of , may his sacred spirit be sanctified, Session (1903)
The cosmos, akin to an open book, encompasses the Divine signs, each of which, like a luminous lamp, guides seekers towards the path of truth. This treatise endeavours, through contemplation on selected verses of the Holy Quran, to elucidate the hidden dimensions of Divine knowledge employing an elevated language and a scientific structure suitable for specialised audiences and academic settings. The aim is to, by analysing the verses and narrations, clarify the influence of companionship, faith, doubt, and disbelief upon the existential realm of human beings. This examination, while preserving the authenticity and comprehensiveness of the original content, seeks to present the concepts attractively and profoundly through the utilisation of metaphors and literary allusions.
The cosmos, with astonishing order, places creatures beside one another in such a way that every companionship exerts a profound influence upon the other, as if the colour and scent of ones companion imprints upon the soul and psyche of the human being. This section focuses on a verse from the Holy Quran, investigating the effect of association with inferior creatures on human rationality.
مَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ مِنْ بَحِيرَةٍ، وَلاَ سَائِبَةٍ، وَلاَ وَصِيلَةٍ، وَلاَ حَامٍ، وَلَكِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ، وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ
God has not ordained any Barah, nor Sibah, nor Walah, nor m. But those who disbelieve fabricate falsehood against God, and most of them do not reason.
(Surah Al-Midah, Verse 103)
This verse, in a magnificent expression, alludes to the impact of companionship with animals upon the diminution of human intellectual rank. Disbelievers, whose occupation was pastoralism, owing to their continual contact with animals, have descended from the lofty human rank and lost the capacity to comprehend complex matters. This decline is not due to the fault of the animal but arises from the effect of persistent association with a being positioned beneath the human rank.
Certain Divine prophets, for a brief period in their lives, engaged in pastoralismnot as a permanent profession but as a Divine exercise to learn gentleness and forbearance with people. This experience, like a mirror, taught them that just as they treat animals with mildness, so too must they be gentle and kind with humans.
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظّآ غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لاَنْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِکَ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الاَْمْرِ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
By the mercy of God, you became gentle towards them; and if you had been harsh and hard-hearted, surely they would have dispersed from around you. So pardon them, ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, rely upon God. Indeed, God loves those who rely upon Him.
(Surah Al-Imrn, Verse 159)
This verse clearly demonstrates that God induced the prophets to pastoralism to avoid severity and harshness towards people and to guide them gently towards truth.
Companionship is like a colour that settles upon the canvas of the human soul. Continuous contact with animals, although in cases such as the prophets experience may lead to gentleness, if turned into a permanent profession, weakens reason and lowers thought. This section emphasises the importance of selecting companions carefully, indicating that humans must exercise prudence in choosing their associates to preserve their rational rank.
Connection with the previous section: If inappropriate companionship diminishes human rational rank, false faith also distances one from Divine truth. This section examines the concept of deification and its distinction from true faith.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ. فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ. وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انْقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ. خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالاَْخِرَةَ. ذَلِکَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ
Among the people is he who worships God superficially. If good befalls him, he is reassured by it; but if a trial afflicts him, he turns on his face. He has lost both this world and the Hereafter. That is the manifest loss.
(Surah Al-ajj, Verse 11)
This verse speaks of those whose faith resembles a plastic flowerbeautiful but lifeless. They worship God only in appearance and abandon their faith at the slightest affliction or hardship. Such faith neither has roots in reality nor the endurance to withstand Divine trials.
Faith is a bridge connecting humans to Divine truth. Yet, faith that exists only in thought and imagination not only fails to deliver one to the destination but also plunges one into the abyss of loss. This section stresses the importance of true faith and the avoidance of deification.
Connection with the previous section: If false faith distances a person from truth, doubt acts as a poison that contaminates the soul. This section examines the impact of doubt on human psychology and spiritual life.
لاَ يَزَالُ بُنْيَانُهُمُ الَّذِي بَنَوْا رِيبَةً فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَقَطَّعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
The structure they have builtdoubt in their heartscontinues until their hearts are torn apart. And God is Knowing, Wise.
(Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 110)
This verse refers to doubt that, like a demon, afflicts the human heart and does not release it until death. This doubt results from the person's prior actions, depriving them of certainty in truth.
وَلَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ يُوسُفُ مِنْ قَبْلُ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ، فَمَا زِلْتُمْ فِي شَكٍّ مِمَّا جَاءَكُمْ بِهِ حَتَّى إِذَا هَلَکَ، قُلْتُمْ لَنْ يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ رَسُولا، كَذَلِکَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ مُرْتَابٌ
Joseph came to you previously with clear proofs, yet you remained in doubt about what he brought to you until he died. You said, God will never raise up a messenger after him. Thus, God leads astray whoever is wasteful and doubtful.
(Surah Ghfir, Verse 34)
Extravagance is not limited to improper use of wealth but also includes wasting ones lifespan. A person who spends their life in doubt and hesitation is as though they have squandered their vital capital.
Doubt is like darkness that extinguishes the light of faith in the human heart. This section demonstrated that doubt not only distances a person from the truth but also leads to the squandering of life and plunges the individual into unrest and discord.
Connection with the previous section: If doubt deprives a person of faith, disbelief plunges them into a deeper abyss. This section investigates the consequences of disbelief and its impact on human life.
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَکَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمُ الْمَثُلاَتُ وَإِنَّ رَبَّکَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ وَإِنَّ رَبَّکَ لَشَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
They hasten you with evil before good, though examples have passed before them. And indeed your Lord is Forgiving to the people despite their wrongdoing, and indeed your Lord is Severe in penalty.
(Surah Ar-Rad, Verse 6)
Disbelievers, due to doubt and hesitation, not only are deprived of faith but hastily and anxiously seek Divine punishment, unaware that God, despite the oppression of people, is merciful and forgiving.
إِنَّ شَرَّ الدَّوَابِّ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Indeed, the worst of creatures in the sight of God are those who disbelieve, and they will not believe.
(Surah Al-Anfl, Verse 55)
This verse considers disbelievers the worst of creatures because their disbelief is rooted in thought and belief, leading to covenant-breaking and impiety.
Disbelief, like a chain, deprives a person of Divine truth and plunges them into the darkness of ignorance and misguidance. This section emphasises the necessity of true faith and the avoidance of disbelief.
This treatise, through contemplation on the verses of the Holy Quran, examined the influence of companionship, faith, doubt, and disbelief upon the spiritual and intellectual life of humans. Improper companionship weakens reason; illusory faith distances a person from truth; doubt leads to the squandering of life; and disbelief imprisons the individual in the chains of ignorance. This examination demonstrated that to attain human perfection, one must carefully choose companions, possess true faith, avoid doubt and hesitation, and keep away from disbelief.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
