In the Name of God  

                 A Research on the Interpretation of and Commentary on the

Ayahs of the Holy Quran – Part III

(Note: This article is based on research by Ostad Mousavi on the first Ayah of the Holy Surah Nahl)

In the previous article we gave the example of Prophet Ismail and his father, Abraham, in explaining the subject of Nasikh and Mansukh (abolishment and obliteration). In this article, we shall first present the view of Ostad Mousavi on the subject.

Let us further discuss the subject of Nasikh and Mansukh (abolishment and obliteration). We believe instead of these terms a better statement to make is “The appropriate means are not available”. We shall give an example below to clarify this.    

A kerosene oil lamp which has a wick inside will stop working when its oil is over. When the oil is finished we can say, “The appropriate means are not available anymore”.

In the order by Allah to Prophet Abraham for beheading his son, the above rule can be applied. The appropriate means were available until Abraham put his knife to his son’s throat. Just as he put the knife to Ismail’s throat the means were not available anymore and there was no more order by Allah for continuation of the act. Therefore, Abraham did as he was instructed.

There is an important question here which is, “Why did Prophet Abraham have to behead his son to be elevated to a higher position?”

This is a very important issue. We will discuss here the subject of Mutishabahat of the Holy Quran. I believe one of the Ayahs of the Holy Quran, which can be considered as Mutishabahat is the Ayah on the beheading of Ismail as the reality is not fully evident.

Another example is that of the story of Joseph, who was thrown in a well and later brought out and taken to a Bazaar in Egypt to be sold. Is the reality fully understood from the Holy Quran?

The Holy Quran is not merely a storyteller. Its purpose is not storytelling. There are some secrets hidden behind these stories that can be discovered only through many years of painstaking effort.

Therefore, there are the following issues, which can be studied concerning the Ayahs of the Holy Quran: 1. Tanzil, 2. Ta'wil, 3. Ahkam (Islamic commandments), 4. Mutishabahat, and 5. Nasikh and Mansukh (abolishment and obliteration).      

Naskh means a correct commandment or ruling was not known and was later negated. We can not talk about Almighty Allah in this way. Or if we say that a ruling was to our interest until a certain time and thereafter was negated, this too seems to be incorrect about the rulings of Allah.

Therefore, we have to pay great attention to the meaning of Nasikh and Mansukh (abolishment and obliteration).

Have the commentators and interpreters of the Holy Quran truly succeeded in discovering the beauty of the Holy Quran? The answer to this question is certainly “No”.

Every commentator and interpreter of the Holy Quran has his own view and explanation. The question is, “When should the true meanings of the Holy Quran be revealed and by whom?”

Some commandments of the Holy Quran are clear. Those relating to prayers and fasting are evident. The Ahkam on morality are nearly clear. But those relating to Tawhid (Doctrine of Oneness of God) are not so evident. The commandments on Nabuwat (Prophethood), Imamat and Ma’ad (Resurrection) are difficult to comprehend.

The present, past and future interpretations and commentaries of the Holy Quran are only based on opinions and viewpoints of great people and everything on the principles of the Holy Quran will only be revealed by our Master and Mawla, Imam Zaman (AS).

In this part Ostad Mousavi goes on to say:

I bear witness, O Allah, what we say here about the Ayahs are merely based upon the views of great people to which we have added some points based on research done. We hope we will not have to answer before God for what we are writing and will not be punished for it on the Day of Judgment. We leave it all to Him…

I talk with certainty when discussing science since even if we make a mistake, we will not be punished for it. However, this can not be said about the Holy Quran. Alas! If we make a mistake regarding the Holy Quran, how will we be treated on the Day of Judgment? Whether it be in its pronunciation, explanation, translation, interpretation or otherwise. Hence, we leave it all to God. We ask Imam Zaman to help us follow what we are doing if it is right and if not prevent us from saying things for which we have to answer before God.

You, too should be aware, you great scholars and professors who do research on the fundamentals of the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran can not be treated lightly. It is a very significant subject. Leave it all to them and ask them to make you succeed if you are fit and if not, not to.

The Subject of Islamic Gnosticism and Morality

How should true Gnosticism be defined?

A Gnostic said: O God, people thank You for Your Blessings, but I thank You for Your Existence.

Most say, “We thank You for Your Blessings”. These are conditional people and if God’s Blessings are not bestowed upon them, they will not be thankful. But a Gnostic is proud and content because he has God.

You should follow the same path as true Gnostics. If God is thanked and praised because of His Blessings, this is conditioning. However, if Allah is thanked for His Self, His Essence and His Love this is significant.

O God, I look upon You from You. Others look upon You from strangers.

O Allah, I first saw Your Face and came to know You. However, others speak of Your Attributes. I then moved from Your Face to Your Beauty and from Your Beauty to Your Face.

These are the fundamentals of true Gnosticism.

It is said that it was during the time of beinu-tuluain (between morning Adhan and sunrise) and the same Gnostic put his hand into a water container for the purpose of Wudhu (ablution for prayer). His students saw he was standing and not moving. The time of sunrise was approaching, but he was not washing his face. His students asked him why he was not performing Wudhu (ablution).

The Gnostic replied in an astonished voice: As I put my hand to the water container to wash my face, I heard a voice from within me saying:

O man! Even if you wash your face with water, with what will you wash yourself from within?

He started crying and said:

O God, O my Lord I am willing to endure all the punishments inflicted upon the sinners instead of them.

This is true Gnosticism.

The same Gnostic says:

Tuba li-man lam yakon lahu wasilatun qayra

O Allah, the Generous, the Loving One     

Fortunate is he who has no means but Allah, all doors are closed to him. The only door open is Yours, O the Generous.

O God, O God! All are strangers, You are our only True Companion.

Tuba li-man lam yakon lahu wasilatun qayra

Ostad Mousavi: Learn these words by heart. Whenever you feel depressed, this sentence will give life to you. Whenever you face problems, it will save you. It will change your fear to calm.