Surah al-A`raf (The Elevated Places) 7 : 188

Overview (Verse 188)

In his great position of honour and his closeness to his Lord, the Prophet (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare to mankind that when it comes to the realm that lies beyond our perception, he is only a human being who can cause himself neither benefit nor harm. This is because he is not given that knowledge, nor is he one to know the destination before starting the journey, or the consequences of actions before they take place. Hence, he cannot choose his actions on the basis of their consequences, because these are withheld from him. He has to choose his actions, and then the result takes place as God has determined: “Say: ‘It is not within my power to bring benefit to, or avert evil from, myself, except as God may please. Had I possessed knowledge of what lies beyond the reach of human perception, I would have availed myself of much that is good and no evil would have ever touched me. I am no more than one who gives warning, and a herald of good news to people who believe.’” (Verse 188)

With this declaration, the monotheistic faith of Islam is completely and absolutely purged of every trace of idolatry of whatever shape or form. God has His ‘unique attributes in which no human being has any share, not even Muhammad, God’s chosen and beloved Messenger (peace be upon him). Human power and knowledge stop at the point of ghayb, which is the Islamic term for what lies beyond the reach of human perception. Within the limitations of humanity, God’s Messenger himself stands, and his role is well-defined: “I am no more than one who gives warning, and a herald of good news to people who believe.” (Verse 188)

God’s Messenger is indeed a warner and a bearer of good news to all mankind. But the believers alone benefit by the warnings he conveys and the good news he brings. They are the ones to understand and appreciate his message, and they realize what it is all about. Moreover, they are the elite of all mankind. After all, from among all mankind, they are the ones to follow God’s Messenger.

A statement does not impart its true significance except to an open heart and a receptive mind. The Qur’ān does not open its treasures or give its secrets except to true believers. Some of the Prophet’s companions used to say that they had faith before they were given the Qur’ān. It is that faith which enabled them to grasp the meaning of the Qur’ān so fully and understand its meanings and objectives so comprehensively. Thus they were able to scale the unscaleable in the shortest imaginable period of time.

That unique generation of the Prophet’s companions found the Qur’ān so charming, enlightening and decisive to a degree that can only be appreciated by people who attain to the same standard of faith. It is true that the Qur’ān directed their souls to faith, but it was faith that opened for them in the Qur’ān treasures that could have never been opened through any other means. They lived by the Qur’ān and for the Qur’ān. Hence, they became a unique generation the like of which history has never witnessed again in the same standard and in the shape of a whole, large community. However, throughout history, there have been individuals who follow in the footsteps of that uniquely great generation. They dedicated themselves for a very long period to the Qur’ān alone. Its clear spring remained untainted by any human ideas. In addition to the Qur’ān, there was only the guidance provided by God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) and that guidance drew on the same lines as the Qur’ān. Hence, that generation could easily make its remarkable achievements.

Any community of people who aspire to make similar achievements should follow in the footsteps of that generation. They should conduct their lives on the basis of the Qur’ān and live for it over a long period of time, freeing their hearts and minds from any other human ideas. Only in this way can they begin to be like that generation.