A Ray of the Qur’ān: Selected Essays of Sayyed Mahmoud Taleghani Volume VI

Advance Praise for A Ray of the Qurʾān: Selected Essays of Sayyed Mahmoud Taleghani, Volume VI

“This is a very different approach to writing commentary on the Qurʾān from those written by classical or contemporary traditional scholars in the Shiʿa world. Its uniqueness comes from the fact that it was written mostly during prison time by one of the most eminent religious scholars of the twentieth century Iran who was also a relentless political activist, an advocate for justice and a champion of political freedom.

The years he spent in prison brought him in close contact with political activists of diverse orientation all united in their opposition to the Pahlavi regime. As a result, A Ray of the Qurʾān is also a window to the social and political history of Iran in the twentieth century.

This is a very original and important book, and a welcome addition to the contemporary scholarship in the field of Islamic Studies in general and Qurʾānic Studies in particular. The translator’s labor of love must be acknowledged and congratulated for providing the readers of English language with this special work.”

—Mohammad H. Faghfoory, Professor and Director, Graduate Program in Islamic Studies, George Washington University

“English-language scholarship in Qurʾān studies owes a debt of gratitude to the translator and the publisher for making available one of the most important contemporary commentaries of the Qurʾān. Four decades after the passing of the author Al-Sayyid Mahmoud Taleghani (RA), the translation makes this authentic voice of human liberation accessible to a wide audience. It is not possible to overstate the importance of this translation of the invaluable, awe-inspiring and cogent contribution to understanding the causes of and solutions to the problems of human societies. The commentary represents a distinctive and eloquent voice of consciousness that was enlightened by the Qurʾān, which he taught must be understood by every generation in light of its own realities. Based on his commentary alone, if not his personal struggles, a persuasive case can be made that Taleghani could well be considered among the first Muslim liberation theologists of the twentieth century.”

—Abbas Mirakhor, Retired Professor of Economics and Finance

A Ray of the Qur’ān: Selected Essays of Sayyed Mahmoud Taleghani

Volume VI

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحيم

In the Name of Allah the Gracious, the Merciful

Contents

1. Descriptive Table of Contents

2. Acknowledgments

3. Foreword by Abbas Mirakhor

4. Transliteration of Arabic Letters

5. Translator’s Introduction

6. Editor’s Introduction

7. Author’s Biography by Abdolali Bazargan

8. Sūrah al-Aʿlā (The Most High), 87:1-19

9. Sūrah al-Ghāshiyah (The Overwhelming Event), 88:1-26

10. Sūrah al-Fajr (The Daybreak), 89:1-30

11. Sūrah al-Balad (The City), 90:1-20

12. Sūrah al-Shams (The Sun), 91:1-15

13. Sūrah al-Layl (The Night), 92:1-21

14. Sūrah al-Ḍuḥā (The Brightness), 93:1-11

15. Sūrah al-Inshirāḥ (Expansion/Relief), 94:1-8

16. Sūrah al-Tīn (The Fig), 95:1-8

17. Sūrah al-ʿAlaq (The Clot), 96:1-19

18. Sūrah al-Qadr (Power), 97:1-5

19. Sūrah al-Bayyinah (The Clear Evidence), 98:1-8

20. Sūrah al-Zilzāl (The Quaking/Earthquake), 99:1-8

21. Sūrah al-ʿĀdiyāt (The Chargers), 100:1-11

22. Sūrah al-Qāriʿah (The Calamity), 101:1-11

23. Sūrah al-Takāthur (Vying for Plentitude), 102:1-8

24. Sūrah al-ʿAṣr (The Age), 103:1-3

25. Sūrah al-Humazah (The Slanderer), 104:1-9

26. Sūrah al-Fīl (The Elephant), 105:1-5

27. Sūrah al-Quraysh (The Quraysh), 106:1-4

28. Sūrah al-Māʿūn (Alms), 107:1-7

29. Sūrah al-Kawthar (The Abundance), 108:1-3

30. Sūrah al-Kāfirūn (The Disbelievers), 109:1-6

31. Sūrah al-Naṣr (The Help), 110:1-3

32. Sūrah al-Lahab (The Flame), 111:1-5

33. Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ (Purity/The Unity), 112:1-4

