Saad (The letter Saad)

69. “I had no knowledge of the High Council when they disputed.”

70. “Naught is revealed to me save that I am a clear Warner.”

The purpose of the Qur’anic phrase: /mala’-il-’a‘la/ (High Council) is the same thing that is said in Surah An-Najm, No. 53 verse 7:

“While he was in the highest part of the horizon”.

And the aim of Mi‘raj (Muhammad’s ascension to Heaven) was the elevation of the level of the knowledge of the Prophet (S):

“…that We show him (some) of Our signs…”1

In this holy verse, as a premise for mentioning the event of the creation of Adam and the high value of the Essence of Man so much so that all angels prostrate before him, it says:

“I had no knowledge of the high Council when they disputed.”

In the next verse he announces that his knowledge is only by the way of revelation.

The verse says:

“Naught is revealed to me save that I am a clear Warner.”

Though the angels had no dispute and enmity with Allah, yet as soon as He, addressing them, said:

“Verily I am appointing on the earth a deputy’…”

They began debating with each other and

“…they said: ‘Will you place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood…?”

Then, in answer to them, He said:

“…‘Assuredly I know what you know not.”2

These debates have been called ‘dispute’ which is a permissible action, and, as we pointed out, this, in fact, is a premise for the coming verses which talk about the creation of Adam.

There is also another probability that the Qur’anic phrase: /mala’-il-’a‘la/ has a vast meaning which envelops even Satan, because at that time Satan was in the row of the angels and then he disputed with Allah and protested Him, and for this very reason he was sent out from the presence of Allah. But the first commentary is more suitable.

In several Islamic narrations recorded by both Sunnite and Shi‘ah, we recite that once the Prophet (S) asked one of his companions:

“Do you know about what the angels of the High Council dispute?”

He answered:

“No”.

The Prophet (S) said:

“They disputed about Kaffarat (the things compensate the sins) and Darajat (whatever increase the man’s degrees). So ‘Kaffarat’ include: taking ablution with cold water in winter, going toward the congregation prayer, and waiting for a prayer after another prayer, while ‘Darajat’ refers to much greeting, feeding food to others, and establishing midnight prayer when people’s eyes are asleep.”3

Of course, this point is also notable that the lack of Prophet’s knowledge does not mean he did not know anything from him in this regard, but it means that he knew whatever was revealed to him.

Regarding the verse:

“I had no knowledge of the high council when they disputed.”

some Islamic commentators have said:

“I was unaware of the above world when people were disputing about Ali’s guardianship, but in the voyage to Mi‘raj, the guardianship of Ali-ibn-Abitalib was discussed and was confirmed. Then do not think that his Imamate is my own personal attitude, whatever is it is the Divine revelation.”4