of Nokounam, may his sanctity be preserved (Session 1810)
The Holy Qur'an, like a radiant lamp, guides humankind towards truth and knowledge. In this celestial book, the fundamental concepts of nazar (contemplation) and aql (reason), as two wings of cognition, direct humans toward a profound divine understanding. This writing, focusing on the verses of Surah Al-'Imran and other relevant verses, examines these two key concepts and, employing authentic exegeses and deep analyses, endeavours to reveal their cognitive and spiritual layers. The aim of this research is to elucidate the role of nazar and aql in guiding human beings toward perfection and divine proximity, hoping to invite the reader to reflect on the divine signs and to exercise reason in the celestial verses.
The concept of nazar in the Qur'an is like a mirror that reflects both the outward appearances of the world and manifests the inner truth. In Surah Al-Qiyamah, verses 22 and 23 beautifully depict this concept:
On that Day, some faces will be radiant, looking towards their Lord.
The word Nirah, meaning radiant, blooming, and fresh faces, refers to a state experienced by the believers on the Day of Resurrection under the grace and pleasure of their Lord. This vitality manifests not only externally but also in the soul and heart of the believers. The word Nirah, derived from the root nazar, signifies looking toward God; however, this gaze transcends sensory and physical perception. In mystical exegeses, this gaze is interpreted as the spiritual and cognitive vision that believers attain in Paradise. This vision, like a blossoming flower in the garden of knowledge, leads humans to an exalted experience of divine nearness.
This gaze, like a breeze that caresses the branches of heavenly trees, exhilarates the believers soul and liberates it from material constraints. Mystical commentaries, such as Kashshaf and Al-Mizan, emphasize that this vision is an experience beyond sensory perception, occurring in the domain of the heart and spirit.
In Surah Al-'Imran, verse 13 portrays the concept of nazar within a context of knowledge and insight:
There has already been for you a sign in the two groups that met [in battle]. One group fought in the cause of Allah, and the other was disbelievers who saw them with the eye of the flesh as double their number. And Allah supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed, in that is a lesson for those of vision.
The term Ray al-Ayn in this verse refers to sensory perception, while the phrase Ul al-Abr designates those who comprehend the divine signs and lessons with the eye of the heart and reason. This verse refers to the Battle of Badr, where the disbelievers, out of fear or illusion, perceived the believers as twice their number, while the believers, endowed with divine insight, perceived the reality correctly. This distinction, like the difference between the light of a candle and the brilliance of the sun, exemplifies the superiority of inner vision over outward perception.
The Tafsir Namuneh emphasises that the inner vision, accompanied by reason and faith, guides one towards understanding divine realities. This vision is like a key unlocking the doors of knowledge, leading from the darkness of ignorance to the light of truth.
The concept of nazar in the Qur'an is applied at two distinct levels: the external, limited to sensory perception, and the internal, which reaches profound knowledge through reason and faith. In verse 13 of Surah Al-'Imran, Ray al-Ayn refers to the outer sensory view, confined by physical limitations, whereas Ul al-Abr indicates inner insight and deep cognition. This distinction, like the difference between the surface of water and the depth of the ocean, points to the profound depth of inner vision that, through reason and faith, guides humans toward truth.
The Tafsir Majma al-Bayan stresses that those endowed with insight, by employing intellect and faith, comprehend divine signs and thereby reach admonition and knowledge. This inner vision, like a ray of divine light, illuminates the believers heart and guides them toward perfection.
