Welcome to our weekly program "Path Towards Enlightenment" in which we present you a fluent and easy-to-understand explanation of the ayahs of the holy Qur’an. We start from where we left you last Friday and here are ayahs 20 and 21 of Surah Ya Sin:

 “There came a man from the city outskirts, hurrying. He said, ‘O my people! Follow the apostles!”

“Follow them who do not ask you any reward and they are rightly guided.”

Last week we talked about the Apostles send by Prophet Jesus (AS) to the people of Antioch, and how the first two Apostles were mistreated and imprisoned by the infidels, until Simon were sent as the third Apostle to Antioch and after procuring the release of the first two Apostles, the three pf them started preaching the message of monotheism in the marketplace in order to guide the people.

Now the ayahs which we recited to you mean to say: When the infidels wanted to kill the messengers of Jesus (AS), the man of God, Habib Najjar, who was living at the farthest end of the town, swiftly rushed to help the religion of God and to assist the messengers. He said, “O my people! Follow the messengers. Obey them who do not ask for any remuneration from you and who themselves are rightly guided.”

We have also said that there are two proofs of apostleship. Wisdom and intelligence demand that if one has these two virtues then his word must be accepted. Firstly, he should be well informed and rightly guided. He must have walked on the path and then should give news of it.

The true believers have no financial expectations from the people, and there is with God Almighty.

From these ayahs we learn that:

1. It is incumbent upon the true believers to help each other in times of trouble.
2. In defense of religion, being alone is not an obstacle. In defending the truth, one should not be afraid of a few number of the faithful.
3. We should follow those who are guided by the right path and we are sure of their right path.

Now we listen to and read ayahs 22, 23 and 24 of Surah Ya Sin:

“Why should I not worship Him who has originated me, and to whom you shall be brought back?”

“Shall I take gods besides Him? If the All-beneficent desired to cause me any distress their intercession will not avail me in any way, nor will they rescue me.”

“Indeed then I would be in manifest error.”

The man who came to the city in support of the apostles and sought help from people, said in defense of his monotheist beliefs:  I see no reason to worship your imaginary idols, while I know that the All-Beneficent God has created me and if I want to worship someone, I should worship Him. The worship of the Creator is both in accordance with the wisdom and in accordance with the call of the innate nature while worshiping your gods has no rational basis.

Everything is in the hands of the Almighty God, which means if anyone wants to harm me, they cannot succeed while, if anyone wants to assist me, they cannot do it unless it is the will of God. It is natural that abandoning wisdom is misleading and there is no justification for this.

From these ayahs we learn that:

1. It is but natural for any rational person to worship the one and only God, while it is illogical to believe in several deities and idols.
2. Not only the beginning of creation, but the end of human life is also in the hands of God.  So He deserves to be worshipped and this worship is in accordance with human intellect and the call of innate nature.

Now we listen to and read ayahs 25, 26 and 27 of Surah Ya Sin:

“Indeed I have faith in your Lord, so listen to me.”

“He was told, ‘Enter paradise!’ He said, ‘Alas! Had my people only known.”

“for what my Lord forgave me and made me one of the honoured ones!”

The man who defended the cause of the apostles, after expressing his reasons, declared that I have believed in these apostles and invite you to support them. So, pay attention to my words and think about them.

But the obstinate unbelievers who refused to listen to the truth martyred the man. Therefore God commanded him to enter Paradise, a paradise that continues until the Day of Resurrection. The righteous servants of God who have been martyred will reside in this paradise until that day.

As for the martyrs, God says in Surah Aal-e Imran, ayah 169:

“Do not suppose those who were slain in the way of Allah to be dead; rather they are living and provided for near their Lord.”

From these ayahs we learn that:

1. In defense of religion and religious leaders, it is necessary to rise and even if it leads to the martyrdom in the way of God.
2. The true believers are compassionate persons. Despite all the hardships and persecution, they seek the betterment of the people, rather than punishment.
3. Those who are martyred in the path of God have a special life until the day of resurrection.

FK/AS/ME