of Nokounam, May His Sacred Spirit Rest in Peace, Session (1908)
The Holy Qur'an, like a luminous lamp, illuminates the path of guidance towards the truth, and each of its verses, like a gem, instils profound knowledge in the hearts of the aware. This treatise, through an exploration of the radiant verses, examines the concepts of extravagance, gradual punishment (istidraj), delay of torment, Divine stratagem, betrayal of God, the most unfortunate among the righteous, the misjudgers of the wicked-doers, the danger of wolves in sheeps clothing, deprived religiosity, and the injustice of gluttony. This examination is composed in an elevated, scholarly style and systematic structure, intended for specialised audiences in an academic setting, employing literary allegories to depict the depths of meanings without departing from scientific rigor.
إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُوراً
"Indeed, the squanderers were brothers of the devils, and the devil was ungrateful to his Lord."
(Surah Al-Isra, Verse 27)
This verse designates the extravagant as brothers of Satan, not his offspring, emphasising human free will. Extravagance leads man to disbelief and renders him indebted to Divine blessings.
Moderation, like a firm rope, safeguards man from excess and deficiency. God apportions provision with proportion and invites mankind to observe moderation.
Connection to the preceding part: If extravagance leads man to disbelief, istidraj strikes him from his point of strength. This part examines istidraj and Divine stratagem.
وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآَيَاتِنَا سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
"And those who deny Our verses - We will progressively lead them [to punishment] from where they do not know."
(Surah Al-A'raf, Verse 182)
Istidraj is a punishment that enters from the point of strength. God ensnares the deniers from where they remain unaware.
Connection to the preceding part: If istidraj attacks from strength, delay of torment has a deeper quality. This part examines the delay of torment.
وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ الشَّرَّ اسْتِعْجَالَهُمْ بِالْخَيْرِ لَقُضِيَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ فَنَذَرُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءَنَا فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
"And if Allah were to hasten for the people the evil [they invoke] as they hasten for the good, their term would have been concluded. But We leave those who do not expect the meeting with Us, in their transgression, wandering blindly."
(Surah Yunus, Verse 11)
God does not hasten punishment but transforms it into a deeper quality. This delay is for those who have no hope for meeting God.
Connection to the preceding part: If delay of torment grants respite, Divine stratagem intervenes with benevolence. This part investigates Divine stratagem.
وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ
"And when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you, they were plotting, and Allah too was planning; and Allah is the best of planners."
(Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 30)
Divine stratagem is benevolent and subtle. Unlike human scheming, it is constructive in nature.
Connection to the preceding part: If Divine stratagem is benevolent, betrayal of God results in harm to people. This part examines betrayal of God.
وَإِنْ يُرِيدُوا خِيَانَتَكَ فَقَدْ خَانُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَأَمْكَنَ مِنْهُمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
"And if they intend to betray you - then they had already betrayed Allah before, and He empowered their hands over them. And Allah is Knowing and Wise."
(Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 71)
Betrayal of God is the precursor to betrayal of people. One who is treacherous to God cannot be good to mankind.
Connection to the preceding part: If betrayal of God causes loss, the most unfortunate among the righteous are misguided. This part examines the most unfortunate among the righteous.
قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالاَْخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالا الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعاً
"Say, 'Shall we inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds? Those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well in work?'"
(Surah Al-Kahf, Verses 103-104)
The most unfortunate among the righteous are those whose deeds are lost despite their conviction of doing good.
Connection to the preceding part: If the most unfortunate among the righteous are misguided, the misjudgers of the wicked consider themselves possessors of the unseen. This part examines this group.
أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ بِآَيَاتِنَا وَقَالَ لاَُوتَيَنَّ مَالا وَوَلَدآ أَطَّلَعَ الْغَيْبَ أَمِ اتَّخَذَ عِنْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ عَهْدآ
"Have you seen the one who disbelieved in Our verses and said, 'I will surely be given wealth and children [in abundance]? Has he looked into the unseen or taken from the Most Merciful a pledge?'"
(Surah Maryam, Verses 77-78)
The misjudgers of the wicked consider themselves possessors of the unseen without proof, and their punishment intensifies.
Connection to the preceding part: If the misjudgers are misguided, wolves disguised as believers are more dangerous. This part examines this group.
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا حَرَمآ آَمِنآ وَيُتَخَطَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِمْ أَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ يَكْفُرُونَ
"Do they not see that We have made a secure sanctuary, while people are being snatched away all around them? Then do they believe in falsehood and deny the favour of Allah?"
(Surah Al-Ankabut, Verse 67)
False faith is more perilous than disbelief. Wolves in sheeps clothing, with corrupt intent, harm the faithful.
