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wa-nunazzilu mina l-qurʾāni mā huwa shifāʾun wa-raḥmatun li-l-muʾminīna wa-lā yazīdu ẓ-ẓālimīna ʾillā khasāran
We send down in the Quran that which is a cure and mercy for the faithful; and it increases the wrongdoers only in loss.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Isra’ – Verse 82
82. “And We send down (stage by stage), of the Qur’an, that which is healing and mercy to the believers, and it adds not to the unjust except in loss.”
The Qur’an, The Curing Prescription
As the previous noble verses, dealt with the issues of monotheism and the right of organizing campaigns against paganism and the wrong, this verse, takes up the issue of the extraordinary role of the Qur’an and its constructive impact with respect to this, saying:
“And We send down (stage by stage), of the Qur’an, that which is healing and mercy to the believers…”
The blissful Qur’an is a curing prescription for setting all in order and the betterment of the individuals and the society from all kinds of ethical and social diseases. The holy verse continues saying:
“…and it adds not to the unjust except in loss.”
Incidentally, the Arabic word /min/ does not imply in here ‘some’ which might substantiate the belief in the fact that ‘some parts of the Qur’an are healing’. Contrarily, it suggests that whatever is descended from the Qur’an is healing in itself. Thus, the term /min/ is an explanatory statement; and, although the Qur’an is a guide for all; only those are provided with the light of its guidance who open the window of their soul to receive its revelations, alienating themselves from obstinacy and enmity and are ready to receive it with a sound mind.
Thus, the obstinate people, who have ill intentions, can gain nothing except additional disadvantage. It is like the rain, which, when falling on a swamp, makes stinking smell, though it is pure and clean in nature. Anyway, the reasoning of the Qur’an heals mental stagnation. The admonition of the Qur’an treats well the callousness. The history of the Qur’an makes one disillusioned. Its beauty of harmony and its eloquence attracts the fleeing soul. Its ordinances and commands uproot superstitious beliefs, and its recitation and contemplation in it cure negligence. Recourse to it, cures bodily diseases, and its guidelines illuminate all kinds of darkness.
The Qur’anic healings make a difference when compared with material remedies. They do not have any side-effects and are not outdated. The Qur’anic remedies do not have any expiry date. He, who is cured by the Qur’an, will serve as a cause for curing others. There are no errors or blunders in the prescription cure of the Qur’an. It is always readily available for all. The physician of this medicine not only knows us well but also loves us and, His prescription is for all ages. His prescription and drugs are not generic medicines to have duplicates.
Imam Ali (as) remarks:
“Verily the Qur’an consists a cure for the greatest ailments, namely unbelief, hypocrisy, revolt, and seductions.” 26
The Qur’an is Allah’s words and the Lord’s Book. It is the Divine shining light, and the site of manifestation of Allah. It exhibits Allah’s way; it is the Divine firmly fitted bond, the Divine laws, the curing prescription and a sign of Allah’s favour to human beings. It is a sign of the magnitude of Allah and His eternal miracle. It is the saving flag, a didactic book and an instructive one, and an explicit statement. It is a book of glad tidings, warnings, monotheism, preaching, consciousness and ethics.
The Qur’an is a light without darkness, a guide without aberration, and an endless treasure. It is a book of knowledge, ordinances, history as well as historical analysis. It is a book of politics and administration, consciousness, reflection, and contemplation. It is a book of peace and holy war, a book of the origin and the end. It is a book of faith and belief. The Qur’an is a company to man in the darkness of ignorance and a guiding leader for him in the labyrinths of life. The Qur’an is a book of measurement, justice, fairness, the truth, certainty, the right path, and the straight way.
It recounts the state of the past generations for the admonition of the future ones. The Qur’an promises the righteous believers who practice it, salvation and victory, as well as glory and high esteem. It is a book of invitation, development, virtue, expediency, life and eternity. It is a book of the world of appearances and the innate world; a book of the worldly affairs and that of the Hereafter. It is the book of nature as well as that of metaphysics; the book of the visible as well as that of the invisible; it is the book of Allah and of the people. It provides the examples of good deeds, decent acts, and persuading the people to perform what is good and of dissuading them from what is bad. It is instructive and, it provides credit.
The Qur’an shows the way of Paradise and dissuades one from taking the road to the Hell. It is the firmest path which Allah calls the people to. It is the book of religion and Allah’s permanent ways of treatment. It is the Book of ethics, Gnosticism, Islamic jurisprudence and laws. The Qur’an is the Book of eloquence, fluency, wisdom, and administration. The Qur’an is the Book of education for ‘Man’. It shows the route to the world of spiritual realities. It is the companion to man in his loneliness and keeps him company when in a state of terror.
Certainly, tens of other topics only exhibit parts of the glory and depth of the instructions and the concepts of this Holy Book, which is an ever-lasting miracle of the Messenger of Allah (S). Briefly speaking, this Divine Book and the Qur’anic verses of it provide reasoning and statements for the public, while, serving as a guide and admonition for the virtuous Muslims. The Qur’an says:
“This is an explanation for mankind, and a guidance and an admonition for the pious ones.” 27
Hoping to receive the Divine success so that by reciting, reading, instructing, acquiring cognition of it, its understanding, and practice of this heavenly Book, we may follow the track and the course leading to our happiness and virtue.
