Welcome to our weekly programme "Path towards Enlightenment" in which we present you a fluent and easy-to-understand explanation of the ayahs of the holy Quran. We start from where we left you last Friday and here are ayahs 17 and 18 of Surah Zumar:

"As for those who stay clear of the worship of the Rebel and turn penitently to Allah, there is good news for them. So give good news to My servants;"

"Who listen to the word [of Allah] and follow the best [sense] of it. They are the ones whom Allah has guided, and it is they who possess intellect."

The holy Qur’an also uses the comparative method in these ayahs. Last week the ayahs had focused on idolaters who, because of prejudice and obstinacy, refused to accept the truth and believe in God. Here, in these ayahs, the words of the seekers of truth are highlighted. The true believers are those who realize the truth, accept it and turn penitently towards God Who promises them rewards.

One of the characteristics of sincere believers is their avoidance of false deities. Thus, these ayahs compare and contrast biased and obdurate polytheists for whom Hell fire is in store, with the seekers of truth who listen to the words of God, adhere to divine commandments, and because of using their intellect, are guided by the Lord Most High.

From these ayahs we learn that:

1. True belief means avoiding false tendencies by keeping away from all evil things.
2. There is no contradiction between the human intellect and the divine revelation through prophets, since both are proofs of God and pave the way towards guidance and salvation.
3. Islam supports free-will and a conscious choice of the way of life based on reason and logic.

Now we listen to or read ayahs 19 and 20 of Surah Zumar:

"Can he against whom the word of punishment has become due? Can you rescue someone who is in the Fire?"

"But as for those who are wary of their Lord, for them there will be lofty abodes with [other] lofty abodes built above them, with streams running beneath them —a promise of Allah. Allah does not break His promise."

Owing to their obduracy and bias, some people deprive themselves of Divine Forgiving, and thus become deserving of God’s punishment, when through proper deeds they could have saved themselves from the blazing fires of hell.

This blessed ayah reflects the fact that Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny) was always keen on guiding polytheists and those in error to the extent that he used to become saddened at the actions of those who deviated from the true Path and were not attentive toward realities.

In contrast to this wicked group are the true believers, who because of their piety and proper cognizance of God, have attained a lofty place, and as a result they enjoy the eternal bliss of paradise where no harm or inconvenience approaches them.

From these ayahs we learn that:

1. The main mission of the prophets is to guide people towards truth and show them the right way. At the same time, happiness and salvation of the people is not at the hands of the prophets, and depends on the behaviour of the people.
2. The one, who because of prejudice and obstinacy refuses to recognize the truth, has in fact deprived himself of the path to his own salvation.
3. If we believe in God, we must make sure that God's promise of paradise and hell is definite and true.

Now we listen to or read ayah 21 of Surah Zumar:

"Have you not seen that Allah sends down water from the sky, then He conducts it through the ground as springs; then with it He brings forth crops of diverse hues. Then they wither and you see them turn yellow. Then He turns them into chaff. There is indeed an admonition in that for those who possess intellect."

After a brief comparison between the fate of the disbelievers and the believers, this ayah once again returns to the discussion of monotheism and resurrection. It refers to the descent of rain from heaven, since the life of the earth depends upon rainfall. If the wonderful system of the cycle of nature ordained by God Almighty does not function, then life would become miserable. Thus, it is Divine Mercy which makes the crops grow and go through their natural cycle. Indeed there are lessons in this for people who possess the intellect. By reflecting on these realities one gain proper understanding of the Greatness of God.

From this ayah we learn that:

1. Understanding the phenomena of nature is among the ways of proper recognition of God.
2. The yearly cycle of nature reflects the Power and Majesty of God.

AS/ME