the lectures of Nokounam, may his sanctity be preserved (Session 1791)
Surah Fatir, like a radiant gem within the treasury of the Holy Quran, unveils profound concepts regarding human authority, the relationship between God and humanity, and the role of angels and prophets in guiding mankind towards perfection. This treatise, relying on the pivotal verses of this surah, especially the opening verse and the sixth verse, explores the essence of human authority and elucidates the conditions for attaining this rank in the light of divine agency and human requisites. The present text endeavours, with eloquent and dignified language, to present the spirit of the religious scholars' lectures in a structured and scholarly format, so that it may illuminate the path of transcendence and nearness to God like a guiding lamp.
The system of creation, like an unparalleled tableau, is adorned with an infinite variety of phenomena, each serving the perfection of the universe from apparent good and evil. The Holy Quran in Surah Fatir begins with the verse:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ ۚ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Praise be to God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels messengers possessing wings, two, three, and four. He increases in creation whatever He wills. Indeed, God is over all things competent.
This verse, like a golden key, opens the door to knowledge of the best divine system. Diversity in creation, from a philosophical perspective, is a sign of the infinite wisdom of the Lord, wherein every phenomenon, even those which appear unpleasant to humans, serves the embellishment of the universe and the realization of perfection. Due to cognitive limitations, humans perceive only the external causes and remain unaware of the hidden causes and origins. This ignorance acts like a veil over the eyes of reason, preventing the comprehension of divine wisdom in apparent good and evil.
Key Point: The diversity of creation, from affliction to triumph, all serve the best divine system, and human authority depends on understanding this wisdom and harmonising with it.
Human beings, like travellers on the infinite path of existence, must humbly engage in the pursuit of truth before this grand system. Understanding this diversity prevents hasty judgments and directs them towards harmony with the divine will.
Human ignorance of the causes and origins of phenomena, like a shadow upon the sun of knowledge, prevents the grasp of reality. The aforementioned verse, emphasising God's absolute power ("Indeed, God is over all things competent"), demonstrates that divine agency operates within the framework of wisdom and the best system. Humans, due to existential limitations, see only apparent outcomes and remain unaware of the hidden causal chain. This ignorance deprives humans of true authority.
For example, disasters such as earthquakes or diseases, at first glance, appear as evils, yet within the best divine system, these phenomena serve as facilitators in the path of universal perfection. Humans, like children who perceive only the surface of things, are oblivious to the wisdom hidden in these matters. This ignorance leads them to erroneous judgments and distancing from truth.
The system of creation, with its infinite diversity, reflects divine wisdom where every phenomenon, from apparent good to evil, serves the perfection of the universe. Due to cognitive limitations, humans cannot grasp the causes and origins of this system and only through reliance and harmony with the divine will can they attain true authority. This section explained the theoretical foundations of human authority in the light of the best divine system.
The universe is neither a domain of pure determinism nor a realm of absolute human free will. The concept of "the matter between two matters," referred to in the lectures, indicates that divine agency and human requisites are intertwined. The opening verse of Surah Fatir, emphasising God's agency ("Originator of the heavens and the earth"), shows that every phenomenon in the world arises under divine will, yet this will is coordinated with the requisites of creatures.
Humans, like particles before the vastness of existence, have a limited but effective role in determining their destiny. This role manifests through trust and righteous deeds. The lectures stress that humans are neither utterly powerless nor omnipotent. This balance, like a delicate thread, guides humans towards perfection.
Key Point: Human authority depends on the harmony between divine agency and human requisite, realised within the framework of the best system.
Creation, like a gentle and continuous flow, is gradational and relative. The lectures critique traditional interpretations that consider the verse "Be, and it is" as immediate creation, emphasising that the letter "Fa" in this verse is not a mere rhetorical addition but a sign of hierarchical bestowal. God, as the Bestower, grants His grace to the recipient (creation) in degrees of existence. These levels, like steps towards perfection, invite humans to patience and continuous endeavour.
For example, success or failure results from a chain of causes and origins that develop over time. Understanding this gradation protects humans from hasty judgments and despair over failures.
The results of human actions, like fruits in a communal garden, are collectively accounted for within the divine system. The verse "And God will judge between the servants" (Ghafir: 48) emphasises that God will judge with complete justice among His servants on the Day of Resurrection. The lectures demonstrate that apparent good and evil are all facilitators in the path of perfection, and their final outcomes become evident at the resurrection.
Humans, like farmers in this communal garden, can harvest a share of divine perfection by sowing good seeds. This perspective deters self-centredness and individualism in deeds, guiding humans towards harmony with the divine system.
Divine agency and human requisite, like two wings, enable humans to soar towards true authority. Neither pure determinism nor absolute free will, but a balance between the two, alongside understanding the gradation of creation and communal nature of actions outcomes, guides humans towards harmony with the best divine system. This section explained the theoretical framework of this harmony.
Angels, like ambassadors from the unseen realm, are introduced in Surah Fatir as divine messengers possessing two, three, and four wings, demonstrating their authority and
