Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Surah Ar-Ra’ad, Chapter 13

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful

Verses 1 – 7

المرۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِۗ وَالَّذِي أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ الْحَقُّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ {1}

1. Alif, Lam, Mim.1 These are couplets of the text revealed to you from your Providence with the truth although most do not believe.

اللَّهُ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَاۖ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِۖ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَۖ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّىۚ يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ {2}

2. God is He, Who exalted the Heavens without (apparent) pillars, then He diverted Himself to energize them, and set the sun and the moon in motion2 , Aaraf and controlled everything under direct care for a fixed period and He clearly describes His manifestations so you may convince yourself for meeting your Providence being answerable for your deeds.

وَهُوَ الَّذِي مَدَّ الْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنْهَارًاۖ وَمِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ جَعَلَ فِيهَا زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِۖ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ {3}

3. It is He Who has spread earth and made roads and rivers in it and every kind of fruit. He has grown in pairs, night following day, and verily in these there are signs for those who contemplate.

وَفِي الْأَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُتَجَاوِرَاتٌ وَجَنَّاتٌ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ يُسْقَىٰ بِمَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِي الْأُكُلِۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ {4}

4. And on Earth there are plots of various kinds and gardens of grapes and fields and dates, with hanging bunches and without, drinking water from one source only and We give excellence to one over the other in matter of eating. Indeed, there are signs for those who have reason.

وَإِنْ تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ أَإِذَا كُنَّا تُرَابًا أَإِنَّا لَفِي خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍۗ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ الْأَغْلَالُ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ {5}

5. And if you are surprised, their statements are more surprising, asking that after becoming dust, shall we be enlivened anew? Those are the people who have denied existence of their Providence and those are the people, along whose necks shall be chains of fire. They are of hell, wherein shall they ever abide.

وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمُ الْمَثُلَاتُۗ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ {6}

6. They are hurrying up with sins by denying Divine existence before doing virtue of embracing faith, although they have got pervious examples before them, and verily your Providence forgives the sinners, on penance, and verily He is mighty at punishment of the sinful.

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِۗ إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُنْذِرٌۖ وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ {7}

7. And the infidels say, “Why does not a miracle come to him from his Providence?” Say, you are only a warner and for every generation there is a guide.

Moral

1. With alternate night and day there is a difference in temperature causing winds, and rest for men during the night while they are working during the day to earn a livelihood.

2. Just as rain water has varying effects on varying soils, Divine guidance produces varying effects on varying hearts. Some hearts are paramagnetic and others are diamagnetic. They cannot understand why they are created on earth, for disbelieving in Eternity, they fall easily a prey to evil desires which ultimately ruin them.

Verses 8 – 18

اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ أُنْثَىٰ وَمَا تَغِيضُ الْأَرْحَامُ وَمَا تَزْدَادُۖ وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِنْدَهُ بِمِقْدَارٍ {8}

8. God knows what every pregnant woman carries (faithful or faithless) and whether the delivery will be earlier or later, and everything is with Him in destined proportions.

عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ {9}

9. Knower of mystery and open things, Mighty and Exalted (is He).

سَوَاءٌ مِنْكُمْ مَنْ أَسَرَّ الْقَوْلَ وَمَنْ جَهَرَ بِهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍ بِاللَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌ بِالنَّهَارِ {10}

10. Those amongst you who hid their expressions are equal to those who express only before Him and he, who hides himself in the nights and he who openly moves freely, are alike before Him.

لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْۗ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۚ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَالٍ {11}

11. For every one of them are fixed angels as detectives, in forefront and behind and guarding him. Verily God does not change the existing condition of a community until they themselves, by their (unfair) actions, get entitled to be changed. And when He decides punishing a tribe none can aver it, and there is none other, except God, to his support.

هُوَ الَّذِي يُرِيكُمُ الْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنْشِئُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ {12}

12. It is He, Who frightens men with lightning and draws them towards Himself therewith and raises dark clouds over the heads.

وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَاعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُمْ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي اللَّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ {13}

13. And the angel Rad on Clouds, with others, out of Divine awe, glorifies God and God sends down thunderbolts on whomsoever He chooses and they are litigating about His existence, and he is mighty at punishment.

