The Reality of the Shari’at (Revealed Law) And its Necessity
In the Holy Quraan Majeed Allah Ta’aala addresses Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam saying:
ثُمَّ جَعَلناكَ عَلىٰ شَريعَةٍ مِنَ الأَمرِ فَاتَّبِعها وَلا تَتَّبِع أَهواءَ الَّذينَ لا يَعلَمونَ
(Surah الجاثية Verse 18 )
“And now have We set thee (O Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) on an ordained way of (Our) commandment; so follow it, and follow not the whims of those who know not.”
هٰذا بَصائِرُ لِلنّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحمَةٌ لِقَومٍ يوقِنونَ
(Surah الجاثية Verse 20 )
“This is enlightenment for mankind and guidance and mercy for a people who are certain [in faith].”
- بَصائِرُ is the plural of بَصِيْرَتْ and بَصِيْرَتْ means a spiritual, inner light. Just as how بَصَرَ means to “look” i.e. apparent light. Thus the Shari’at is a بَصائِر, which means it is inner enlightenment.
- The Shariat is هُدًى which is absolute and complete Hidayat (Guidance). That through the Shari’at the road is seen and delivers one to the maqsood (objective).
- The Shariat is also رَحمَةٌ (mercy) which is the goal and the ultimate success.
It is as if the Shari’at is a combination of three things which the traveller and the seeker are most in need of. When a person sets out to reach a certain objective then he will have a goal and a way/mode through which the path becomes clear.
We should be thankful to Allah Ta’aala Who is saying to us that the Shari’at is such a set of regulations which are a combination of three aspects.
هٰذا بَصائِرُ – These are your eyes as well, وَهُدًى – and a guided path which is also determined from the Shari’at. وَرَحمَةٌ – And mercy, the ultimate objective which is ascertained by treading our lives on the path of the Shari’at.
لِقَومٍ يوقِنونَ – Thus the Shari’at is a rahmat, however not for every individual, but for those who have Yaqeen (conviction). Thus the acquirement of Yaqeen is a fundamental objective to reap the fruits of the Shari’at.
To be Continued Inshaa Allah..
Source: Shari’at and Tariqat – Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Rahmatullahi Alaih
