Session 29 Notes
The Qur’an acts as a guide for us to live a happy life. A happy life does not mean that one would not go through any hardship, we are all training here to improve our belief in God. For example, a company does orientation for its new employees where they are tasked with new things to learn. This prepares them for the new position that they would hold. They would have more responsibilities but within this responsibility they would find pleasure. Another example, as we get older, the body weakens and certain abilities get diminished such as sight, hearing, energy levels, etc. Although I have the desire to be perfectly fit, this creation in a weaker form reminds me that I am a needy and dependent being. I shouldn’t be arrogant but acknowledge that this creation is from my Merciful Lord. He has been introducing Himself to me with all the qualities He gave me when I was young up until now. He is the One who has given me this desire to be young forever. Nothing in this universe is able to satisfy those needs for me to be young and fit, only this Absolute Being must be able to fulfill them. Despite my visits to a doctor to ease pains, I must be content with this education during my life stages designed to elevate my spirit for the next creation by making me realize what the reality of my existence is.
Another principle of the Qur’an is that it educates human beings from their perspective within their capacity.
وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ءَايَـٰتٌۭ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ. وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ
“On earth there are signs for those with sure faith as there are within yourselves. Can you not see?” (51:20-21)
I am being told here that I have been created with a certain capacity sufficient to realize the signs of my Creator. Whatever is manifested in the universe, their existence, are signs introducing me to the qualities of their Creator. This ability is within me, not in the body which belongs to the earth but in my spirit. Within the human spirit as well, there are signs to know the qualities of its Creator. For example, human feelings are the “signs” to understand the qualities of my Creator. If I like something, through that feeling of liking, I am introduced to my Creator who gave me that feeling. Equally, my feeling of disliking something is also given to introduce me to the qualities of my Creator. The rhetorical question mentioning “don’t you see it” is not just physical seeing but having insight. I am specifically made in this way to get to know the qualities of my Creator which is why we must use our senses for their purpose.
The Qur’an uses words delicately such as the human body is referred to as being created. However when it mentions spirit, it doesn’t say the spirit is created but describes it as God’s command, His order: “I breathed into the body a spirit from My Spirit” (15:29; 38:72). This signifies that my spirit is a tool that directly connects to my Creator, to understand who my Creator is, what His qualities are. Using this tool within me, I can understand the Absolute Truth by seeing the manifested qualities in creation. Human beings are created, equipped with the qualities to acknowledge the Absolute Truth through the transient relative world. Secular philosophers often deny the existence of Absolute Truth by attempting to locate it within a relative world, a futile endeavor that overlooks the contingent nature of the universe. By failing to question the origin of this dependent reality, they miss the logical necessity of an Absolute Creator. The Qur’an presents it clearly by reminding me that I am equipped to confirm this and severely warns people of Hell, mentioning that no one can make an excuse by saying: “I didn’t know”. I have been given all the evidence in this relative universe, so there is really no excuse not to understand and acknowledge the Absolute Truth. I must be comfortable in using the Qur’an as my guide to be certain in my belief in the Absolute Creator, the Creator of the whole universe.
ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا رَّجُلًۭا فِيهِ شُرَكَآءُ مُتَشَـٰكِسُونَ وَرَجُلًۭا سَلَمًۭا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“God sets forth the parable of a slave owned by several quarrelsome masters, and a slave owned by only one master. Are they equal in condition? Praise be to God! In fact, most of them do not know.” (39:29)
This is how God teaches human beings within their capacity by using simple examples. Imagine any organization with two heads at the same level, the result would be conflicting as to who has the final say. Even a small shop needs one individual to have the final say.
The phrase “بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ” translated as “In fact, most of them do not know” means that by failing to reconcile their innate human qualities with the relative universe, humanity misses the conclusion that the Absolute Truth must be the source of all existence.
وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍۢ تَنظُرُونَ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ
“When the soul of a dying man comes up to his throat, while you are looking on. We are nearer to him than you though you do not see [Us.]” (56:84-85)
We must fall in love with the Qur’an. Nothing else can satisfy me in this world than the message of the Qur’an. We cannot read verses literally and anthropomorphize the Absolute Being. This verse is full of many principles to be studied in detail. However, within our capacity, we are aware that our existence requires continuous renewal. We comprehend that the One sustaining this existence is with us at an infinite level. If He were to sever this connection, even for an instant, we could not exist. Our Creator must be an Absolute Being, active in the creation of every entity at every moment. Since the Absolute knows no bounds, His invisibility to our senses does not negate His constant presence right by our side.
إِنَّ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلْيَوْمَ فِى شُغُلٍۢ فَـٰكِهُونَ هُمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُمْ فِى ظِلَـٰلٍ عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ مُتَّكِـُٔونَ لَهُمْ فِيهَا فَـٰكِهَةٌۭ وَلَهُم مَّا يَدَّعُونَ
“Indeed on that day the residents of Paradise will be busy enjoying themselves, they and their spouses seated on couches in the shade. There they will have fruits and whatever they desire.” (36:55-57)
This presents real life examples from this relative world. However, we understand that Paradise cannot be likened to this world, it is a completely new creation. It is beyond our imagination. We can confirm Paradise and Absolute Truth through the signs manifested in this relative world and in our human feelings.
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِّمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَآ أَنْعَـٰمًۭا فَهُمْ لَهَا مَـٰلِكُونَ
“Can they not see how, among the things made by Our hands? We have created livestock they control.” (36:71)
Another example where God is speaking to my capacity. The word “hands” is used in this verse metaphorically and cannot be taken literally. Every language has its own idioms to express the meaning in a concise way to make it easily understood.
He is the One who is creating the fruit directly on the tree with His power, knowledge and choice. It means that in this creation there is no intermediary. My creator is directly creating everything without the need of any intermediaries where I am taking it directly from the “hand” of my Creator, presented to me by my Creator.
Another example demonstrates that the Qur’an portrays the hereafter’s new creation through the lens of human understanding and earthly experience:
وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيْهِمْ ظِلَـٰلُهَا وَذُلِّلَتْ قُطُوفُهَا تَذْلِيلًۭا
“The Garden’s shade will be right above them, and its fruit will be made very easy to reach” (76:14)
The verses in Section “Al-Insaan” beautifully describe the hereafter using familiar examples. They show us that worldly gifts are merely “appetizers” from God. These blessings encourage us to live honestly. By doing so, we are promised even greater rewards in the next life.