The concepts of honour and wilayah, as two radiant jewels within the constellation of the Quranic knowledge, manifest an unparalleled reflection of the relationship between mankind and the Creator and his position within the cosmic order. These two notions, elaborated with unique subtlety and profundity in divine verses, not only explicate the existential bond between man and God but also serve as guidance for living upon the path of truth and achieving spiritual perfection. In this treatise, through contemplation upon the Holy Quranic verses and meticulous examination of the meanings of honour and wilayah, an endeavour has been made to elucidate these concepts within a systematic framework and with clear, dignified language, for seekers of divine knowledge. This work, drawing upon the Quranic verses and traditions, explores the theological, philosophical, and ethical dimensions of these two notions and, through semantic connections, paves the way for a deeper comprehension of the revealed Word.
Honour, signifying authority, invulnerability, and grandeur, is an attribute that, in the Holy Quran, primarily pertains to the Divine Essence, and in other ranks, is conditionally ascribed to select servants and rare entities. This concept, like a shining star in the sky of Quranic knowledge, possesses various categories, each acquiring a specific meaning within the context of the verses: intrinsic honour, perfect honour, illusory honour, and false honour.
Key Point: Honour in the Holy Quran is divided into four categories: intrinsic honour (exclusive to God), perfect honour (pertaining to the Messenger and select believers), illusory honour (based on imagined capability), and false honour (rooted in disbelief and misguidance, which itself is subdivided into noble and ignoble).
Intrinsic honour, like an unattainable summit, belongs solely to the Divine Essence and is free from any conditions or limitations. This honour is the origin of all power and grandeur in the realm of existence.
وَاللَّهُ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
(Surah Al-Munafiqun, Ayah 8)
And honour belongs to Allah and His Messenger and to the believers; but the hypocrites do not know.
This verse distinguishes honour at three levels: the intrinsic honour of God, the servile honour of the Messenger of God, and the perfect honour of select believers. Intrinsic honour, like an unsetting sun, is absolute and independent of any condition, whereas the honour of the Messenger and believers, as rays from that sun, depend upon faith and righteous deeds.
The honour of the believers, explicitly mentioned in the verse from Surah Al-Munafiqun, is contingent upon complete faith in God and His Messenger. This condition serves as a key to unlocking the doors of perfection, separating true believers from hypocrites. Believers whose faith in God and the Messenger is incomplete are deprived of this honour.
Key Point: The honour of believers in the Holy Quran is conditional upon faith and righteous action; only those believers possessing complete faith in God and His Messenger partake in this honour.
Hypocrisy, like a tattered and incoherent cloth, obstructs access to true honour. Hypocrites, due to doubt and hesitation in faith, are deprived of understanding the reality of honour.
وَلَٰكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
(Surah Al-Munafiqun, Ayah 8)
But the hypocrites do not know.
This verse excludes hypocrites from the sphere of divine honour due to the absence of truth in their faith. Hypocrisy, like a dark shadow, prevents the light of honour from illuminating the human heart.
False honour, akin to a deceptive mirage, is rooted in disbelief and arrogance and results in hostility and separation from the truth.
بَلِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي عِزَّةٍ وَشِقَاقٍ
(Surah Sad, Ayah 2)
Rather, those who disbelieve are in pride and schism.
This verse associates false honour with discord and demonstrates that groups such as the Kharijites, due to pursuing honour based on disbelief, become trapped in the path of separation from the truth. This honour, like a double-edged sword, leads not to perfection but to corruption and violence.
Noble false honour, although superficially benevolent, ultimately leads to misguidance due to the absence of truth.
وَاتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ آلِهَةً لِيَكُونُوا لَهُمْ عِزًّا
(Surah Maryam, Ayah 81)
And they took gods besides Allah to be for them honour.
Idolaters, intending to gain honour, turn to false deities. This honour, although appearing noble, is false due to deviation from truth and remains distant from the reality of honour.
Illusory honour, like a fleeting dream, is illusion of power, but through faith and righteous deeds, it can be transformed into perfect honour.
قَالُوا بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَالِبُونَ
(Surah Ash-Shuara, Ayah 44)
They said, By the honour of Pharaoh, indeed we are the predominant.
The magicians of Pharaoh, who initially relied on their illusory honour and that of Pharaoh, attained perfect honour through faith in Moses (peace be upon him). This transformation, like a flower emerging from the soil, indicates the dynamism of honour within the context of faith.
The Divine friends, like guiding stars, possess perfect honour by virtue of direct instruction from the Lord.
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ
(Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 34)
And when We said to the angels, Prostrate to Adam.
Iblis, acknowledging Gods intrinsic honour, refused to prostrate to Adam and due to arrogance was deprived of the truth of honour. The Divine friends, such as the Prophets and Imams, study in the School of the Lord and are superior to their teachers, yet outwardly they study to guide the creation.
The instruction of the Divine friends, like a stream from the fountain of revelation, comes directly from the Lord, not through human words or phrases.
اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يُعَلِّمْكُمُ اللَّهُ
(Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 282)
Fear Allah; Allah teaches you.
Prayers such as O Allah, make me recognise Yourself and O Allah, guide me from Yourself serve as two wings for flight towards the truth, signifying direct divine guidance for the beloved.
The Divine friends, like gardeners appearing in the garden for companionship with creation, accompany the people but are in truth superior to their teachers. This outward appearance is not out of hypocrisy but for guidance and companionship. An example is the conduct of the Imams in teaching ablution to others, performed for education and companionship with the people.
The Holy Quran, even when referring to idols, speaks with politeness and order as a respectful host would.
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ اللَّاتَ وَالْعُزَّىٰ * وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ
(Surah An-Najm, Ayahs 19-20)
Have you seen Al-Lat and Al-Uzz, and Mant, the third, the other?
Al-Lat is introduced as a symbol of the power of the disbelievers, and Al-Uzz as a symbol of false honour, whereas Mant, due to its lesser status, is called the third, the other. This Quranic politeness acts like a mirror, showing respect for others beliefs even in their rejection.
Honour, like a rare jewel, is also ascribed to inanimate objects such as precious stones. However, if this honour falls into the hands of non-believers, it becomes like a flower in a swamp, turning into humiliation.
Honour in the Holy Quran flows like a running river through various ranks: from the intrinsic honour of God, which is the source of all grandeur, to the perfect honour of believers, dependent on faith and righteous deeds. Illusory and false honours, like deceptive mirages, are distant from the truth and lead to misguidance. The Divine friends, instructed directly by the Lord, guide creation along this path. The Holy Quran, with politeness and order, even in reference to idols, paves the way for understanding the truth.
Wilayah, like a breeze that sometimes blows
