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Asad 15
This, I believe, is the meaning of the phrase min al-amr
in the above context, although most of the classical
commentators are of the opinion that amr signifies here
"religion" (din), and interpret the whole phrase,
accordingly, as "of what pertains to religion". Since,
however, the common denominator in all the possible
meanings of the term amr - e.g., "command", "injunction",
"ordinance", "matter [of concern]", "event", "action",
etc. - is the element of purpose, whether implied or
explicit, we may safely assume that this is the meaning
of the term in the above elliptic phrase, which obviously
alludes to the purpose underlying all divine revelation
and, consequently, man's faith in it. Now from the
totality of the Qur'anic teachings it becomes apparent
that the innermost purpose of all true faith is, firstly,
a realization of the existence of God and of every human
being's responsibility to Him; secondly, man's attaining
to a consciousness of his own dignity as a positive
element - a logically necessary element - in God's plan
of creation and, thus, achieving freedom from all manner
of superstitions and irrational fears; and, lastly,
making man aware that whatever good or evil he does is
but done for the benefit, or to the detriment, of his own
self (as expressed in verse {15} above).
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