Man's Acceptance of the Divine Trust in Verse 72 of Surah Al-Ahzab

Template:شروع متنTemplate:سوال What is meant by the Divine Trust in verse 72 of Surah Al-Ahzab? Template:پایان سوالTrust (Amanah) in the interpretations of exegetes is defined as; perfection, the capacity for evolution, obedience, detachment from everything, and fana' fi Allah (annihilation in God).

Meaning of the Offering of the Trust

Exegetes have presented various views regarding the meaning of God's offering of the trust to the heavens, earth, and mountains, in relation to the verse Template:قرآن:

• "Offering" is used in its metaphorical sense. The verse is merely a parable and a way of expressing a state. The meaning of the verse is that if it were offered and they had consciousness, they would not accept it due to the greatness and difficulty of the trust.

• The trust of God is heavier than the heavens, earth, and mountains, and they are unable to bear it. Allameh Tabataba'i also holds a view similar to this.
• Individuals such as Abu Ali al-Jubba'i, a scholar of the Mu'tazila, believe that the offering was in its literal sense, and the meaning is that the trust was offered to the inhabitants of the heavens, earth, and mountains, and only man accepted it.
• Most exegetes who followed mystical schools believe that "offering" is meant in its literal sense, and since in the Quranic view, all existence possesses consciousness, there is no impediment to a conversation between God and the beings of the world. This verse also indicates a true form of address between God and the heavens and earth, albeit in a language appropriate to them.

Meaning of Trust

Allameh Tabataba'i considers the trust to be a perfection achieved through correct beliefs, righteous deeds, and the path of spiritual development. He believes that in this perfection, no being, neither the heavens nor the earth nor anything else, shares with man. And God has purified him for Himself.

In 'Tafsir-e Nemouneh', the Divine Trust is considered to be the capacity for perfection and the status of the perfect human, along with will and choice. Some have stated that God's intention for the trust is obedience, and Mulla Sadra considered the trust to be detachment from everything and fana' fi Allah.

It is narrated from Ibn Mas'ud, a companion of Prophet Muhammad, that the trust is performing five prayers at their appointed times, giving zakat from one's wealth, fasting in the month of Ramadan, performing Hajj, speaking truthfully, and so on.

Man's Capacity to Bear the Trust

Man's capacity and ability to undertake the Divine Trust is the greatest and most important advantage of man over other beings. Man is considered to be willing to accept the Divine Trust due to the potential hidden within his being. Allameh Tabataba'i believes that if we compare divine guardianship with the state of the heavens and earth, we realize that they cannot bear this trust, and only man can be its bearer. He believes that the meaning of the heavens and earth refusing and man accepting it is that there is a potential and qualification in man that is not in the heavens and earth.