of Nekounam, May His Sacred Spirit Be Blessed Session (1904)
The universe, like an open book, contains the divine verses which, each like a radiant torch, illuminate the path of truth for its seekers. This treatise, through reflection on the verses of the Holy Quran, delves into the profound concepts of disbelief (kufr), polytheism (shirk), faith (iman), and their effects upon the existential realm of human beings. The aim is to elucidate divine knowledge in an exalted language and a systematic structure for a specialised audience and academic environments. This examination, employing metaphors and literary allusions, endeavours to present the concepts in an engaging and profound manner, without deviating from the scientific and scholarly framework.
Disbelief and polytheism, like two dark shadows, fall upon the heart and soul of man, depriving him of the light of truth. This section, focusing on the Quranic verses, investigates the differences between hidden disbelief and apparent polytheism and their influence on human deeds.
مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَنْ يَعْمُرُوا مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ شَاهِدِينَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ بِالْكُفْرِ أُولَئِکَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ وَفِي النَّارِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ
(Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 17)
It is not befitting for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allah, bearing witness against themselves in their disbelief. These are the ones whose deeds have been nullified, and they shall abide eternally in the Fire.
This verse, with clear expression, speaks of a hidden disbelief that sometimes takes root in the heart of man, even if he outwardly engages in acts of worship such as night prayer. Hidden disbelief is like an imaginary deity formed in the mind of man, which is incompatible with divine truth. God does not accept the good deeds of the polytheists due to the lack of sincere intention and true knowledge (ihsan fali), although these deeds may appear valuable outwardly.
وَقَالَ إِنَّمَا اتَّخَذْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْثَانًا مَوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًا وَمَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ نَاصِرِينَ
(Surah Al-Ankabut, Verse 25)
Ibrahim said: You have taken, instead of Allah, idols to show affection among yourselves in the worldly life. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, some of you will disbelieve in others and curse one another, and your abode shall be the Fire, and you will have no helpers.
This verse speaks of a polytheism rooted in worldly intimacy and friendship. The polytheists do not worship idols out of reason and awareness but due to worldly interests and social ties. This polytheism, unlike monotheism accompanied by knowledge, stems from ignorance and leads to denial and cursing among them on the Day of Judgment.
Disbelief and polytheism, like two traps, divert man from the path of truth. Hidden disbelief corrupts deeds, and human polytheism draws man toward false deities. This section emphasises the importance of knowledge and sincere intention in actions and demonstrates that without true faith, even the best deeds are worthless.
Connection with the preceding section: If disbelief and polytheism deprive man of truth, the erroneous beliefs of the disbelievers plunge them into the darkness of ignorance. This section examines the beliefs of the disbelievers and the reasons for their denial of truth.
مَنْ كَانَ يَظُنُّ أَنْ لَنْ يَنْصُرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالاَْخِرَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ بِسَبَبٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، ثُمَّ لِيَقْطَعْ، فَلْيَنْظُرْ هَلْ يُذْهِبَنَّ كَيْدُهُ مَا يَغِيظُ
(Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 15)
Whoever thinks that Allah will not aid him in this world or the Hereafter, let him stretch a rope to the sky, then cut it off, and let him see if his stratagem will remove what enrages him.
This verse, in a metaphorical manner, challenges the disbelievers that if they believe in other gods, they should seek aid from them to reveal the futility of these deities. The disbelievers, instead of reasoning, turn to idol worship due to worldly interests and habits.
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالاَْرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ فَأَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ
(Surah Al-Ankabut, Verse 61)
And if you ask them who created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon, they will surely say, "Allah." So how are they deluded?
Some disbelievers acknowledged God's creation but denied His providence and employed idols as intermediaries for nearness to Him. This erroneous belief stems from ignorance and deprives them of true knowledge.
The erroneous beliefs of the disbelievers, like chains, keep them in ignorance. This section demonstrated that superficial acceptance of God without true knowledge and faith does not guide man towards truth.
Connection with the previous section: If erroneous beliefs lead disbelievers away from truth, mockery and denial of the prophets plunge them into deeper misguidance. This section examines the behaviour of the disbelievers towards the prophets and the reasons behind it.
وَإِذَا رَأَوْکَ إِنْ يَتَّخِذُونَکَ إِلاَّ هُزُوًا، أَهَذَا الَّذِي بَعَثَ اللَّهُ رَسُولا
(Surah Al-Furqan, Verse 41)
And when they see you, they take you only in mockery, saying: "Is this the one whom Allah has sent as a messenger?"
The disbelievers, due to arrogance and ignorance, mocked the prophets and ridiculed their mission. This behaviour stems from ignorance and pride and prevents them from accepting the truth.
وَقَالُوا مَالِ هَذَا الرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ الطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشِي فِي الاَْسْوَاقِ لَوْلاَ أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَکٌ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُ نَذِيرًا
(Surah Al-Furqan, Verse 7)
They said: "What sort of messenger is this who eats food and walks in the markets? Why has no angel been sent down to him to be a warner along with him?"
The disbelievers, due to erroneous perceptions, expected the prophets to be supernatural beings, whereas the prophets are humans distinguished by divine revelation. These expectations arise from their ignorance and arrogance.
Mockery and denial of the prophets deprive man of divine guidance. This section showed that the disbelievers, due to ignorance and pride, disregard the truth of the mission and immerse themselves in misguidance.
Connection with the previous section: If denial of the prophets keeps disbelievers in error, true faith guides man towards light. This section examines the beauty of faith and the ugliness of disbelief.
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ فِيكُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ يُطِيعُكُمْ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الاَْمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ، وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيْكُمُ الاِْيمَانَ، وَزَيَّنَهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ، وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْيَانَ، أُولَئِکَ هُمُ الرَّاشِدُونَ
(Surah Al-Hujurat, Verse 7)
And know that among you is the Messenger of Allah. If he were to obey you in much of the matter, you would be in difficulty, but Allah has endeared to you faith and has made it pleasing in your hearts and has made hateful to you disbelief, defiance, and disobedience. Those are the rightly guided.
This verse regards faith as an ornament beautifying the hearts of believers and making disbelief and sin hateful in their sight. True faith keeps man away from impurities and guides him towards perfection.
Faith, like a precious jewel, illuminates the human heart and keeps him away from disbelief and sin. This section emphasises the importance of true faith and its effect on the spiritual life of man.
This treatise, through reflection on the verses of the Holy Quran, examined the concepts of disbelief, polytheism, and faith. Disbelief and polytheism deprive man of truth, whereas faith illuminates the heart and guides the soul towards perfection. This study demonstrated that knowledge and sincere intention are the keys to the acceptance of deeds by Allah, and man must avoid disbelief and polytheism to attain the light of faith.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