لَهُ دَعْوَةُ الْحَقِّۖ وَالَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُمْ بِشَيْءٍ إِلَّا كَبَاسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى الْمَاءِ لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَالِغِهِۚ وَمَا دُعَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ {14}

14. And to Him, praying for help, is justifiable and those who are being appealed to, barring Him, cannot help except like one who stretches his hand to get water into his mouth, when it is not going to come into his mouth at all, and the prayers of the infidels are simply void.

وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلَالُهُمْ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ۩ {15}

15. And for God is prostration of beings in heaven and earth willy-nilly, and similarly, their shadows morning and evening.

قُلْ مَنْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ قُلِ اللَّهُۚ قُلْ أَفَاتَّخَذْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّاۚ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الْأَعْمَىٰ وَالْبَصِيرُ أَمْ هَلْ تَسْتَوِي الظُّلُمَاتُ وَالنُّورُۗ أَمْ جَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ خَلَقُوا كَخَلْقِهِ فَتَشَابَهَ الْخَلْقُ عَلَيْهِمْۚ قُلِ اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ {16}

16. Ask them who is the creator of the heavens and the earth? Say, “God.” Say, “Barring Him, are you adopting any other benefactor who can neither profit you nor injure you?” Ask whether the blind and the eyed are equal or (those in) darkness and light alike? Or have they adopted gods who have created anything like Him, which has created in them, a misgiving to worship them? Say, “God is the Creator of all, and no one else, and He is Mighty and Omnipotent.”

أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا فَاحْتَمَلَ السَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَابِيًاۚ وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِي النَّارِ ابْتِغَاءَ حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَاعٍ زَبَدٌ مِثْلُهُۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْحَقَّ وَالْبَاطِلَۚ فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَاءًۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنْفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الْأَرْضِۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ {17}

17. He sends rain from the clouds, in due proportion, which runs into streams carrying refuse, floating over it, setting the heavy particles at the bottom, like precious minerals, and ores which are roasted into fire, to extract valuable metal for ornaments, throwing away the suspended impurity, thus utilizing profitable products and clarifies God, thus exemplifying truth and falsity3 .

لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمُ الْحُسْنَىٰۚ وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَهُ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُمْ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُ مَعَهُ لَافْتَدَوْا بِهِۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ الْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ {18}

18. Those who obey God’s Commands by avoiding illicit have paradise for them and others who deny them even though they shall offer all what is on earth with extra of the same quantity towards compensation to their disobedience on Reckoning day, it shall not be accepted and they shall have an intense punishment and their destination is hell, which is an awful abode.

Moral

The Prophet acts as a warner. His legitimate successor is like him a Divine Light, and as our Prophet is last and gone, Imamah, his legal succession will continue until the Day of Judgment, and serves as food to the needy soul of man. Compare St. John 6:33 – 35: “For the bread of God (piety personified) is he (Jesus) which cometh down from heaven and giveth life to the world.” And Jesus said unto them, “I am the bread of life. He which cometh shall never hunger and he who believeth in me shall never thirst.” It is written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God.

Following of Divine Lights gives Divine kindling and enlivens “Soul” by true “Faith” against earth born knowledge, like water from clouds yields wholesome food against food missed with earthly water pathogenic in effect which made them avaricious of illegal pleasures involving gluttony.

The Prophet had realized his followers had not full faith in his being Heaven Born a genuine representative time, even at death bed. He was suspected and disobeyed several Divine Philosophy of the Text, by itself, was not enough to draw up a recipe for them, in black and white, to keep themselves, attached thereto which he frequently spoke in person about his Immaculate Family (Divine Lights) so as to be an argument against them, and a record for future generations, and on their refusal dismissed them from his spiritual Dispensary.

Verses 19 – 26

أَفَمَنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَىٰۚ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ {19}

19. What! He who knows verily this is revealed from your Providence with Truth, is alike one which is blind, only the sensible people understand it.

الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَنْقُضُونَ الْمِيثَاقَ {20}

20. Who fulfills Divine promise and do not breach the trust.

وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوءَ الْحِسَابِ {21}

21. And make peace with those with whom God has so commanded and fear their Providence and fear the Day of Judgment.

وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنْفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ {22}

22. And are patient to seek Divine Will and are constant on prayers, spending privately and openly in the name of God and exchange vice with virtue, for them is Eternity.

جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْۖ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ {23}

23. This is the highest grade of Paradise. Verily shall they enter and those of their forefathers women and children who have controlled their passions likewise, and angels will come from every gate wishing them peace.

سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ {24}

24. Saying “Peace be on you for your patience, what a happy home have you secured.”

وَالَّذِينَ يَنْقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِۙ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ {25}

25. And those who breached the covenant after having covenanted and litigated with those whom God has commanded to make peace and plot sedition against them on Earth. These are the people on whom is curse and for whom is hell.

اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُۚ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَاعٌ {26}

26. God expands provision on whom He likes and contracts likewise. Former are pleased with the transitory wealth of the world which is, as compared to eternity, trifling.

Moral

This paragraph clearly lays down the breach of covenant executed at the Valley of Khum, by the Prophet under Divine Commands, where everyone of over 60,000 admitted fealty to Ali, and which they breached due to continual, sinister, secret propaganda, carried on by the Prophet’s companions in his time, due to mere jealously and incompetence, to vie with Ali, who was Divinely inspired, which they could not realize.

This enmity ultimately found its vent at the Prophet’s deathbed and fully developed immediately after him. This is all on record and the Text has frequent reference, thereto, mostly in allegorical terms in many a place, to preserve revelation for future generations of the Shias, to occupy the impregnable position they hold today.

Verses 27 – 31

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِۗ قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ {27}

27. And the infidels ask, “Why has no miracle come to him from his Providence?” Say, “Verily God leaves him in misguidance that He likes and guides him whom He directs to Himself.”

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ {28}

28. Those who believe in God have their hearts attuned to Divine remembrance are content. Beware with Divine remembrance, hearts are content.

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآبٍ {29}

29. Those who believe and act righteously have pleasing and happy destination.

كَذَٰلِكَ أَرْسَلْنَاكَ فِي أُمَّةٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهَا أُمَمٌ لِتَتْلُوَ عَلَيْهِمُ الَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِۚ قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ مَتَابِ {30}

30. Thus We sent Prophets to preceding generations, so you may read out what is revealed unto you, although they are denying God. Say, “It is He, my Providence, and none else except Him, I trust in Him, and to Him shall I revert.”

وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآنًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَىٰۗ بَلْ لِلَّهِ الْأَمْرُ جَمِيعًاۗ أَفَلَمْ يَيْأَسِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ لَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَهَدَى النَّاسَ جَمِيعًاۗ وَلَا يَزَالُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا تُصِيبُهُمْ بِمَا صَنَعُوا قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًا مِنْ دَارِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَ وَعْدُ اللَّهِۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ {31}

31. If there was any text with which mountains could be moved or earth torn open or the dead enlivened and talked with, this is the very text. Rather, God’s nominees, i.e. Divine Lights, have got entire control to will what they like (as their will is Divine Will). What! Are the faithful disappointed (in seeing everybody is not faithful)! If God wished, He would have guided all, but now as it is, the infidels will be coming across, warnings or getting close to them in their vicinity to realize evidence of His existence until Day of Judgment and verily God does not contradict His promise.

Moral

In the foregoing paragraph, God had indicated the procedure to be followed in acquiring guidance and retaining the same by following precepts of Divine Lights and emulating them, who have been entrusted with Divine powers, which they indicate as per His will, for He knows who will be benefitted thereby, and who will call for self ruin, without believing in them. Infidels’ objections to embrace faith, on account of God not so willing, are unfair, as forced guidance cannot entitle anybody to reward.

As creatures, we have to submit to His Will, be content which is decreed, resign self in every event of pleasure and pain unto Him and stand ever in awe of Him, thus rendering self-independent of the world and devil’s evil influence which is true liberty. It is fortunate to submit to the pure unselfish Merciful Providence, just in His treatment, than to submit to a murderer, unjust tyrant, seeker of self-ends and mad after transitory deceptive pleasures, and vain glory.

Verses 32 – 37

وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ {32}

32. Verily, before you, other prophets were also laughed at, and We relaxed the infidels and then seized them on their persistence therein without penance. How sever was the punishment!

أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْۗ وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْۚ أَمْ تُنَبِّئُونَهُ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَمْ بِظَاهِرٍ مِنَ الْقَوْلِۗ بَلْ زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مَكْرُهُمْ وَصُدُّوا عَنِ السَّبِيلِۗ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ {33}

33. Can He Who watches actions of all, be like him, who cannot? And they nominated His associates, tell them to name them or do they give you information, regarding those gods, whom God does not known on Earth? Or are they expressing what comes into their heads? Rather, their intrigue has gained a fancy in their eyes and they are barring men from following His path, and him, whom God forsakes, none can guide.

لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَاۖ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَشَقُّۖ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَاقٍ {34}

34. For them is punishment in this world and of Eternity is worse, and there will be nobody to save them from Divine punishment.

مَثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَۖ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُۖ أُكُلُهَا دَائِمٌ وَظِلُّهَاۚ تِلْكَ عُقْبَى الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْاۖ وَعُقْبَى الْكَافِرِينَ النَّارُ {35}

35. Can the paradise promised to the pious be the same as otherwise (Hell?) and flow beneath wherein streams and wherein shall they ever eat their fruits and lie beneath the shade. This is the Eternity promised to the virtuous and for the infidels is hell.

وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَۖ وَمِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ مَنْ يُنْكِرُ بَعْضَهُۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلَا أُشْرِكَ بِهِۚ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُو وَإِلَيْهِ مَآبِ {36}

36. Those whom We have sent the Text are pleased with it, and the group denies a part of it4 say, “I am commanded to worship God without associating any with Him. Him I call (for assistance) and to Him shall I revert.”

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّاۚ وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بَعْدَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا وَاقٍ {37}

37. And thus We revealed Our commands in Arabic, and if you follow their passions, after the knowledge having come to you, there will be none to sympathize and save you from God.

Moral

Self-explanatory, being bodily elucidated.

Verses 38 – 43

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةًۚ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِۗ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ {38}

38. Verily We sent prophets before you who had wives and children and it is not for a prophet to bring a miracle without God’s permission and for everything there is a pre-recorded decision.5

يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُۖ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ {39}

39. God wipes out what He likes, and retains what He wills, and before Him is a mighty record.6

وَإِنْ مَا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ الَّذِي نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَاغُ وَعَلَيْنَا الْحِسَابُ {40}

40. And whether We were to show you punishment what We have promised for them, or We call you back to Us, for you it is to communicate the mission and for Us is to exact the account.

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنْقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَاۚ وَاللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ لَا مُعَقِّبَ لِحُكْمِهِۚ وَهُوَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ {41}

41. Did they not see how We are contracting surface about them? (Reducing learned men and peace lovers) and God shall command which will not be controverted and He is quick at accounting.

وَقَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلِلَّهِ الْمَكْرُ جَمِيعًاۖ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۗ وَسَيَعْلَمُ الْكُفَّارُ لِمَنْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ {42}

42. And they intrigued against God, Who has complete control over their intrigue. He is acquainted with everybody’s planning and shortly shall infidels see what is their eternal home.

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًاۚ قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ {43}

43. And the infidels said, “You are not a prophet.” Say, “God is sufficient to witness it between you and I and the one who has got the complete knowledge of the Text to boot7

Moral: Knowledge of Divine Light

(42) Pleasure is a shadow, wealth is vanity and power is a pageant, but knowledge is ecstatic in enjoyment, perennial in fame, unlimited in space, and infinite in duration. In the performance of its sacred offices it fears no danger, spares no expense, looks in the volcano, dives into the ocean, perforates the earth, wings its flight into the sky, explores the sea and land, contemplates the distance, examines the minute, comprehends the great, ascends to the sublime, no place too remote from its grasp, no height too exalted for its reach.

This is so far as worldly knowledge is concerned, certainty of which is unknown and when one is Divinely inspired as Ali as per Text (42) above authoritatively certified as a Gate of Knowledge to its City, is there anything to be doubted on justice and truth of his actions? When he is reported to have rooted out the Gate of Khaibar believed to be handled by 40 men at a time, talked, lying on earth, with the Prophet in ascension, viewing all what transpired between him and God, fought with spirits into the will until he vanquished them, and converted them to Islam, averted the sun from setting until completion of his prayers, enlivened the dead to talk with him and about whose sword’s stroke, on the day of the Battle of Khandduk (trench) was estimated as surpassing joint prayers of man and spirit, until Dooms Day by the Prophet.