34. Sūrah al-Falaq (The Dawn), 113:1-5

35. Sūrah al-Nās (Humankind), 114:1-6

36. Author’s Notes

37. Translator’s Notes

38. Bibliography

39. Index

40. Translator and Editor biographies

Descriptive Table of Contents

1. Acknowledgments

2. Foreword by Abbas Mirakhor

3. Transliteration of Arabic Letters

4. Translator’s Introduction

5. Editor’s Introduction

6. Author’s Biography by Abdolali Bazargan

7. Sūrah al-Aʿlā (The Most High), 87:1-19

8. Āyāt 1–8

   The truth about [or the reality of] glorification; the union and communion among beings in glorification; degrees and horizons of glorification up to glorifying the Most High Lord [Sustainer]; the meaning of the name rabb [or the name of the rabb]; glorification in parts of prayer; creation; proper [just] proportioning; ordainment and guidance; stages of proper proportioning and ordainment; levels of guidance; growing greens and making them dry and dark as evidence of the end of lives; recitation of the name of the rabb; levels of recitation; the meaning of “so you should not forget” and “save what Allah [swt] wills”; what gets forgotten; understanding of the reciter becomes easy.

9. Āyāt 9–19

   Reminding and its condition; fear; reprobation; the reprobate versus the one who fears; the reprobate among those who fear; the delivered [saved] ones and reminding [people] of the name of the rabb; being caught between attractions and choosing the world; what has appeared in early writings; the merit of Sūrah al-Aʿlā and the expressive utterances and words [of its āyāt]; the length, spaces, sound waves, and tones of the āyāt of this sūrah; Professor Arberry’s view regarding the miraculous sound and tone of the Holy Qurʾān.

10. Sūrah al-Ghāshiyah (The Overwhelming Event), 88:1-26

11. Āyāt 1–16

    News of the overwhelming event; two opposing faces; the struggling and harmed downcast of those who end up in Hell; boiling water and bitter thorny fruit; the cheerful-faced ones who are satisfied with their efforts and are placed in the high Paradise, where they do not hear vanity, where springs are flowing and thrones erected, and where goblets, spread out carpets, and cushions [are available].

12. Āyāt 17–26

    Intangible phenomena can be discovered through that which is tangible; the interesting creation of the camel; Heaven being raised; setting up the mountain and spreading out the earth; the outlook of this illustration; the command to remind; negating compulsion; this reminder is to those who have not turned away entirely; the greatest chastisement; the final return; rhythms of utterances and words; the tone and length of the āyāt; the merit of this sūrah.

13. Sūrah al-Fajr (The Daybreak), 89:1-30

14. Āyāt 1–14

    Four witnesses for showing and proving the originality of light and goodness: the daybreak, the ten nights, the even and the odd, and the departing night; the conjoining and composition of phenomena; the universe has been made of even and odd [numbers or variables]; the conjunction and confrontation of the good and the bad; victory of the truth and of the good; evidence from past tribes; the tribe of ʿĀd and the (city of) Iram with tall pillars in the Bible [both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament]; Pharaoh, owner of the stakes; transgression and the increase of corruption; the whip of chastisement that is due to upbringing; the educational effect of punishments; the formation, evolution, and circumstances of punishment in accordance with the evolution of humanity; the ambush of upbringing.

15. Āyāt 15–30

    Shortsightedness of human beings about being tried; granting and determining sustenance?; human beings’ comparison of honor and disgrace according to personal measure; one should broaden one’s view by turning from self toward others; greed for gathering wealth makes life difficult; greed is one of the tools of attachment to the world and of ignoring the final destination; certainly, a day comes when the earth shall be pounded and scattered, and on that day the Sustainer appears, the angels stand in rows, Hell is brought near, and each individual wakes up saying: “Ah! I wish I were farsighted and preventive.” On that day, people will be punished and bound [in a manner that is] more than imagined; a surging address to the tranquil soul; the command to return and come under the ray [of the light] of the Sustainer; general contentment; being among the special servants in Paradise; special names, verbs, and rhythms; the variation of the āyāt and the merit of this sūrah.

16. Sūrah al-Balad (The City), 90:1-20

17. Āyāt 1–10

    Swearing by this city; the meaning of being unrestrained [free] in this city, which is an example of hardships and struggles; hardships of the begetter and the begotten; the creation of human beings among hardship and struggles; human beings become proud of their wealth and use it to solve problems; they become negligent of themselves and of their own wrathful eyes; the eyes, tongue, and lips are symbols of maturity and tools of tolerating hardships; guidance by al-najdayn [“two ways (of good and evil)” (90:10)] and its meaning; two ways that are full of difficulty and struggle.

