Welcome to our latest episode of “Path towards Enlightenment” which is an endeavour to make you and us familiar with an easy and fluent explanation of God’s Final Scripture to all mankind, the holy Qur’an that was revealed to the Last and Greatest of all Messengers, Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

Today we complete explanation of the remaining part of “Surah Saff”, which declares God’s love of all those believers who maintain the solid ranks of unity in selflessly and fearlessly defending Islam. It encourages the believers to stick together in support of God’s cause and criticizes those who broke their word and those who argued against the faith. Moses and Jesus are among the prophets whose communities became fragmented: the rebellious were left to go astray and the faithful granted success.

We start from where we left you last week, and here are Ayahs 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the same Surah:

“O you who have faith! Shall I show you a deal that will deliver you from a painful punishment?

“Have faith in Allah and His Prophet and wage jihad in the way of Allah with your possessions and persons. That is better for you, should you know.

“He will forgive you your sins and admit you into gardens with streams running in them, and into good dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. That is the great success.

“And other [blessings] you love: help from Allah and a victory near at hand. And give good news to the faithful.”

If you remember, last week in our explanation of the previous Ayahs of this Surah we said that in spite of the aversion of the disbelievers, the light of guidance of Islam is all set to triumph over all other religions and schools of thought. This will happen with the reappearance in the end times of the Prophet’s 12th and Last Infallible Heir, Imam Mahdi (AS), who will end corruption on Earth and establish the global government of peace, prosperity, and justice.

The Ayahs that we recited to you now give tidings to the firm of faith of God’s mercy and immunity from punishment of those who sincerely strive in His path through seeking of forgiveness of faults and sins, even at the risk of life and possessions.

Ayahs 12 and 13 mean to say that for such persons of firm faith, forgiveness of faults is followed by the reward of Paradise and entry into its lush green gardens in which fresh streams flow flanked by beautiful dwellings. This is indeed a great success, prior to which are tidings of material triumph in the mortal life of the transient world as well, with the help of God Almighty, of which the faithful ought to be informed.

From these Ayahs we learn that:

1. We should not be despaired of Divine Mercy since the doors of forgiveness are always open for those repent and reform themselves.
2.  Rewards for those who selflessly and sincerely strive in the way of God, even if their life and possessions are risk, are not limited to worldly life, and have the greater benefit of Paradise in the Hereafter.
3.    A person of firm faith in the monotheism of God and the teachings of the Prophet, neither hesitates to sacrifice his possessions nor is afraid of attaining martyrdom.

In conclusion of this week’s episode of “Path towards Enlightenment”. we present you Ayah 14 of Surah Saff:

“O you who have faith! Be Ansarullah (or Allah’s Helpers), just as Jesus son of Mary said to the Disciples, ‘Who will be my helpers for Allah’s sake?’ The Disciples said, ‘We will be Ansarullah (i.e. Allah’s Helpers).’ So a group of the Children of Israel believed and a group disbelieved. Then We strengthened the faithful against their enemies and they became the dominant ones.”

This Ayah calls on the true believers to rise to the position of Ansarullah or the Helpers of Allah, similar to the lofty status attained by the chosen disciples of Prophet Jesus (peace upon him). It is obvious the Almighty Creator is not in need of any helper, and here by asking for help for the Prophet and religion, the believers undergo a practical test to prove their claim to faith. Thus, a believer becomes a helper of God through efforts to defend the creed by promoting Islam via various positive methods and at the same time recognizing and confronting the plots of the enemies of humanity.

The Ayah then points to the call of Prophet Jesus to his 12 chosen disciples to be Ansarullah or the Helpers of God, and their answer in the affirmative, which made some of the Israelites to believe in their mission, and others to reject them. Later, some of them stopped helping and in fear of their life joined the enemies. God, however, strengthened the true believers against the enemies, and made them the dominant group.

Here, it is worth referring to an interesting statement from the Prophet of Islam’s Sixth Infallible Heir, Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS), who has said:

“Our followers are our disciples. (Some of) the disciples of Jesus (as) failed to bear him assistance against the enemies and the Jews, but our followers render us help. They are tortured, sent into exile, or they fall martyrs in our cause. God Almighty will grant them excellent rewards in exchange for so many afflictions that they tolerate for our sake.”

This ayah teaches us that:

1. Having faith is not enough and the faithful should practically do his/her best to safeguard and promote the true creed.
2. If we strive in the way of God we rise to the position of being helpful, and certainly the Almighty Creator Who has no need of any helper, will help us overcome the enemies of humanity.
3. In every age and place, the true believers have sacrificed their possessions and attained martyrdom in defence of the genuine teachings of Islam.

AS/ME