of Nokounam, May His Secret be Sacred (Session 1787)
Surah Saba, one of the Meccan chapters of the Holy Qur'an, shines like a radiant gem in the treasury of divine revelation, elucidating the grandeur and authority of humanity. This Surah, with profound discourse and illuminating verses, guides mankind towards recognising their existential capacities and removing obstacles to perfection. The principal focus of this treatise is an exploration of two fundamental impediments to human authority, namely doubt and the rejection of the divine mentor, alongside the presentation of strategies for attaining elevated degrees of existence. By reflecting upon the verses of Surah Saba and contemplating their meanings, this text endeavours to delineate a clear path for the existential enhancement of humans, a path where certainty and divine guidance, like a brilliant lamp, illuminate the journey to perfection.
According to the Holy Qur'an, man is a being endowed with boundless existential capacities, capable of ascending from the rudimentary phases of life (phases one and two) to loftier stages (phase three and beyond). This authority is rooted not merely in material power but in the divine dawn within the human heart. The Qur'an regards man as a creature into whom the Divine Spirit has been breathed, as stated in a verse from Surah Al-Hijr:
وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِي
"And I breathed into him of My Spirit."
(Surah Al-Hijr: 29)
This divine spirit forms the foundation of human grandeur and authority, which, upon flourishing, elevates man to a lofty station where divine knowledge, power, and cognition manifest within his being. These existential levels elevate man from an ordinary state towards eminence and magnificence, provided that internal and external barriers are removed.
On the path to achieving this authority, two primary obstacles exist, which Surah Saba explicitly highlights: doubt and the rejection of the divine mentor. These two factors act as sturdy barriers preventing man from ascending the peaks of perfection. Doubt functions as a perforation in the vessel of existence, depriving man of knowledge and certainty, while the rejection of the divine mentor deprives him of guidance and direction.
Key point: Human authority depends upon overcoming two fundamental obstacles: doubt, which, like a crack in the vessel of existence, wastes knowledge, and the rejection of the divine mentor, which leaves man bereft of guidance.
Human authority is an intrinsic capacity of man to ascend to elevated existential levels, actualised through the divine spirit and Qur'anic guidance. This authority necessitates the removal of obstacles, which will be examined in detail hereafter. Surah Saba, by elucidating these capacities and obstacles, invites man towards self-recognition and self-purification.
Doubt, as the greatest impediment on the path to human perfection, is introduced in Surah Saba as a destructive element. This state acts like a hole in a pocket or a crack in the vessel of existence, preventing the preservation of knowledge and certainty. The Qur'an expresses this reality in the concluding verse of Surah Saba:
وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ كَمَا فُعِلَ بِأَشْيَاعِهِمْ مِنْ قَبْلُ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا فِي شَكٍّ مُرِيبٍ
"And a barrier was placed between them and that which they desired, as was done with their kind before; indeed, they were in a state of doubtful uncertainty."
(Surah Saba: 54)
This verse demonstrates that shakk murba doubt fraught with anxiety and confusiondeprives man of attaining lofty aspirations. Doubt, like a wound in the soul, denies one peace, restful sleep, vision of truths, acquisition of knowledge, and dignity, confining the individual to the elementary stages of existence.
Doubt engenders two types of psychological responses in humans: firstly, weakness and despair, which lead the individual to lethargy and lack of motivation; secondly, arrogance and self-conceit, which result in denial of truth and accusations against the prophets. The former group, akin to a leaky vessel, loses whatever knowledge is poured into it, resulting in regret and deprivation. The latter group, like a vessel that bursts from excessive pressure, refuses to accept truth due to pride and self-importance. Both conditions are presented in Surah Saba as factors of the spiritual destruction of disbelievers.
To overcome doubt, one must engage in self-examination and introspection. This process requires identifying internal uncertainties and recording them in a notebook of doubt and certainty. Through contemplation of ones beliefs and doubts, each ambiguity is addressed, leading to certainty. This method stems from Qur'anic exhortations to reflection and contemplation, guiding man towards certainty and inner tranquility.
Key point: Identification and resolution of doubts through self-assessment and documentation in a notebook of doubt and certainty rescue man from confusion and despair, leading him towards certainty and authority.
Surah Saba, by referring to ancient peoples, demonstrates that doubt has led even great individuals into destruction. Figures such as Shaddad, Nimrod, and Pharaoh, despite their apparent grandeur, deviated from the path of truth due to doubt and arrogance, ultimately perishing. These examples illustrate the Qur'anic law that doubt prevents mankind from achieving lofty aspirations.
Doubt, as the principal adversary of human authority, impedes perfection by generating weakness or arrogance. The Holy Qur'an emphasises the necessity of overcoming doubt via introspection and self-assessment, inviting man towards certainty and inner peace. This process benefits not only the individual but also societys elevation.
