Interpretation of Fortress 92 (The Night)
Verse no. 14
14. “Therefore I warn you of a Fire blazing fiercely,”
In this noble Verse, the Almighty wants to warn us against adopting the way of distress and to inform us of the fate of the evildoers. This is why He mentions that there is another life after the present one, which includes a blazing Fire.
This Verse reveals God’s Compassion and Sympathy towards us. He warns us of this Fire so that we can avoid it, and that is because of His Clemency and tenderness towards us.
Then, God revealed His Justice, saying:
Verse no. 15
15. “None shall reach it but those most distressed,”
According to this Verse, we say that it is absolutely false to claim – as some people do – that the Almighty may punish the charitable and let the wrongdoer live in comfort. God (glory to Him) is a just Provider, and this Verse declares that none will suffer the intense heat of this Fire and the torment of its burning except the distressed sinners; that is to say, those who cause distress to themselves. They exhaust their spirits with their indulgence, thus depriving it of the bliss which God prepared for them in the other abode, and making it suffer torment and bitter treatment.
However, what makes them wrong themselves and cause such distress and affliction for their spirits? God says:
Verse no. 16
16. “The ones who deny (the truth) and turn away (from God),”
We see that denial of the truth and the guidance brought forth by the Messenger and turning away from God – that is to say, neglecting to perform communication with God – will make a person lose their rank and become immersed in wicked yearnings; this will lead to their becoming distressed and tortured. Certainly, your Provider wrongs nobody.
Verse no. 17
17. “But those most devoted to Allah shall be far removed from it,”
In Arabic, “devotion” is called ‘taqwa’ which means ‘avoidance’. Therefore, a devoted person is one who performs communication with God, through which they enter His Presence and derive light from their Provider. Through this light, they avoid practising forbidden desires or evil actions.
This light also helps them to see the way of goodness and happiness, and therefore this person will begin to do what will purify their spirit and then increase its purity. God says:
Verse no. 18
18. “Those who spend what they have for an increase in purity,”
As previously mentioned, spending money doing good works makes the spirit confident with itself and certain of its benefaction. This helps it to enter into its Provider’s Presence feeling pleased with its behaviour. Through such entry into God’s Presence – that is, through communication with Him – the Godly Light cleans the surface of the spirit and cures it of its defects and diseases. The spirit thus returns pure and immaculate, having put on the garment of perfection and virtue, and now being coloured with a stain from Allah which is better than any other; thus it becomes happy and blissful.
To show that the foundation of such purification is devotion in actions which are clear of any blemish or ill intention, God says:
Verse no. 19
19. “Not in recompense for someone’s favor,”
That is, when those who are most pious give alms and sacrifices, they are not seeking any worldly purpose or repaying someone for their prior charity or favour. Nay! It is the perfection which they have derived from their Provider through their closeness to Him and the sublime morality they have acquired which make them faithful in their actions, and which make them seek nothing except a meeting with their most high Provider. God says:
Verse no. 20
20. “But seeking the Countenance of their Lord, the Most High”
That is, they hope and aspire to see their Provider: the supreme Provider Whose Bounty and comprehensive Favor have neither end nor limit.
Verse no. 21
21. “And soon they will be well-pleased.”
It is clear that if you render good deeds and adopt this path, you will be glad and satisfied with the great donation that your Provider will bestow upon you.
Thus, the groundwork is to achieve piety; that is to say, to ensure that your spirit is always near to its Provider and to attain a permanent link with Him, the Almighty.
If you draw near to God and perform communication with Him, you will be illuminated by His Light and will be kept far from affliction. If you draw far from Him, on the other hand, you will remain blind and distressed. Sacrifice and charity are the means to attain that piety and closeness.
God says: “He that does good does it for his own self, and he that commits evil does so at his own peril. Your Lord is never unjust to His servants.”
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 41, Fussilat (Explained), Verse 46