The Human Encounter with the Divine

The journey toward God, as articulated in Ayatollah Jawadi Amuli’s Tafsir al-Tasnim, is unique in that its destination is not a finite point but rather the infinite reality of God. This infinite nature of the goal renders the journey itself boundless, an unceasing endeavor where every step brings the traveler closer to an encounter with the Divine. The Qur’anic portrayal of this meeting is universal—everyone, regardless of their spiritual state, will ultimately meet God. However, the nature of this encounter varies profoundly, depending on the path one chooses in life.

God, who is the ultimate destination, manifests Himself through His beautiful names and attributes. He is both the Most Merciful of the merciful (arḥam al-rāḥimīn) and the Most Severe of punishers (ashadd al-muʿāqibīn). The meeting with God is thus not singular in its form; it reflects the spiritual state of the individual. For some, this encounter is a meeting with His mercy and forgiveness, while for others, it is an experience of His wrath and justice. This divergence is vividly described in the Qur’an: “O man! Surely you are striving toward your Lord with [great] exertion, and you will meet Him” (84:6). Yet the outcomes differ drastically—those who receive their book of deeds in their right hand will experience ease and joy, while those who receive it behind their backs will face destruction and suffering (84:7–12). The imagery of receiving the book from behind one’s back signifies the deliberate neglect of divine guidance in this world, such as casting aside the Qur’an, as noted in “They threw it behind their backs” (3:187).

This inevitability of meeting God is further compared to water flowing toward the sea. Large rivers, symbolizing the righteous, plunge deeply into the ocean, representing the infinite mercy and grace of God. In contrast, small streams, indicative of those with a shallow connection to the Divine, barely touch the sea’s surface. Regardless of their spiritual depth, all waters eventually meet the sea, just as all human beings will inevitably meet God.

No one, whether believer or disbeliever, can escape this encounter. The Qur’an emphasizes that attempts to evade or undermine divine authority are futile: “And those who strive against Our signs to frustrate them, they will be brought to the punishment” (34:38). The disbelievers who deny or oppose divine guidance are met with a severe punishment, unparalleled in its intensity: “So on that Day none will punish as He will punish, and none will bind as He will bind” (89:25–26).

Among the countless paths that lead to God, only one is straight, guiding the traveler to His mercy and beauty. This is the ṣirāṭ al-mustaqīm (the straight path) sought in every prayer through the verse “Guide us to the straight path” (1:6). All other paths, however, lead astray, culminating in an encounter with God’s wrath. The Qur’an warns against deviating from the straight path: “And this is My straight path, so follow it; and do not follow other ways” (6:153). For those who stray, the ultimate destination is Hell, as stated in “Then lead them to the path of Hellfire” (37:23).

While the righteous meet the beauty and mercy of God, the misguided are veiled from this divine beauty. The Qur’an vividly describes their fate: “No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be partitioned” (83:15). This partition signifies a spiritual barrier, preventing them from experiencing God’s beauty. Instead, they encounter His majesty and wrath, leading to profound regret as they exclaim: “Our Lord, we have seen and heard” (32:12).

Ultimately, the human encounter with the Divine is inevitable and all-encompassing, but its nature depends on the individual’s choices in this world. The Qur’anic narratives in Tafsir al-Tasnim vividly illustrate that the journey to God is both a promise and a responsibility. It invites reflection on one’s path, urging humanity to strive toward the beauty of God’s mercy rather than the severity of His majesty.

Reference

Tafsir al-Tasnim (Surah Al-Hamd)