18. Āyāt 11–20

    Iqtaḥama al-ʿaqabah [“… strive to scale the steep ascent” (90:11)]; a tangible example of the rough path of obligation and responsibility; setting captives free and feeding them are among the obvious signs of passing through the steep ascent; until one is free, one cannot grant freedom to others; the condition for an exalted society, which is linked to the relationship between belief, enjoining steadfastness, and compassion; abilities and blessings grow in such a society; ominous and hellish agents; the special rhythms, tone, and words of this sūrah.

19. Sūrah al-Shams (The Sun), 91:1-15

20. Āyāt 1–15

    Wondrous oaths; the inimitability of the verb dahāhā and its mysteries; completing and inspiring powers; the evolution of the nafs [soul] from completion to free will and intellect; purification and salvation; corruption and loss; the origin of thought and free will; complementary and compatible discipline; sequence of oaths; Thamūd transgressed and belied; the worst, most wretched arose in the context of the misguidance and wretchedness [of the tribe of Thamūd]; what kind of sign was the camel of Ṣāliḥ?; the roar of chastisement and destruction of the tribe; the length, tone, deductions, and special words of this sūrah.

21. Sūrah al-Layl (The Night), 92:1-21

22. Āyāt 1–11

    Certifying by opposing [counter] evidence in order to show opposing and scattered efforts; the path of upward movement: giving, piety [full awareness of divine laws], and the belief that the best culminate in effortless movement and weightlessness; on the contrary, avarice, thinking of oneself as self-sufficient and belying the good lead to difficulty and to an increase in difficulty; the end of it is disappearance and downfall; the sequence and connectedness of these āyāt.

23. Āyāt 12–21

    By the law of perfection, planning, and direction, guidance is necessary; from instinctive guidance to guidance by revelation; the Hereafter and the beginning belong to the Almighty, and in between a human being is free in one’s personal will/action; after guidance, warning is in relation to the blazing fire; the wretched throw themselves into the fire by belying and turning their back, and the ones who safeguard themselves against evil (the pious) turn away from it; the pious is the one who becomes purer and elevated by giving away one’s personal wealth; such a person does not seek anything except the pleasure of the Lord [Sustainer], the Most High, and then becomes content; the length, rhythm, and specific words of this sūrah.

24. Sūrah al-Ḍuḥā (The Brightness), 93:1-11

25. Āyāt 1–11

    Two oaths for showing the plan and direction of the universe and of humans; the Almighty has neither left you on your own, nor is He angry with you; the stopping of revelation and the concern of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh); why did the revelation stop?; the gradual revelation of the āyāt; the compatibility of intelligible and tangible systems; focusing on the end of the deed [action/work]; the giving that causes contentment; reminding [people] of the past blessings; the meaning of “He found you lost”; a family–encumbered person who becomes free from want; the responsibility for orphans and petitioners; repeatedly talking about affluence; the method of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh); two oaths, three promises, three reminders, and three commands are in this sūrah; the coordination of tone and length of the āyāt with meanings and special words.

26. Sūrah al-Inshirāḥ (Expansion/Relief), 94:1-8

27. Āyāt 1–8

    “Have We not expanded … your breast?” [94:1]; the narrowness (tightness) of the prophets’ breasts at the beginning of their messengerships; putting the burden down and raising His name; how was His name raised?; there are two [ways of] easing in every hardship; one should rise for another struggle after every struggle and its easing; are sūrahs al-Ḍuḥā and al-Inshirāḥ really one sūrah?; the length, tone, cadences, meanings, and special words [of this sūrah].

28. Sūrah al-Tīn (The Fig), 95:1-8

29. Āyāt 1–8

    Swearing by the fig and the olive, and the advantages of these two fruits; Mount Sinai; inviolate city?; the creation of humans in the best form?; these oaths show the perfect creation of humans; what does it mean to create people in the best form and to reverse them to the lowest of the low?; degrees of the fall of humankind; how can one rise after descending?; with this kind of creation and of the descending of humans, and with Allah’s (swt) being the Most Just of all judges, one cannot refuse the religion [faith, covenant, and/or obligation toward the Creator]; the rhythms, tones, and words of this sūrah.

30. Sūrah al-ʿAlaq (The Clot), 96:1-19

31. Āyāt 1–8

    The beginning of the appearance of revelation and of the first commandment; what is the subject of the commandment to read/proclaim/recite!?; reciting [proclaiming/reading] the name of the Sustainer or in the name of the Sustainer; the original writing is the book of creation; He created humanity from a clot; the completion of humanity by the pen; the origin of advancement of knowledge, perfection, and civilization; when a person sees oneself as self-sufficient, that person transgresses, even though, whether one wants it or not, one is condemned by the will of the Almighty and returns to Him.

