Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)

24. “O you who have Faith! Answer Allah and the Messenger when he invites you to that which gives you life, and know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart, and that unto Him you shall be gathered.”

There are different kinds of life:

1 - Vegetal life:

“...Allah gives life to the earth after its death...” (Surah Al-Hadid, No. 57, verse 17)

2- Animal life:

“...the giver of life to the dead...” (Surah Fussilat, No. 41, verse 39)

3- Mental life:

“...who was dead then We raised him to life...” (Surah Al- An’am, No. 6, verse 122)

4- Eternal life:

“...O! would that I had sent before for (this) my life!” (Surah Al-Fajr, No. 89, verse 24)

The purpose of the life, which comes into being by the acceptance of the invitation of prophets, is not the animal life, since without the effects and affluence of prophets this sort of life exists, too. Then, the objective of this life is the mental, intellectual, and spiritual life.

The phrase: ‘Allah intervenes between a man and his heart’ indicates that Allah is aware and present everywhere, and He encompasses everything so that He is closer to us than our jugular vein is. All bounties and successes belong to Him, and the activities of intellect and soul are under His authority, too.

However, the acceptance of the Prophet's invitation is the same as the acceptance of Allah's invitation; and the real life of man lies in Faith and righteous deed, to which prophets have invited, too.

The verse says:

“O you have Faith! Answer Allah and the Messenger when he invites you to that which gives you life...”

The ordinances of Islam gives spiritual life to the believers, the same as some medicine or surgery can be life-giving to a sick person.

Going alongside the way of Allah (s.w.t) and divine prophets (as) is the real life, while abandoning it is the death of humanity.

According to the Islamic literatures, one of the aspects of goodly life is the acceptance of the call of the Prophet of Islam (S) to the subject of mastership of Ali-ibn-Abitalib (as) and his Ahl-ul-Bayt (as).¹

He who believes in Allah's omnipresence and omnipotence does not disobey the invitation of prophets. Therefore, as long as you are alive and you have respite, embrace the Truth. (According to this interpretation, the phrase ‘...Allah intervenes between a man and his heart’, metaphorically, means death.)

“...and know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart...”

Among the aspects of the phrase: ‘Allah intervenes between a man and his heart’ there are: the effacement of infidelity and confirming Faith, the effacement of negligence and doubt and confirming recollection and certainty.²

All of you will be gathered on the Resurrection Day, then do respond to the invitation of prophets positively. The verse ends as follows:

“...and that unto Him you shall be gathered.”