The second obstacle to human authority is the rejection of the divine mentor. Without divine guidance, man cannot attain perfection, just as success in any profession is impossible without a guide. Surah Saba states:
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ
"Say: Indeed, my Lord casts the truth; Knower of the unseen."
(Surah Saba: 36)
This verse emphasises Gods role as the primary mentor of man. Another verse states:
قُلْ إِنْ ضَلَلْتُ فَإِنَّمَا أَضِلُّ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِي وَإِنِ اهْتَدَيْتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِي إِلَيَّ رَبِّي
"Say: If I go astray, I only stray against myself; and if I am guided, it is by what my Lord reveals to me."
(Surah Saba: 46)
These verses indicate that divine guidance through revelation, prophets, and the heavenly scripture is the sole means to perfection. Without the divine mentor, man is ensnared in misguidance and failure.
Acceptance of the divine mentor is essential not only individually but also socially. Societies deprived of divine guidance succumb to chaos and degradation. Surah Saba highlights that despite material advancements, societies without the divine mentor fall into spiritual decline.
Key point: The divine mentor, like a lamp in darkness, guides both the individual and society from misguidance towards perfection. Without this guidance, man falls prey to his own ego.
Disbelievers and polytheists, due to their refusal to accept the divine mentor, experienced spiritual and social ruin. Surah Saba, by illustrating the psychological states of disbelievers, shows that arrogance and denial of divine guidance led them to destruction. For instance, the verse states:
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذْ فَزِعُوا فَلَا فَوْتَ وَأُخِذُوا مِنْ مَكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ
"And if you could see when they fear, there will be no escape and they are seized from a nearby place."
(Surah Saba: 44)
This verse serves as a warning to those who turn away from divine guidance and, due to pride, refuse to accept the truth.
The divine mentor, encompassing God, prophets, and the heavenly scripture, plays an unparalleled role in guiding man towards authority and perfection. Surah Saba, by underscoring this truth, calls upon man to accept divine guidance to avoid misguidance and degradation.
One practical strategy to overcome doubt and achieve authority is self-assessment and introspection. Man must contemplate his beliefs and doubts, identify ambiguities, and resolve them. The writing of a notebook of doubt and certainty serves as a practical tool, leading man towards certainty and inner peace. This method functions as a mirror revealing inner faults and inviting self-correction.
Acceptance of the divine mentor through faith in God, the prophets, and the heavenly scripture rescues man from misguidance. This acceptance acts as a key that opens the doors of knowledge and perfection. Surah Saba, emphasising the role of revelation and prophets, guides man towards this mentorship.
The Holy Qur'an, through parables and historical examples, invites man to reflect on the fate of former peoples. Stories of Shaddad, Nimrod, and Pharaoh demonstrate the consequences of doubt and rejection of the divine mentor. These narratives act as mirrors reflecting the ultimate destiny of the arrogant and skeptical, urging man towards reform and guidance.
Key point: Self-assessment and acceptance of divine guidance constitute the two wings of mans flight towards authority and perfection, leading him from the darkness of doubt to the light of certainty.
Practical strategies for attaining human authority include introspection, overcoming doubt, and embracing divine guidance. These measures liberate man from internal and external barriers and lead him towards elevated existential levels.
The Holy Qur'an, as a social and contemporary book, is capable of fulfilling the spiritual and social needs of modern man. Surah Saba, with enlightening verses, invites humanity to contemplate divine signs and historical lessons. This characteristic renders the Qur'an an eternal source of guidance for mankind across all eras.
Societies deprived of divine guidance, despite material progress, suffer spiritual degradation. Surah Saba, by referencing the fate of former peoples, demonstrates that doubt and arrogance lead societies towards destruction. This lesson applies equally to modern societies estranged from divine guidance.
The Holy Qur'an, through social and spiritual lessons, guides individuals and communities towards perfection and authority. Surah Saba, as part of this divine treasury, invites mankind to contemplate obstacles to perfection and embrace divine guidance.
Surah Saba, like a brilliant lamp, illuminates the path of human authority and grandeur. This Surah, by clarifying two principal obstacles to perfectiondoubt and rejection of the divine mentorinvites man to engage in introspection, self-assessment, and acceptance of divine guidance. Through overcoming doubt and having faith in God, the prophets, and the heavenly scripture, man can ascend from elementary existential stages to sublime levels and achieve an authority rooted in his divine spirit. This treatise, by exploring the verses of Surah Saba and presenting practical solutions, endeavours to chart a clear path to this authority. It is hoped that these reflections serve as a guide for those in pursuit of perfection and grandeur.
Supervised by Sadegh Kh
