Al Ḥijr

إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لاَيَاتٍ لِلْمُتَوَسّـِمِينَ

75. “Verily, in this there are signs for those who by tokens do understand.”

The blissful Qur’an, here, draws ethical and educational conclusions. It implies that there are various signs for the wise in this didactic biography, for those who wisely draw their own conclusions from every single symbol, collect facts from every allusion made, and learn from every note what is to be learnt. The Qur’an says:

“Verily, in this there are signs for those who by tokens do understand.”

The Qur’anic term /mutawassimin/, mentioned in the verse, is derived from /wasama/ which means ‘to affect’ and it is applied to a person who is smart and sharp in drawing conclusions once he has the tiniest clues at his disposal he comprehends the facts. That is, he is clever and wise. Some Islamic quotations indicate that the objective of applying the term /mutawassimin/ is the Prophet (S) and his Ahl-ul-Bayt (as). ⁴ Somebody told Imam Sadiq (as) that he had got a question. The Imam answered:

“Do you want me to tell you what your question is before you ask your question?”

That person asked with astonishment:

“How do you know what is in my mind?”

The Imam answered:

“/bil-tawassum/ (by affection).”

Then he recited this verse. ⁵ We are informed from the Immaculate Imams (as) who have said:

“We are the /mutavassimin/.”

It is clear that the purpose here ‘is the most complete denotation expansion’, otherwise, there are a lot of intelligent people among the believers. Therefore, there are reliable information from the blissful Prophet (S) who stated:

“Be in virtue with the intelligence of the faithful, since he looks by the light of Allah.”

He also reaffirmed:

“Verily Allah has some servants who recognize people by /tawassum/.” ⁶

This is the same light of faith which leaves its effect as a sign on a believer’s heart; so it is said:

“Knowledge is a light (that) Allah casts it inside the heart of whomever He wills.” ⁷

And the Arabic term /wasm/ means the same sign, symbol, and emblem which is being forged on the Arabian horses. Man’s soul also has got a special mark of ‘belief’ or ‘disbelief’, or of ‘obedience’ and of ‘disobedience’ toward Allah, each of which appears from his front view. Thus, /mutawassimin/, those who by tokens do understand can observe or feel it and, therefore, know everyone. And again, the Prophet of Islam (S) has said:

“There are certain Allah’s servants who know people by tokens.” ⁸

Imam Sadiq (as) remarked:

“We are those who think and take instructive lessons. The path towards happiness has been designated and embedded in us. This path is the way towards Paradise.” ⁹

Footnotes

1. 4. Tafsir-i-Nūr-uth-Thaqalayn
2. 5. Tafsir-Nūr-uth-Thaqalayn
3. 6. Tafsir-i-Nūr-uth-Thaqalayn, vol. 3, p. 23
4. 7. Tafsir-i-Nūr-uth-Thaqalayn, vol. 3, p. 23
5. 8. Tafsir-us-Safi, the details of the verse
6. 9. Tafsir-ul-Burhan and Majma‘-ul-Bayan