Interpretation of Fortress 87 (The Most High, Glory to Your Lord in the Highest)
Having revealed how the contemplation of this universe results in entry into God’s Presence, by attaining knowledge about Him and the spirit’s requirement of virtuous actions, the Almighty next addressed His noble Envoy (cpth) saying:
Verse no. 9
9. “Therefore give admonition if (or if not) admonition avails.”
That is, “remind My servants of My Favor and Graces and speak to them about My Might, and do not cease from reminding them of these things whether or not you are successful.”
Then God uncovered the way which – if we adopt it – will make us derive the benefits of this admonition. He says:
Verse no. 10
10. “He who stands in awe (of Allah) will remember,”
Feeling awe of Allah is the only way which will lead us to benefit from the Envoy’s admonition.
However, this awe will not be attained except through examination and speculation.
If people look at this universe and excogitate on its marvels which express the Majesty of God, then their spirits will revere this Creator and believe that He is Great. Through this reverence it will fear Him, and will in turn make it abide by His Commands in submission (this fear is established on the basis of high estimation and love; it is not a terrible fear at all).
Accordingly, a person’s guidance is related only to their own will. If they observe this universe attentively and study it carefully, they will feel glorification and awe, and thus derive advantages from the admonition in question.
Verse no. 11
11. “But it will be ignored by the most miserable one,”
The most miserable people are those who draw misery to their spirits when they befoul them and tire them out with wicked desires.
In fact, anyone who does not use the power of thought or their sight to see God’s Greatness through signs of the universe, and who instead allows themselves to be led by their desires, will be always distressed and heavy-laden. Trouble will never leave them. Therefore their heart will not feel ease and they will not taste the flavor of happiness.
Thus, recollection depends on thinking. As long as people are immersed in their lusts and fail to use their ability to think, they will never remember God or be guided.
If you sincerely desire guidance and wish to repent to Allah, refrain from your forbidden yearnings and your sins, remember death, and then consider the signs of this universe. You will fear your Provider and realize the atrocity that is contained in immorality and breaches of His Commands. This will lead you to change your course and derive benefits from admonition.
To reveal the outcome for the most tortured people, God says:
Verse no. 12
12. “Who will suffer the Greatest Fire,”
The “Greatest Fire” is a fire which contains great intensity and burning pain, as it is great in its continuity and duration.
The miserable have defiled their spirits with the dirt of offence, and have disobeyed their Provider Who overwhelmed them with His Graces. Therefore, when they die, they will sense their diffidence before their Provider due to their deviation. They will feel great contrition for their failure to carry out good actions during their lifetime, consequently losing out on the precious accession. In addition, they will feel grief for having hurt people who are their brothers and sisters in humanity.
This contrition, grief and shame will grow inside them until they find no way to distract themselves from their pains except to throw themselves into the Fire, wishing to forget their unbearable spiritual suffering through having their body burned therein. Indeed, those that do good do it for their own advantage, and those that commit evil do so against themselves. Allah never wrongs them, but they wrong themselves.
Verse no. 13
13. “In which they will then neither die nor live.”
Death is the cessation of sensation.
Life is the feeling of delight, and tasting the relish of happiness.
The miserable and tortured person in question will not die; that is, their feeling of pain will have no end.
Moreover, they will not taste or enjoy anything while in the fire. All food, drink, shade, or beds within the fire are painful and bitter for the spirit.
Verse no. 14
14. “Indeed, successful shall be those who purify themselves,”
‘Success’ in Arabic is ‘Falah’ which means ‘cultivation’. To be “successful” is to prepare yourself and make yourself ready to perform good actions willingly.
To purify yourself is to help yourself to be cured and virtuous.
This noble Verse tells us that the person who endeavors to reclaim their spirit until it becomes cured – that is, pure and clear from all evil – has succeeded. Their spirit will become accepting and capable of being charitable, seeking out good actions and willing to do favors.
A person does not succeed unless their spirit becomes pure and clear of wicked desires. Without this, their spirit will not be competent or inclined to perform good actions.
God then explained to us the way that leads to purification. He says:
Verse no. 15
15. “Who remember the Name of their Lord and so communicate with Him,”
That is, this person is continually reminding themselves of the Favor and Kindness of their Provider, of His Sympathy and Tenderness, and of His Omnipotence and Grandeur. They persist in doing so until their spirit enters God’s Presence, glorifying Him. With such an entry they attain a link with their Creator, which then will purify their spirit.
If you want to be successful – that is to say, if you want your spirit to be ready to do good actions and to be fond of virtue – you must purify this spirit. This purification is accomplished by communication with Allah, which is achieved after feeling awe.
However, this awe arises in the spirit only through continuous remembrance of Allah, and specifically through remembrance of His Greatness and Power, His Boons and Kindness, and all His Supreme Attributes.
Verse no. 16
16. “Yet you (oblivious people) prefer the worldly life,”
If you do not adopt this path or diligently try to purify your spirit and clear it, this means that you prefer the mean yearnings and the lower life to the behaviour and good actions which lead to success.
Verse no. 17
17. “Even though the life to come is better and more lasting.”
The other abode is better than all of the bliss in this lower existence. The pleasures of the life to come are incomparable with those of this life. The life to come is also better than the present life in its continuity and eternity, for the bliss of this life is temporal and soon vanishes, but the bliss to come is unbroken and lasts forever.
Verse no. 18-19
18. “All of this is in the earlier scriptures:
19. “The scriptures of Abraham and Moses.”
Finally, God clarifies that the revelation He has sent to all humankind is the same and never changes. A person has no way to purify their spirit except by entering into the Presence of their Provider. When they enter that Presence and attain a link with Him, the Almighty, they will become spotless and rise high. On the contrary, when they oppose and shun God, they will be evil and become low in grade.
The Almighty previously revealed all of the guidance that is implied in this Fortress in the scriptures which came before, which He sent down upon our masters Abraham (cpth) and Moses (cpth). Therefore He says: “All of this is in the earlier scriptures: the scriptures of Abraham and Moses.”
Praise is to God, the Provider of all worlds.
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