Quran Garden

Session 283

Chapter 2

Verse 256

a continuation

There is no compulsion in religion: The right course has become distinct from error, so whoever rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has grasped the firmest hand-hold, one that will never break. God is all hearing and all knowing. (Chapter 2: Verse 256)

Let’s start by exploring the phrase: ‘The right course has become distinct from error.’ The ‘right course’ is the path of salvation, and "the error” is the path to destruction. Allah clarifies further in the following verse:

I will keep distracted from My signs those who behave arrogantly on Earth without any right, and who, even if they see every sign, will not believe in them; they will not follow the right course if they see it but will take the way of error if they see that.  This is because they denied Our signs and paid them no heed (7:146)

The opposite of the ‘right course’ is the ‘the way of error’ translated from the Arabic origin ‘Al-ghay.’  When a traveler in the desert loses his path, we use the verb ‘ghawa’ which not only means that the man is lost but also means that he in danger.  Allah teaches us that arrogance and injustice will be rewarded with misguidance and ruin.  God’=

The verse continues: "so whoever rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has grasped the firmest hand-hold, one that will never break." Take note that God mentioned renouncing ‘the powers of evil’ before He mentioned belief in God.  Why, you may ask? We answer that purifying your heart from all evil is a prerequisite to faith in God.  You must let go of all other beliefs first, and then embrace faith into your heart.  We wash our clothes from all dirt first, and only then, we iron them and put them on. 

‘The powers of evil’ is translated from the Arabic origin ‘Taghoot.’  The translation ‘powers of evil’ does not embody the full meaning of ‘Taghoot,’ so let’s take a moment to explain the word further.  ‘Taghoot’ is derived from the root ‘tagha’, and the word ‘Taghoot’ is in the superlative exaggerated form.  

‘The powers of evil’ refer to Satan and to those who use their whims and desires to legislate and declare who is a proper believer, and who is not.  They trade faith for temporary worldly power.  “Taghoot’ is used for sorcerers and fraudsters.  It is also used for anyone who transgresses and exceeds his or her boundaries.  ‘The powers of evil’ cover a wide spectrum from tyrants to demons and witch doctors, and especially, to Satan because he is the origin of transgression. 

Another distinctive attribute of a ‘Taghoot’ is the one who increases in tyranny if he is obeyed.  You often see that in the early years of a dictator, he tests the people with small transgressions.  If he sees that the people have followed, or turned a blind eye, he transgresses and terrorizes further and so on.  God says describing Pharaoh:

So he incited his people to levity, and they obeyed him: surely they were perverse people. (43:54)

A tyrant incites people to transgress over the rights of others one small step at a time.  He continues until he becomes a dictator.  No one became a dictator overnight; it is a gradual process, and often a large portion of the population act as enablers until it becomes a system of ‘taghoot.’  It is obedience that makes the ‘taghoot’ increase in transgression.  

There are also corrupt priests and imams who abuse their knowledge and power to serve tyrants in the name of religion.  Many media moguls abuse their powers to instill fear and foment hate among people.  ‘Taghoot’ encompasses all of these meanings. 

Allah wants you to cleanse your heart from all types of evil, and then turn to Him in pure worship.  He says: ‘so whoever rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has grasped the firmest hand-hold, one that will never break.’  The word ’grasped´ is translated from the Arabic origin "istmsaka" which is an exaggerated form of ‘to hold’ or “masaka."  "Istamsaka" means to grasp firmly because adhering to God’s teachings is a struggle for the soul.  Why? Because as long as you are on God’s path, satan would not leave you alone.  You will also face much opposition and temptation from many elements of society.  Thus, it is not sufficient to hold; rather you have to grasp firmly to your faith.  God says narrating satan’s words:

He said, ‘By Your misguidance of me, I will lie in ambush for them on your straight path. I will come at them- from their front and their back, from their right and their left- and You will find that most of them are ungrateful.’ (7:16,17)

The verse continues: “whoever rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has grasped the firmest hand-hold, one that will never break.” The ‘Firmest Handhold’ translated from the Arabic origin ‘Al Urwatul wuthqa’ which has a reference from the desert environment.  It is a tightly-wound heavy-duty rope commonly used to tie the bucket which is lowered down into the well to draw water.  It is the most important rope because it represents our link to the source of life and sustenance in the desert.  Likewise, God’s teachings are our link to the source of life and sustenance for the soul.