Verse 109 of Surah Al-Baqarah stands as a luminous beacon in the celestial firmament of Quranic knowledge, encompassing multifaceted psychological, sociological, and political dimensions. This verse, articulated with profound and layered eloquence, alludes to the envious aspirations of certain groups among the People of the Book who, upon the unveiling of truth, endeavour to revert the believers to disbelief. This treatise, grounded in the content of the presented lectures and specialised analyses, explores this verse within a scientific and academic framework. The objective is not merely to depict the historical context of its revelation but to extract universal lessons applicable to contemporary societies. The structure of this document is systematically sectioned and employs refined Persian allegories, crafted to be both enlightening and engaging for educated and specialised audiences.
Unlike historical texts that merely recount past events, the Holy Quran utilises history as a tool to derive practical and applicable lessons. This celestial book is not simply a transmitter of occurrences but an analyst of the causes and consequences of human behaviours. By deliberate selection of events, the Quran offers strategies for managing social challenges, resembling a wise gardener pruning the branches of history to yield fruits of knowledge for today and tomorrow.
This approach transforms the Quran into a dynamic source capable of adapting to evolving social conditions. Unlike historical texts confined to describing the past, the Quran, through a sagacious perspective, addresses daily issues and contemporary challenges.
The Quran refers to historical and geographical matters solely insofar as they present challenges relevant to humanity at all times and places. This purposeful selection endows the Quran with universality, akin to a spring continuously delivering pristine waters of knowledge to the seekers of truth. For instance, envy and social competition, as mentioned in this verse, manifest in modern societies as economic, political, or cultural rivalries.
This perspective emphasises the importance of thematic exegesis of the Quran. Studying this celestial text as a sociological document enables deeper understanding of contemporary challenges and the provision of solutions grounded in divine wisdom.
The Holy Quran, through a sagacious approach, regards history not as a mere collection of past events but as a resource for extracting practical and applicable lessons. This characteristic transforms it into a dynamic and universal book capable of guiding societies across all times and places.
وَدَّ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَوْ يَرُدُّونَكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِيمَانِكُمْ كُفَّارًا حَسَدًا مِنْ عِنْدِ أَنْفُسِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْحَقُّ ۖ فَاعْفُوا وَاصْفَحُوا حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَ اللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Translation: Many among the People of the Book, out of inward envy, desire that you should revert to disbelief after your faith has become evident to them. So forgive and overlook until Allah brings about His command. Verily, Allah is powerful over all things.
The phrase "many from the People of the Book" refers to a particular group among the People of the Book who, despite awareness of the truth (after the truth became clear to them), harbour envy and seek to return the believers to disbelief. The term "many" here does not imply mere multitude but denotes an elite and knowledgeable faction whose social status and knowledge afford them greater influence.
This interpretation is reinforced by the phrase "after the truth became clear to them", as awareness of the truth is characteristic of specific elite groups. This faction resembles aristocrats within their palace of knowledge, who, fearful of the collapse of their status, resort to envy and competition.
Envy and malevolence intensify among those materially satiated and self-sufficient, due to the absence of primary needs. Hungry and impoverished individuals, concentrating on basic needs such as food and shelter, exhibit less inclination towards envy. This phenomenon resembles a seed that flourishes in the fertile soil of satiety but fails to grow in poverty.
This insight aligns with modern psychological theories such as Maslows hierarchy of needs. After satisfying primary necessities, secondary needs such as envy and social competition emerge. The Quran, through this analysis, manifests its profound understanding of human motivations.
Proverbs such as "A hungry person dreams of bread" or "The camel dreams of cottonseed" reflect psychological realities. These sayings illustrate that hungry or impoverished individuals, due to concentration on primary needs, remain distant from envy and social competition. These allegories act as mirrors reflecting the truth of human psychology.
The Quran, by indirect reference to such concepts, employs popular cultural expressions to elucidate profound truths, akin to a sage who teaches the deepest wisdom in simple language.
Human desires can be divided into three categories:
This categorisation offers a psychological framework consistent with modern developmental theories. Old-age desires, resulting from diminished physical strength and increased psychological focus, lead to envy and unproductive competition, like a tree that blossoms in youthful spring but bears the bitter fruits of envy in autumn.
