Salaam, and 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).

A fortnight ago we completed explanation of “Surah Mulk” and today we take up explanation of the next Surah, that is, “Surah Qalam” – the number 68 in the serial order of compilation of the holy Qur’an.

Revealed in Mecca, it has 52 Ayahs and opens with a single discrete Arabic letter “Noon” and the Divine Oath by the instrument of “Qalam” or “The Pen”, as well as all knowledge that people are able to preserve and communicate thereby. It enumerates the noble characteristics of the Prophet of Islam and exhorts him to patience and steadfastness while rejecting the accusations of his foes who tried to mock him as insane. It exposes the vices of the enemies of Islam and referring to the inevitability of Resurrection and Final Judgement warns them of Divine Wrath.

A statement from the Prophet speaks of Divine rewards for those who recite Surah Qalam (regularly), while the Prophet’s 6^th Infallible Heir, Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS) says recitation of this Surah whether in the obligatory or supererogatory ritual prayers shall be immunity from the pressures of the grave for an observant Muslim.

Let us now listen to Ayahs 1 and 2

“In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful – Noon; By the Pen and what they write;

“You are not, by your Lord’s blessing, crazy.”

As we said earlier Surah Qalam begins with a single detached Arabic letter, “Noon”. It’s meaning like the opening words of 28 other Surahs of the Holy Qur’an that begin with “Huroof Muqatta’at” or disjoined letters, are considered secrets between Almighty Allah and His Last and Greatest Prophet, and through him to the Infallible Imams.

It is followed by a Divine Oath by the pen and writing, which is testimony to the importance of knowledge and culture in Islam, especially in view of the fact that the very first Ayahs revealed to the Prophet years earlier at Cave Hera on Mount Noor instructed him to read while he had never studied anything from anyone before. This is indeed a miracle and an undeniable fact that the Prophet Divinely taught. The words “Noon” according to exegetes is either ink or an inkpot, while “Qalam” or the pen in those days was a piece of reed. Yet the fountainhead of all human civilizations, progress, development of sciences, awakening of thought, and the guidance on the right path was systematized with the birth of writing and recording of past and contemporary events. A point to note is that such blessed Ayahs of the Holy Qur’an were revealed when there were very few people in Mecca who could write.

Ayah number 2 refutes the allegations of the pagan Arabs who tried to mock at the Prophet as insane or crazy. It means to say that God has bestowed you with the bounties of superior intellect, insight, trustworthiness, sincerity, knowledge, wisdom, infallibility, and prophethood to guide people.

From these Ayahs we learn that:

1. The Divine Oath on the pen and writing indicates the high status of learning and knowledge in Islam in an age when very few people were literate.
2. Allah has made the Prophet the most perfect human being and granted him infallibility against the least mistake or flaw in character, which means the Holy Qur’an is immune from any distortion and alteration.

Now let us listen to Ayahs 3 and 4 of the same Surah:

“And yours indeed will be an everlasting reward;

“And indeed you possess a great character.”

Ayah number 3 refers to the everlasting rewards reserved for the most excellent of creation, that is, Prophet Muhammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). He indeed shouldered the most important responsibility amongst all prophets and ably discharged his universal mission of Islam which has continued its enlightening task despite the passing of almost a millennium-and-a half.

Ayah 4 presents another excellent depiction of the Prophet of Islam, saying he possesses great and marvelous abilities, unrivalled purity and sincerity, and indescribable patience, perseverance, steadfastness, and forbearance. He calls people unto obedience to God Almighty, worships Him more than anyone else, forbids people from committing vices, is kind towards even those trying to harm and hurt him, and beseeches the All-Merciful Lord to forgive the sins of those repent.

These Ayahs teach us that:

1. Gratitude for Divine blessings and favours bring while being patient and steadfast in hardships, bring great and everlasting rewards.
2. Believers regard the Prophet as their role model in every interaction, whether in society or family.

In conclusion of this week’s episode of “Path towards Enlightenment”, here are Ayahs 5, 6, and 7 of Surah Qalam:

“You will see and they will see;

“Which one of you is crazy.

“Indeed your Lord knows best those who stray from His way and He knows best those who are guided.”

Here Allah tells the disbelievers that soon it will be clear who is crazy, the Prophet or the pagans who level unfounded accusations against his flawless character! Their intention was to make people shun the Prophet and his message, but their plots went awry when more and more people were attracted to the message of Islam.

The Almighty Creator is all aware of those who go astray and those who are guided towards truth. In other words, the rapid spread of Islam in the near future will confirm that the Prophet is the great source of intellect and insight, while those who are insane are his enemies. And this shall be further clarified on the Day of Resurrection.

These Ayahs teach us the following points:

1. While confronting opponents we should not boast of being the righteous or call them astray; rather we should say: soon it will be clear who is right and who is wrong.
2. We should not judge others and their fate as it is Allah Who knows this best.

RM/AS/SS