A048
Surah: 005 - Ayah: 048
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5:48
Since Islam is the religion of nature, it is also the universal religion. This means that with respect to knowledge and good deeds there is room in it for many stages. The best example of it is the Sirat-i mustaqim, the straight path, which has many minor stages, but the major and well-known stages are shariat, tariqat, haqiqat and ma'rifat. This can be seen in the Wise Qur'an in the following verses: "(O the people of different religions) for every one of you We appointed a shariat (shirah) and a tariqat (minhah)" (5:48). Similarly, wherever in the Qur'an the word "haqq" is mentioned, there the haqiqat is mentioned, as in the verse (7:105): "Hazrat Musa said: I recognise the truth so I should not say anything about Allah except the truth." Similarly, there are words mentioned in the Qur'an related to ma1 rifat, such as "fa-taVifunaha" (27:93), "yarifun" 2:246; 6:20; 7:46;16:83), "yarifunahum" (7:48), arrfaha" (47:6). This shows that in Islam in addition to shari at and tariqat, haqiqat and marifat are also necessary. Thus according to this Divine system after masjid and khaniqah, it was also necessary to start the establishment of the Jama1at-Kanah and its practices, for although the Prophetic wahy or Divine inspiration ceased at the demise of the Holy Prophet, the fruits and results of the Wise Qur'an and the Prophetic teachings had to appear gradually.
Shariat and Tariqat:
The Holy Qur'an says: "To each one of you We appointed a shar'fat (shifah) and a tariqat (iminhaj)." (5:48). Among the religions of the world every revealed religion has a sharicat and a tariqat so that in addition to its exoteric aspect, people may also practise its esoteric aspect or tariqat. Shifah or shariat means beginning, for as it is said: shara a'l-amra (He started the work). Tariqat is the path, haqiqat is the light of guidance and marifat is the desired destination of the arif.
The Holy Qur'an is not only the verifier of previous heavenly Books, but also their guardian (5:48), because just as the Qur'an in spirituality was in the previous Books (26:196), the previous Books also are in the treasure of the spirit of the Qur'an. It is because of this fact that the Books of all Prophets together are called the Book (al-Kitab), because the light of Prophethood in batin is one, even though in zahir the Prophets are separate.
Today the people of the Book (Jews and Christians) are certainly very clever in worldly matters, but strangely enough, they do not even know the alphabet of the Divine law, i.e. the law of religion. If they were wise, accepting the chain of the Prophets, they would have believed in the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and salutation of God be upon him and his progeny, and tried to see the miracles of the Qur’an, which is the guardian of the previous books or the Book (5:48) and accepted it at once, wholeheartedly and respectfully. For, the stages of spirituality and annihilation in God of those upon whom He has showered His special favours (4:69) are mentioned in this unique and blessed Book, namely the Qur’an.
19. Study verse (5:48) carefully, which is: "To each one of you We have ordained a shariat and a tariqat.”
20. In the Wise Qur'an the word "haqq or al-haqq" is used frequently. In this word is mentioned haqiqat, because it is derived from haqq. Also haqq and haqiqat have the same meaning, as mentioned in al-Munjid: haqqa'l-khabara=to reach the haqiqat (reality) of the news; haqq (pl. huquq) truth, correctness, rightness, rightful possession, property, authentic, real, one's due, duty, just, certitude, death.
21. Marifat is also mentioned in numerous verses of the Mighty Qur'an, such as the mention of the arifs among the people of the Book, who used to recognise the Holy Prophet before his holy advent (2:146; 6:20). They had the vision of his holy light in their spirituality.
22. We have within the circle of our work tried to write more and more on the secrets of marifat, because the ways of peace which are mentioned in the Qur'an are indeed shariat, tariqat, haqiqat and marifat (5:15-16). Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!
Q197 What is the wisdom-filled allusion in verse (5:48): “To each one of you We appointed a law (sharicat) and a way (minhaj)”?
A197 The wisdom-filled allusion in the above is that just as sharicat and tariqat are necessary, haqiqat and macrifat are also necessary, because they are also from Allah. For, in the same verse, God says: “Therefore vie with one another in good deeds.” Qur’anic wisdom says that there is no good deed away from the straight path and from the beginning to the end of this path, there are only good deeds in order to act upon which, a mu’min has to progress gradually until he becomes fana’ fi’llah.
This verse has been referred 11 times.