of Nokounam Session 177
Surah Al-Baqarah, as a resplendent gem within the treasury of the Holy Qur'an, with its profound and guiding verses, stands as an unparalleled guide for humanity. Verse sixteen of this Surah, by elucidating the conscious choice of the hypocrites in trading misguidance in lieu of guidance, opens a gateway towards understanding human responsibility regarding divine blessings.
This treatise, adopting a scholarly and exalted approach, conducts a comprehensive analysis of this verse from linguistic, conceptual, and exegetical perspectives. The objective is to offer a systematic viewpoint for an erudite and specialised audience, integrating the lecture content with supplementary analyses to facilitate a deeper comprehension of Qur'anic knowledge.
The present text, employing dignified language befitting an academic milieu, conveys all details with thorough explanation and, through literary metaphors and allegories, enhances its semantic richness.
Translation: These are the ones who have purchased error in exchange for guidance, so their transaction did not prosper, nor were they rightly guided.
Verse sixteen, by portraying the hypocrites who deliberately chose misguidance over guidance, resembles a mirror reflecting the existential loss inherent in their transaction.
The word "اشتروا" in the Qur'anic lexicon denotes purchase or transaction. At a micro level, it refers to fulfilling daily needs; however, on a macro scale, it signifies a purposeful, profit-oriented trade. In this verse, "اشتروا" alludes to the grand trade of the hypocrites in electing misguidance instead of guidance.
In every trade, a trader pursues two goals: preserving the initial capital and securing profit. The hypocrites have set divine blessings (intellect, heart, youth, and life) as the price and in return purchased misguidance.
The verse uses "فما ربحت تجارتهم" ("their transaction did not prosper") instead of "خسرت تجارتهم" ("their transaction incurred loss"). This lexical choice is due to the focus on the subject (the hypocrite) rather than the object (the transaction). The hypocrites sought profit but failed to attain it.
The verse centres on the hypocrite, who sought profit (apparent guidance or worldly benefits), yet not only did not profit, but lost his existential capital. Had the focus been the transaction itself, "خسرت" would have been more appropriate.
The hypocrites entered the transaction with the intention of gaining profit (apparent guidance or material benefits), yet their purpose was contradicted as their transaction yielded no profit. This contradiction serves as a barrier blocking the hypocrites path to guidance.
In the Qur'anic transaction, Thaman refers to divine blessings (intellect, heart, youth, life) and Muthman denotes the outcome of the transaction (guidance or misguidance). The hypocrites have offered their blessings as the price and received misguidance as the commodity.
Some interpretations mistakenly regard بالهدى as the price and الضلالة as the commodity, whereas بالهدى is actually the commodity and divine blessings are the price. This error obscures the true meaning of the verse like a veil.
Divine blessings such as intellect, heart, youth, and life constitute the capital employed by humans in their existential transaction. The hypocrite squanders this capital in pursuit of misguidance.
The hypocrites transaction is like a farmer sowing good seeds in barren land and harvesting loss instead of yield. This simile reveals the depth of the hypocrites detriment.
The believer also expends blessings (youth, wealth, life) but purchases guidance, while the hypocrite chooses misguidance. This difference represents two opposing paths leading to felicity or ruin.
The Fitrah, as an intrinsic human trait, is not subject to transaction. What the hypocrite expends in the trade of misguidance are divine blessings, not the Fitrah.
The hypocrite consciously and voluntarily selects misguidance, just as the believer knowingly chooses guidance. This conscious choice underlines human accountability regarding their actions.
Faulty exegeses, due to neglecting correct conceptions, have caused deviations in understanding the verses. Correcting these misconceptions is akin to reconstructing a structure with a weakened foundation.
Problems in the humanities, especially in Qur'anic exegesis, stem from incorrect conceptions. Reconstruction of conceptions is a prerequisite for valid affirmations and sound beliefs.
Educational methods in religious sciences, due to lack of focus on accurate conceptions, have resulted in superficial understanding of religious texts. This deficiency acts as a barrier halting the flow of religious knowledge.
Verse sixteen of Surah Al-Baqarah, by elucidating the existential transaction of the hypocrites, imparts profound lessons on human responsibility and free will. The hypocrites, by expending divine blessings on misguidance, have not only failed to attain the profit of guidance but have also lost their existential capital. The distinction between Thaman (divine blessings) and Muthman (guidance or misguidance) is the key to precise understanding of this verse.
Criticism of faulty interpretations and emphasis on reconstructing conceptions signify the necessity of a scientific and methodological approach to Qur'anic exegesis. This analysis, preserving all details and supplementing with explanatory notes, offers a comprehensive and scholarly viewpoint for researchers of Qur'anic sciences, potentially serving as a foundation for advanced studies in exegesis and religious knowledge.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