His entire knowledge was power in action based on justice and truth8 which emanated from Him, reverted to Him, was in Him and turned where he turned. He wielded the power, as per Divine will, which he won as self-sacrifice of desire. Such were legal successors of his lineage: Divine Lights in possession of Divine knowledge in action, in discharge of their sacred duty, at a cost of property, life, and honour. Who can site an instance of tragedy of Karbala? Under three days of hunger and thirst, on plains of Mesopotamia, in summer, against those very Muslims whose kith and chiefs had paved those very Muslims whose kith and chiefs had paved a way (by apocryphal tradition and misinterpretation of the Qur’an) for them immediately after the Prophet’s departure.

Though Joseph’s brothers plotted against him for which they did penance later, they did not transform the faith of Islam, on which followed so many sects developing their cults, fabricating traditions and interpreting the Text on their mental misgivings when the Prophet had distinctly remarked his legal successors, that is, his immaculate family shall not separate from the Text. This is association on their part and an unpardonable sin. It is simply ignorant to judge His Divine Lights, heavenly born, on the same standards as earthly born creatures. it was heat of jealousy and anger which had blinded their reason to esteem Divine Lights at their true worth, like Ferro magnates due to resistance by heat, they could not any more retain in them magnetism of faith in spite of the Prophet’s company, which consisted of:

1. Spiritual beings in his immaculate family,

2. Seekers of knowledge ready to lay down their lives (as martyrs on the battlefield of Uhud), Badr, Mutta,

3. Lastly, neither learned nor desirous of learning like sheep, who did not acquire any light of guidance. Moving in the Prophet’s society they disliked men like Ali (Divine Light) who in the Prophet’s words was personified “faith” and “truth.” They were displeased with death and hence fled from the battles of Uhud and Hunain, Khaibar, etc. extremely greedy of power and pelf (frailty), relying on Divine forgiveness, without owning fealty to God and (Love to Immaculate House of his authorized successors). In spite of prayers, pride had not parted with them, fasts had not rendered them sincere, they performed pilgrimage, adopting cult, of their own will, setting at naught.

Divine Will in the Prophet’s instructions, participated in crusade simply to gain booty and win public opinion, transgressed religious limits, profaning its sacredness, preached by author of Islam, allusion to which is frequent in the text.

Notes

1. Regarding abbreviations meaning, “I am God, self-existent and having power to kill and provide”.

2. see couplet 55 Reefs.

3. God has given an excellent simile, wherein He says by sending Divine Lights from Heaven, which like water, serves food (Religions Philosophy) to the human soul and proves profitable, by making him truly faithful if derived under extreme self denial, as gold to a goldsmith, where, an infidel catching at impurity, satisfies his passion, i.e. seizes worldly pleasures to no permanent bliss.

4. relating to Ali’s nomination.

5. Lavhe Mahfuz.

6. Speaking on wiping and establishing future events it may be noted there are two records near God – one is permanent and another undergoing annual alteration during Shab-e-Khader when Divine Lights are advised about it. This enables man to act righteously. Be penance for past misdeeds, and thus establish a character to fix destiny for the future state.

7. Ali, as accepted by all practically.

8. Truth is so great a perfection that if God renders Himself visible to men he would choose light for his body and truth for his soul... “Pythagoras.”

As god is unlike creation, He chose in prophets, i.e. Divine Lights, for guidance endowing special soul to their body. The Divine Lights are human beings having Divine powers, of the Intangible, are of Divine attributes, in varying degrees, but they are not incarnation of God, Who is devoid of all creational attributes and does not stand in need of penetration.

As Light is essential to decipher physical bodies which otherwise would remain obscure and with intensity of light the object appears bright at its proper focus, so reason in man enables him to visualize brightly spiritual entities and with development of reason, eternal objects become distinct, being fully magnified. This reason is fully developed in the 14 Divine Immaculates, and in varying proportions in other prophets, that is why they are called Divine Lights whose reason enables them to view distant events beyond this world.