Divine Rituals: A Manifestation of Inner Piety
Whoever is righteous within will be humble and reverent before the Sha’a’ir Allah (signs of God).
Sha’a’ir is the plural of Sha’ira and refer to the signs that are established to perform certain acts of worship.
God says in the Holy Quran: “That (shall be so); and whoever respects the signs of Allah, this surely is (the outcome) of the piety of hearts” (Verse 32 of Surah Hajj)
In this verse, the pronoun
In this verse, the pronoun "fa-innahā" (for indeed it) refers to the reverence of the Sha’a’ir, meaning that this respect for God’s signs arises from the piety of the heart. In other words, there is a deep connection between the human heart and the outward honoring of these Sha’a’ir.
The addition of “piety” to “hearts” also indicates that the true source of piety is the inner self and pure intention, not outward displays or deceptive behaviors. Piety that exists only in words or claimed actions without being rooted in the heart is a superficial piety stemming from hypocrisy and holds no real value.
The Ruh al-Ma’ani Quran Exegesis emphasizes that the word “min” (from) in this sentence either indicates a cause or a starting point. In both cases, it conveys that reverence for the Sha’a’ir either originates from heartfelt piety or is practiced in order to achieve it. Fakhr al-Din al-Razi also refers to the Sha’a’ir as signs meant to make the divine matter known; signs that should not be neglected but approached eagerly and without excuse, responding wholeheartedly to God’s call.
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Several important messages emerge from this verse: inner piety must be reflected in behavior and worship; neglecting the Sha’a’ir indicates weakness in the piety of the heart; honoring these signs should come from sincerity and righteousness, not competition or hypocrisy; and ultimately, it is the human heart that serves as the measure and place of judgment before the Lord.
