehending the exalted truths of the universe, such as the unseen, angels, jinn, and spirits. This deprivation results from educational and training systems that, instead of nurturing spiritual and perceptual abilities, have directed humanity towards superficial and material goals. Erroneous cultural constructions, rooted in colonialism and despotism, have distanced man from his exalted existential capacities and confined him within the constraints of material life.
Surah Saba, like a clear mirror, invites humanity to reconsider these criteria. This Surah, by emphasising Divine knowledge and human access to scientific degrees beyond matter, opens a path towards spiritual awakening. If man is freed from the shackles of materialism, he can attain comprehension of unseen truths and establish connection with transcendent realms.
Surah Saba summons humanity to achieve spiritual and scientific authority; an authority that surpasses material and social power and is contingent upon connection with transcendent realms and understanding existential truths. The initial verses of this Surah, emphasising Divine knowledge over all affairs of the world, encourage man to strive to attain this knowledge. This authority, like a pure spring, flows from self-purification, spiritual awakening, and celestial connection.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ ۚ وَهُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْخَبِيرُ
All praise is due to Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and to Him belongs all praise in the Hereafter; and He is the Wise, the Acquainted.
This verse, emphasising Gods absolute ownership of the heavens and the earth and His perfect wisdom and knowledge, delineates the foundation of Divine authority. Man, as a being capable of connecting with Divine knowledge and wisdom, draws inspiration from this Divine ownership and moves towards a deeper understanding of existence. This verse, like a lantern in the night, invites man to contemplate Divine greatness and his own position in the cosmic order.
يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۚ وَهُوَ الرَّحِيمُ الْغَفُورُ
He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it, and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is the Merciful, the Forgiving.
This verse underscores Divine knowledge of all movements and stillness in the universefrom ingress and egress in the earth to descent and ascent in the heavens. This boundless knowledge serves as a paradigm for man to pursue deeper and broader comprehension. The attributes Merciful and Forgiving at the conclusion of the verse are like a benevolent rain, absolving man from negligence and shortcomings in attaining this knowledge and inviting his return to the path of perfection.
The attributes Merciful and Forgiving in the second verse of Surah Saba signify Divine mercy that rescues man from his negligence. Man, due to immersion in material life, remains deprived of apprehending transcendent truths; yet God, with His mercy, calls him to awakening and knowledge. This mercy acts like a bridge, guiding man from the darkness of negligence to the light of knowledge.
Human negligence results from choosing erroneous paths and confinement within two levels of material life: ordinary life and fantastical life. Though apparently different, both levels inherently distance man from his exalted existential capacities. God, with the attribute Forgiving, invites man to return to the path of perfection and pardons his shortcomings.
The second verse of Surah Saba explicitly states that man can attain scientific ranks beyond material sciences. This knowledge includes understanding the unseen, angels, jinn, and spirits, which in the traditions of the Infallibles is referred to as knowledge of what was, what is, and what will be. This knowledge, like a gem hidden in the depths of human existence, is accessible through self-purification and spiritual awakening.
By cultivating his spiritual faculties, man can comprehend unseen truths and connect with transcendent realms. This capacity contrasts with
