of Nekounam, , Session (1909)
The present book constitutes profound and systematic reflections on Quranic knowledge, which, through a deep contemplation of the Divine verses, endeavours to elucidate their exalted concepts. This work, utilising the verses of the Holy Quran and traditions, explores the spiritual, ethical, and social dimensions of Divine teachings. The structure of this writing is designed such that, while preserving the originality of the content, it presents concepts in a coherent and clear manner within a scientific and academic framework suitable for erudite audiences. Each section of this book is devoted to the examination of a verse or a collection of verses and, through precise analyses and semantic connections, enriches the intellectual and epistemological depth of the reader. The aim of this work is not merely to clarify the apparent meanings of the verses but to uncover the deeper layers and hidden secrets within the Divine discourse, which are conveyed to the reader through refined allegories and metaphors.
This section contemplates the concept of the disavowal by the Divine saints of the reprehensible deeds of others. This concept is rooted in the verses of the Holy Quran and reflects the exalted status of the saints of God in their encounter with disbelievers and the misguided.
وَإِنْ كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُلْ لِي عَمَلِي وَلَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ أَنْتُمْ بَرِيئُونَ مِمَّا أَعْمَلُ وَأَنَا بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
(Surah Yunus, Verse 41)
Translation: And if they deny you, say: My deed is for me, and your deed is for you. You are free from what I do, and I am free from what you do.
This verse, like a polished mirror, reflects the separation of the Prophets (peace be upon him) actions from those of the disbelievers. In this passage, the disavowal of the Divine saints does not arise from an initial rejection, but rather as a response to the denial and disavowal of the disbelievers themselves. This response, like a gentle breeze, prevents despair and hopelessness within the hearts of the believers. The saints of God, with hearts full of mercy, disavow the deeds of the disbelievers only after observing the inner reality of their wrongful acts, not their essence. This disavowal is like a line drawn in the sand, clarifying the boundary between truth and falsehood.
The distinction between this verse and Surah Al-Kafirun lies in that Surah Al-Kafirun emphasises separation in belief, whereas this verse focuses on separation in deed. This differentiation, like two branches of a single tree, demonstrates the depth and breadth of Quranic knowledge.
The disavowal of the Divine saints is an expression of Divine wisdom and mercy that, in response to denial and ingratitude by disbelievers, leads not to the repudiation of the person but to the separation from their reprehensible deeds. This concept invites reflection on individual responsibility and the preservation of doctrinal and practical boundaries along the path of truth.
The connection of this section to the preceding one lies in emphasising the separation of believers from the misguided. Here, the intellectual and spiritual limitations of the Arabs in comprehending the Divine word are discussed.
وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَقَالُوا لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ أَأَعْجَمِيٌّ وَعَرَبِيٌّ قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءٌ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى أُولَئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِنْ مَكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ
(Surah Fussilat, Verse 44)
Translation: And if We had made it a non-Arabic Qur'an, they would have said, Why are its verses not explained in detail? Is it a foreign [recitation] and an Arab [messenger]? Say, It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure. But those who do not believe - in their ears is deafness, and it is upon them blindness. Those are being called from a distant place.
This verse, like a lamp in darkness, clarifies the intellectual limitations of the Arabs in the face of the Divine word. Had the Holy Quran been revealed in a non-Arabic tongue, the Arabs would have rejected it due to linguistic estrangement and lack of intellectual acuity. Their hearts, like dry soil, are deprived of hearing the truth, and their ears are incapable of understanding the Divine discourse. This difficulty is like a distance stretched between the peaks of truth and the plains of ignorance.
This section clearly demonstrated that Divine guidance is contingent upon spiritual and intellectual preparedness. The Holy Quran, like a healing medicine, is guidance and remedy for the believers, but for those whose ears are heavy to hearing the truth, it yields nothing but blindness and estrangement from the truth.
Following the previous section, this part addresses the impact of corrupt and misleading speech on society and examines the role of poets in fomenting discord.
هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَى مَنْ تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيَاطِينُ تَنَزَّلُ عَلَى كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ يُلْقُونَ السَّمْعَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ كَاذِبُونَ وَالشُّعَرَاءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّهُمْ فِي كُلِّ وَادٍ يَهِيمُونَ وَأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ
(Surah Ash-Shuara, Verses 221-225)
Translation: Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend? They descend upon every lying, sinful one who listens to them and most of them are liars. And the poets - the deviators follow them. Do you not see that they wander in every valley and say what they do not do?
These verses, like a blazing fire revealing the turmoil, speak of those whose corrupt speech ignites discord and strife within society. Some men and women in the era of the Prophet (peace be upon him), by eavesdropping and spreading falsehoods, fomented divisions among people. These poets were not literary poets but individuals whose words, like poisonous winds, scattered misguidance in the hearts of the nave.
The subsequent verses speak of the Divine saints who, in the face of these tribulations, stand firm through faith and righteous deeds:
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَانْتَصَرُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا وَسَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنْقَلَبٍ يَنْقَلِبُونَ
(Surah Ash-Shuara, Verse 227)
Translation: Except those who believe and do righteous deeds and remember Allah often and defend themselves after they were wronged. And the wrongdoers will soon know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.
This verse, like a steadfast shield, speaks of the Divine saints who, through faith and righteous deeds, resist oppression and tribulation. This steadfastness manifests not only in Karbala but in every time and place where the oppression of the people of truth is manifest.
This section clearly demonstrated that corrupt speech is like a poison that leads society into misguidance. In contrast, the Divine saints, through faith and righteous deeds, are like blazing torches illuminating the path of guidance.
Continuing the examination of the obstacles to guidance, this section addresses a Divine sign that will appear in the end times to awaken humanity.
وَإِذَا وَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَخْرَجْنَا لَهُمْ دَابَّةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ تُكَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا لَا يُوقِنُونَ
(Surah An-Naml, Verse 82)
Translation: And when the word befalls them, We will bring forth for them a creature from the earth speaking to them that the people were, of Our verses, not certain [in faith].
This verse, like a grand warning, speaks of the emergence of a creature that will appear at a time when humans reject the message of the prophets. This creature, like one who inspires the dead, speaks to those who in their lifetime were deprived of understanding the truth. This sign is like a mirror that reveals humanitys incapacity before Divine signs.
The emergence of the speaking creature is a warning to those who have been heedless of Divine signs. This section highlights the importance of certainty in Divine verses and acceptance of guidance.
This section examines the relationship between Iblis and mankind and traces the roots of misguidance to Ibliss disobedience.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنَاكُمْ ثُمَّ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ لَمْ يَكُنْ مِنَ السَّاجِدِينَ
(Surah Al-A'raf, Verse 11)
Translation: And certainly We created you, then fashioned you, then said to the angels, Prostrate to Adam, so they prostrated, except Iblis; he was not of those who prostrated.