32. Āyāt 9–19

    When one’s rebellion reaches the point that it prevents one from servitude to the Almighty, one can establish oneself on the path of guidance and ordain piety, or one can deny every fact and turn away from it; in any case, such a person must know that Allah (swt) is observing one’s circumstances; if one does not stop transgressing, one will be held and dragged by the forelock; belying and wrongdoing are apparent from a person’s face; one calls one’s co-workers and guards for help when in a state of being grabbed; you turn away from transgressors and turn toward Allah [swt] and prostrate before Him; this sūrah is indicative of the goals of messengership; the length, various rhythms, specific words, and special language [of this sūrah].

33. Sūrah al-Qadr (Power), 97:1-5

34. Āyāt 1–5

    The entire revelation of the Qurʾān on the Night of Qadr [grandeur/power]; the stages of revelation of the Qurʾān; a gradual revelation; mental features and meanings; like other āyāt of the creation, the Qurʾān is from light and power [energy]; Laylatu al-Qadr [The Night of Qadr]?; some traditions about Laylatu al-Qadr; the beginning of the perfection and maturity of humanity; the prophetic delegation of the messengers; the very beginning of evolution [change]; an inspiring night; Qadr is better than a thousand months; the descent of angels, the spirit, and the determining of all affairs; the conditions for changing and determining an Islamic assembly; the salām [peace/submission] of the Night of Qadr?; the eloquence of sound formation and specific words [in this sūrah].

35. Sūrah al-Bayyinah (The Clear Evidence), 98:1-8

36. Āyāt 1–8

    The inseparability of the disbelievers [those who cover the truth] from their opinions [beliefs] and limitations unless by clear evidence: a Messenger from Allah (swt) who recites the purified scripture; a scripture that is a motivator and an establisher of truth and justice, which is a clear, divine evidence; the People of the Book turned into factions after receiving such clear evidence; the purpose of religions and what the past nations must do: worshiping Allah (swt) and [seeking] purity for Him, turning away from falsity, [and aspiring to become] ḥunafāʾ [to be true in faith]; establishing prayer and giving the poor rate; establishing creed and avoiding deviation; those who become disbelievers after receiving clear evidence are the worst creatures, and they remain in Hell forever; those who believe and do good deeds are the best chosen among the creatures; their reward is Paradise and contentment; the length, rhythms, parts, and words of this sūrah.

37. Sūrah al-Zilzāl (The Quaking), 99:1-8

38. Āyāt 1–8

    The final earthquake and its natural origin; the burdens it brings out and astonishing humankind; the news that the earth conveys; the revelation of earth; on that day people shall come out (of their graves) to see (the result of) their deeds; whoever has done (even) an atom’s weight of good or bad shall see it; the tones, various lengths, and special words of the āyāt [of this sūrah].

39. Sūrah al-ʿĀdiyāt (The Chargers), 100:1-11

40. Āyāt 1–11

    Al-ʿĀdiyāt [The Chargers/Those That Run] and attesting to them; a portrayal of the method of jihād [struggle]; an example of speed and advancement in the way of goodness; this exceptional example shows the slow movement of humankind on the path of upbringing and goodness; a human being is a witness to one’s own helplessness and slow movement; although intractable in goodness, humanity’s ignorance and lack of awareness remain constant until the graves open and thoughts and deeds are actualized and concluded; on that day, knowledge and awareness of the Sustainer are manifested and actualized; the sound, tone, length, and special words of the āyāt [of this sūrah].

41. Sūrah al-Qāriʿah (The Calamity), 101:1-11

42. Āyāt 1–11

    What is the striking calamity?; a crushing event; desperation and scattering of people; a portrayal of a mountain as colorful and carded wool; the end of the wicked; the truth about wickedness; the end of the lightweight wicked ones; crashing in a burning abyss; the burning power of the hāwiyah [the burning abyss]; the change of tones and rhythms in, and the words of, the āyāt [of this sūrah].

43. Sūrah al-Takāthur (Vying for Plenitude), 102:1-8

44. Āyāt 1–8

    Vying for plenitude; the motivation for plenitude up to approaching the grave; the awareness afterward; positive knowledge of and seeing Hell; ʿaynu al-yaqīn [“with the surety of vision”]; degrees of knowledge; being questioned about general bounties; the variety of length, verb tense, parts, and special words of the āyāt [of this sūrah].

45. Sūrah al-ʿAṣr (The Age), 103:1-3