A027

Surah: 008 - Ayah: 027

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8:27

related refs 35:32

The Qur’an and Imamat are the Trusts of God and the Prophet

“Ya ayyuha’lladhina amanu la takhunu’llaha wa’r-rasula watakhunu amanatikum wa-antum taclamun = O you who believe, betray not the trust of Allah and the Messenger, nor knowingly betray your trusts” (8:27).

The gist of this verse is that the reality of the Qur’an and the status of the progeny of Hadrat Muhammad (i.e. Imamat) are the trusts of God and the Prophet, which mu’mins must not betray. That is, they should not claim these sacred trusts and must understand that they are the possessions of God and the Prophet. They should believe that God, the Prophet and the one whom God and His Prophet have appointed know the real meaning of the Qur’an. And regarding the rank of Imamat, they should believe that it belongs to the Prophet and after him to his progeny and the ummat has no right to interfere in it. The example of such a belief and concept amounts to execute the trusts of God and the Prophet faithfully and benefit from them according to the will of God and the Prophet.

As for “Nor knowingly betray your trusts”, by this part of the verse God means that if you betray the trusts of God and the Prophet, then you betray your own trusts knowingly, in the sense that if someone claims to have knowledge and wisdom of the Qur’an without acquiring it from the progeny of the Prophet, i.e. the Imam of the time, he betrays the trusts of God and the Prophet and as a result of that, he betrays his own trust, which is with the Imam of the time. And he himself will be accountable for the betrayal of his trust. For, he was aware that due to deviation from the straight path he will not be able to see the treasurer of the Divine knowledge and thus he will not be able to enter the city of knowledge and wisdom. As Mawlana cAli has said: “I am the interpreter of the revelation of God”. He has also said: “I am the treasurer of the knowledge of God”. The holy Prophet has said: “I am the city of knowledge and cAli is its gate, whoever wants knowledge should come through the gate”. Further, in this connection, God has said: “Then we gave the Book as inheritance unto those (i.e. the Imams) whom (on the basis of their natural capability) We selected of our servants. For, of the (common) servants there are some who (due to disobedience) wrong themselves and of them are some who follow a middle course (between good and bad) and of them are some who excel (others) in good deeds, by Allah’s permission. That is the great favour” (35:32).

Du'a Essence of Ibadat (52)


This verse has been referred 1 times.