Derived from the lecture series of Nekounam, may his sanctity be preserved, Session (159)
This work presents a profound and systematic reflection on verses 6 to 20 of Surah Al-Baqarah, which are devoted to elucidating the characteristics of disbelievers and hypocrites. These verses, serving as a beacon along the path of guidance, depict various human states in relation to divine truth. Employing a scientific, psychological, and sociological approach, this exegesis examines the concepts of disbelief and hypocrisy, their psychological and doctrinal features, and their effects on the individual and society. The objective is to provide a coherent and academic text, utilising refined metaphors and precise analyses, suitable for highly educated audiences.
Man is an infinite ocean of existential capacities, comprising sensation, intellect, and heart. These dimensions, like the distinct gears of a vehicle, each operate under specific conditions.
Sensation is distributed throughout the human body, not only in the hands and feet but also in internal organs such as the stomach and intestines.
In the Holy Quran, intellect is not presented as a specific organ but appears as a verb (e.g., yaqiloon). Like sensation, intellect is diffuse and lacks a distinct locus.
Unlike sensation and intellect, the heart is explicitly mentioned in the Quran as a specific organ, with designations such as qalb, quloob, adr, and fud.
The claim of two hearts (physical and spiritual) lacks scientific substantiation. Man possesses only one heart, which serves as the centre of both spiritual and physical perceptions.
In the Quran, sam (hearing) is always singular, whereas baar (sight) appears both in singular and plural forms. This distinction reflects their differentiated characteristics.
Literary exegeses that consider sam as plural because of its verbal noun form are insufficient and neglect deeper semantic dimensions.
Hearing is a passive receptacle that becomes sealed, whereas sight is an active receptacle upon which a veil (curtain) falls.
Indeed, those who disbelieveit is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe.
This verse indicates the closed nature of the disbelievers towards guidance.
Disbelief signifies dogmatism or a closed mind that obstructs acceptance of truth.
Not all disbelievers are identical; some are impure, some pure, some sealed, and others unsealed.
The punishment of disbelievers is not limited to the Hereafter but also manifests in this world as a painful torment.
Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their eyes is a veil.
The sealing of the heart and hearing is due to their passive nature, whereas sight, being active, is veiled.
The heart, beyond being sealed, also experiences aknatu (veil), disease, and hardness, indicative of complete spiritual obstruction.
And of the people are some who say, We believe in Allah and the Last Day, but they are not believers.
Hypocrites claim faith outwardly but lack internal belief.
They wish to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.
Through deceit, hypocrites lead themselves into misguidance.
In their hearts is a disease, so Allah has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie.
Hypocrisy stems from a heart disease that is exacerbated by falsehood.
And when it is said to them, Do not cause corruption on the earth, they say, We are but reformers.
Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.
Folly of the Hypocrites
And when it is said to them, Believe as the people have believed, they say, Shall we believe as the foolish have believed? Indeed, it is they who are the foolish, but they know not.
The hypocrites designate the believers as foolish, whereas in reality, they themselves are the foolish ones.
Mockery by the Hypocrites
And when they meet those who believe, they say, We believe; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, Indeed, we are with you; we were only mocking.
The hypocrites mock the believers through duplicity.
Divine Mockery
Allah mocks them and prolongs them in their transgression while they wander blindly.
Divine mockery reflects the behaviour of the hypocrites and the consequence of their actions.
The Hypocrites Unprofitable Trade
Those are the ones who have bought error in exchange for guidance, so their trade has brought no profit, nor were they guided.
By choosing misguidance, the hypocrites trade becomes unprofitable.
First Parable of the Hypocrites (Arsonists)
Their example is like one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness so they could not see.
This parable points to the instability of hypocrisy and the fall of the hypocrites into darkness.
The Hypocrites are Deaf, Dumb, and Blind
Deaf, dumb and blind so they do not return.
The hypocrites are deprived of spiritual faculties and cannot return to guidance.
Second Parable of the Hypocrites (Rain and Thunderbolt)
Or [their deeds] are like a rainstorm from the sky, within which is darkness, thunder, and lightning.
This parable illustrates the fear and confusion of the hypocrites when confronted with the truth.
The Hypocrites Fear of the Truth
They put their fingers in their ears out of dread of death from the thunderbolt.
The hypocrites flee from the truth out of fear.
The Hypocrites Wandering
Whenever it is light for them, they walk therein; but when darkness covers them, they stand still.
The hypocrites move forward in the light of divine verses but halt in the darkness of misguidance.
Divine Power over the Hypocrites
And if Allah had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight.
God, by His power, leaves the hypocrites in their rebellion.
Criticism of Literature-Based Exegesis
Exegeses that rely solely on literature, such as those found in traditional books, lose the profound meaning of the Holy Quran.
Criticism of Religious Science
Religious science, due to limitations in scientific and experimental analysis, falls short of a deep understanding of the Holy Quran.
The Divine Breath
The Divine breath in humans does not imply the infusion of spirit as a material act (such as inflation), but rather indicates the existential authority of humans.
Authority and Perception
A humans capacity to perceive truth corresponds to their existential authority, like a magnet attracting according to its power.
Final Summary
The exegesis of verses 6 to 20 of Surah Al-Baqarah, focusing on disbelief and hypocrisy, provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the obstacles to divine guidance. Disbelief is portrayed as intellectual blockage, and hypocrisy as a cardiac disease, both distancing humans from the truth. The heart, as the centre of perception, is deprived of guidance in disbelievers through closure and in hypocrites through disease and folly. The parables of the arsonist and the rain accompanied by thunder beautifully depict the instability and confusion of the hypocrites. The psychological analysis of these verses presents disbelief and hypocrisy as states of closure and duality, exacerbated by human mischoices. The critique of traditional exegeses and emphasis on the necessity of a scientific approach pave the way for a deeper understanding of the Holy Quran. This interpretation, by providing a systematic viewpoint, underscores human responsibility regarding guidance and the imperative vigilance against disbelief and hypocrisy.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