The Differences Between Healing and Mercy
We are aware of the fact that ‘healing’ is usually employed as against diseases, defects and deficiencies. Therefore, the first effect that the Qur’an can affect the souls of men is the cleansing of them from all kinds of mental and ethical illnesses of both the individuals and the society. It is, therefore, from this point onward that the phase of ‘favour’ arrives which is characterized by the inculcation of Divine morality and the flourishing of human virtues which are embedded in those people who have received the Qur’anic education.
In other words, the Qur’anic term ‘healing’ is an allusion made to the ‘purification’, while ‘favour’ refers to ‘reconstruction’. Or in philosophical and mystical terms, the former refers to the process of ‘catharsis’28, and the latter alludes to the process of ‘beautification’29. Therefore, whatever emanates from the source of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful, is a favour for the believers; and the Lord has required doing favors from His part30, and He has appointed His Prophet to the world as a favour31, while the Muslims proceed with doing favour to one another32 and His Book also equals favour33.
As the Qur’an comes from Allah’s side, Who is the Creator of man and his nature, its laws are also corresponding to his nature, and are salvaging, and are the means of happiness and grace.
Why Is It that The Oppressors Get Negative Results?
Not only in this verse but also in other verses of the Qur’an we read that the enemies of the truth, instead of being enlightened whole-heartedly by the illumination of the verses, removing these dark spots, they usually add up to their ignorance and wretchedness. This is due to the fact that the very essence of their existence has transformed into another form because of their paganism and their dissidence. Thus, wherever they behold the light of the truth they stand up against it. This opposition against the truth adds to their ‘nasty’ state, thus reinforcing their spirit of rebellion.
In other words, as the disbelievers actually do not observe and practice the ‘commandments’ and ‘Prohibitions’ of the Qur’an, the revelation of each decree adds up to their crime and offence, and, adds up to their disadvantages. The verses of the Qur’an are like the proverb saying that they are like the raindrops, enlivening, which make tulips grow in gardens and make thorns grow in the wilderness. The verse says:
“…and it adds not to the unjust except in loss.”
Anyway, the Qur’an equals cure and mercy for those who are suffering from the love of the world, dependence on material things, and unconditional surrender in face of the passions. And again the Qur’an provides prescription for cure and mercy for the world in every corner of which the flames of war are burning, bowing under the burden of arms race, and which is throwing all its important capital and human resources at the feet of the monster of war and arms.
And, eventually, the Qur’an is a curing prescription for those whose path for Allah’s proximity has been obstructed because of their dark curtains of passions.
Traditions Concerning the Magnitude of the Qur’an
1. The blissful Prophet (S) has remarked:
“I have left two (important) things among you so as not to get astray when grabbing the two. One is the Qur’an, the other one is my family household.” 34
2. The Messenger of Allah (S) said:
“The Qur’an’s excellence over other words and speeches is like the Lord’s superiority over all creatures.” 35
3. The Prophet of Allah (S) has said:
“The Qur’an is the best and excels every thing but the Lord. He who respects the Qur’an, has respected the Lord and he who does not honour the Qur’an, has committed acts of insolence towards the Lord.” 36
4. Hadrat-Imam Rida (as) has quoted Imam-Mūsa Kazim (as) who said:
“Someone asked Imam Sadiq (as):
‘How is it that the more the Qur’an has been read and publicized, the more its refreshing aspect is being added to?’
Imam Sadiq (as) answered:
‘It is because the Lord has not appointed it for a particular time and a certain people. Thus, it is ever fresh and new for every nation in every new epoch until the day of resurrection’.” 37
5. The great Prophet of Islam (S) said:
“Keep always yourselves reminiscent of the Qur’an, for the Qur’an is a ‘useful cure’, a ‘blissful remedy’, and guards off him who appeals to it; and it salvages him who follows it.” 38
6. The blissful Prophet (S) said:
“Those involved in the Qur’an’s matters excel the highest human position next to the prophets and the Divine envoys. Thus, do not overlook and downplay (them and) their rights, for they are valued greatly before Allah.” 39
7. The dear Prophet (S) said:
“The best ones among you are those who learn and teach the Qur’an.” 40
8. Imam Sadiq (as): has remarked:
“The believer who reads the Qur’an and practices it in his youth, the Qur’an is mixed with his flesh and bones (and blood), and the Lord places him alongside the great envoys (the prophets and the Imams) and the benevolent people, and, the Qur’an acts as his advocating defendant in the doomsday.” 41
9. Imam Sadiq (as) said:
“It is appropriate for a believer not to die before learning the Qur’an or being engaged in learning it.” 42
10. The blissful Prophet (S) said:
“Read the Qur’an and practice accordingly. Do not distance yourselves from it; do not exaggerate over it, do not earn a living by it; and, do not seek superiority through it.” 43
It is necessary to conclude this statement also that this prescription is only effective once one acts according to its content; otherwise, one must not expect any results. Therefore, the blissful Prophet (S) has said:
“He who reads the Qur’an and does not act accordingly, the Almighty will muster him blind and tormented on the day of resurrection.” 44
Footnotes