An-Nahl (The Bee)

16. “And landmarks (too), and by the star they find the right way.”

We need landmarks for moving in the deserts and finding our way. The natural signs guide us during day-time and the stars lead us by night, to both of which Allah makes allusions in this verse.

It says:

“And landmarks (too), and by the star they find the right way.”

We do not only need signs for finding our right way from circumlocution roads which lead us astray, but we also need clear signs for knowing the right from wrong in the midst of our desires, instincts, and of the despotic methods of dictators.

The Prophet (S) has designated and assigned some symbols to know the truth after him when people need it and when they are wandering aimlessly by looking at them.

In many quotations from the immaculate Im ams (as) we have it that /najm/ (star) is interpreted as the Prophet (S) and /‘al am at/ (symbols) is interpreted as the Imams, in which case we have reference made to the spiritual commentary of this verse of the Qur’an.

Imam Sadiq (as) in a tradition has said:

“The ‘star’ reflects the Messenger of Allah, and ‘symbols’ alludes to the Imams (as)”

And Imam Sadiq (as) also states:

“We are the symbols”.

One of the best examples and cases of those so-called ‘symbols’ are Hadrat Zahra, and Imam Husayn (as).¹