of Nokounam, Session (1917)
The exegesis of the verses of the Holy Quran constitutes a gateway to profound understanding of the Divine Truth and human guidance. This treatise, through contemplation of selected verses from the Holy Quran, endeavours to elucidate their profound meanings and sublime teachings in a scientific and systematic framework tailored for an erudite audience. The central themes of this work revolve around the attributes of the divinely guided servants, the value of truthfulness, people-centric propagation of religion, and the noble ethos of guardianship. Each section, linked semantically to its predecessor, expounds one or more verses and concludes by inviting the reader to reflect on the Divine themes.
This section, through reflection on a verse from Surah Az-Zumar, delineates the attributes of the special servants of God who shun false deities and, upon hearing the Word of Truth, proceed towards guidance.
And those who avoid the Taghut, lest they worship it, and turn unto Allahunto them belongs glad tidings. So give glad tidings to My servants who listen to the Word and follow the best thereof. Those are the ones whom Allah has guided, and those are the possessors of intellect.
(Az-Zumar: 17-18)
This verse, like a radiant lamp, illumines the path of guidance and speaks of the characteristics of the chosen servants of God. Primarily, these servants, by distancing themselves from Taghut, cleanse their hearts of the contamination of polytheism and turn towards the Lord. Their eminent feature is the faculty of hearingthe capacity to listen to the Word of Truth, even if it emanates from the mouth of a young child. They not only possess attentive ears but, through reasoning, select the best word and act accordingly. This action is not borne out of blind imitation but rather from contemplation and intellect.
Key Point: Divine guidance is contingent upon conscious listening and adherence to the best word, accompanied by intellectual deliberation rather than mere imitation.
Conversely, those incapable of heeding the truth fall prey to arrogance and resemble those whose ears are heavy and deaf to the truth. The Holy Quran states:
And when Our verses are recited to him, he turns away arrogantly as if he had not heard them, as if there was a deafness in his ears. So give him tidings of a painful punishment.
(Luqman: 7)
Arrogance constitutes an impediment that prevents a person from hearing the truth and directs them towards painful punishment. This verse serves as a warning to those who, by their deafness, bar themselves from the path of guidance.
The divinely guided servants are those who, by shunning Taghut and attentively hearing the Word of Truth, traverse the path of reasoning and righteous deeds. This attribute is not only a sign of Divine guidance but elevates them to the station of the eminent intellects. Conversely, arrogance and deafness to the truth lead man to misguidance and punishment.
Continuing the contemplation of the attributes of God's servants, this section addresses the value of truthfulness and the status of the pious, establishing a semantic link with the preceding verses.
And he who brought the truth and confirmed itthose are the righteous. For them is whatever they desire with their Lord. That is the recompense of the doers of good.
(Az-Zumar: 33-34)
Truthfulness is like a precious gem that elevates man to the station of piety and benevolence. This verse speaks of two groups: those who bring the truth, such as the Prophets and the Divine saints, and those who confirm it, namely the believers. Both groups, by adherence to truthfulness, belong to the ranks of the pious. Truthfulness, whether through independent reasoning or imitation, paves the way to salvation. They are benefactors who have attained proximity to God, and whatever they desire is granted by their Lord.
Key Point: Truthfulness is a reality superior to knowledge and worship, leading man to benevolence and Divine proximity.
Truthfulness is a core virtue distinguishing man from other virtues. It not only guides the servants towards piety and benevolence but elevates them to a status where their desires are fulfilled by the Lord. This section emphasises the significance of truthfulness as the foundation of salvation.
The link of this section to previous ones lies in the emphasis on Divine guidance, centred on humanity and their intrinsic value in the propagation of religion.
Indeed, you do not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills, and He is most knowing of the guided.
(Al-Qasas: 56)
This verse reflects the reality of Divine guidance. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), out of love for human guidanceparticularly of chiefs and influential tribal leadersendeavoured to facilitate the path for the guidance of the general populace through their faith. However, the Quran emphasises that guidance is solely in the hands of God, who, by His wisdom, selects the guided. This verse underscores the intrinsic value of humans; for the believer is superior to the Kabah, as the Kabah is but a means to their guidance.
Key Point: In religious propagation, the focus is on humans, not merely on rituals, because religion serves as a ladder for the felicity and well-being of humankind.
The Prophetic humility towards people is evident in the following verse:
Say: I am but a man like you, to whom it has been revealed that your God is one God. So take a straight course towards Him and seek His forgiveness. Woe to the polytheists, those who do not give zakat and they disbelieve in the Hereafter.
(Fussilat: 6-7)
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him),