The exegesis of verse 118 of Surah Al-Baqarah constitutes a gateway to a deeper understanding of humanitys innate desires for attaining divine knowledge and the challenges encountered in this pursuit on the path of guidance. This verse, with profound insight into mankinds fundamental inquiries regarding the vision of God and the reception of divine signs, emphasises the necessity of adherence to legitimate paths and divine intermediaries. In this treatise, adopting a scientific and systematic approach, the content of the lecture and its complementary analyses are presented within an academic framework. The objective is not merely to elucidate the meanings of the verse but to explore its theological, psychological, and mystical layers, thereby offering specialists a comprehensive and refined perspective on this subject. The forthcoming text preserves all details and core meanings, composed in an elegant and academic language, employing refined metaphors and allegories to enrich its literary quality.
By virtue of its monotheistic disposition, humanity continuously seeks certainty and assurance of the existence of the Creator. This desire, rooted in every human beings essence, is observable not only among believers but also among disbelievers. The Holy Quran recognises this pursuit as inherent and rational, yet it places particular emphasis on the method and pathway of its realisation.
The verse explicitly mentions the disbelievers request for direct discourse with God or the reception of a miracle. Although this desire aligns with prophetic requests such as that of Abraham (peace be upon him) for reassurance of the heart (Al-Baqarah: 260), the difference lies in intention and method. Prophets seek nearness to the Lord within the framework of their mission and divine etiquette, whereas disbelievers, disregarding divine intermediaries, demand an unmediated connection. This difference is akin to the distinction between a gardener who patiently and meticulously cultivates a sapling until it bears fruit and someone who, out of impatience, demands the fruit prematurely.
Summary of this Section: The desire to see God is innate and inherent; however, its fulfilment necessitates a legitimate path. The Holy Quran confirms this desire but emphasises the necessity of respecting divine etiquette and intermediaries.
The Holy Quran critiques the disbelievers request, not due to its essence, but because of its inappropriate method and context. By denying the mission and rejecting divine intermediaries, the disbelievers seek independence from the prophets. This approach is comparable to a patient who, without consulting a physician, arbitrarily demands medication that results only in harm.
One fundamental flaw in the disbelievers request is their endeavour to remove the mission and generalise the station of Imamate to all individuals. This perspective, whereby anyone claims direct communion with God without mediation, leads to the collapse of the concept of the community. If all claim Imamate, no community remains to be guided. This is analogous to a society in which everyone claims leadership, leaving no followers or organisation.
This flaw also results in the absence of criteria for valuation. In the divine system, spiritual ranks such as prophethood and Imamate require qualities such as piety, purity, and striving in the way of God. Without these conditions, claiming spiritual ranks results in religious chaos.
Worship performed with the intention of attaining spiritual ranks such as prophethood or Imamate is tainted with polytheism. Such worship treats God as a means to achieve personal objectives rather than as the ultimate purpose. This is akin to a lover who seeks not love for the beloved but only the beloveds name and status.
The Holy Quran differentiates between the worship of the common people and that of the elite. The common people may worship with material intentions, such as the request for Paradise or relief from needs, whereas the elite must maintain pure worship devoid of desire. This difference is comparable to a child who studies for a reward and a scholar who seeks knowledge for its own sake.
Summary of this Section: The improper method of the disbelievers in seeking divine knowledge stems from denial of the mission, generalisation of Imamate, and impure intentions. These faults disrupt divine order and impede the fulfilment of spiritual desires.
In the Quranic culture, the heart represents the highest epistemic rank of man and the locus of receiving divine knowledge and honour. The hadith The heart is the sanctuary of God testifies to this exalted station. The heart is like a polished mirror reflecting divine light, conditional upon its purification from the rust of the self and greed.
The Quran classifies hearts into three categories: dead, sick, and sound. Verses such as فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً (Al-Baqarah: 74) refer to hearts hardened like stones, and فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ (Al-Baqarah: 10) speak of diseased hearts. Only the sound heart, which is soft and prepared, can comprehend miracles and God.
Worships such as Nafl prayers, dhikr, and fasting are essential for softening and refining the heart. These acts are like pure water flowing over a hard stone, preparing it to receive divine light. A heart polished through worship can attain divine vision and comprehend signs.
By His wisdom and mercy, God refrains from manifesting signs or honours to certain individuals because their hearts, due to disease or hardness, lack the capacity to endure them. This withholding is a kindness from the Lord, like a physician who withholds strong medicine from a fragile patient to prevent further harm.
Summary of this Section: The heart is the axis of divine knowledge and can receive signs and honours only through purification and refinement by worship. Divine grace manifests in protecting incapacitated hearts, exemplifying His infinite mercy.
Within the Quranic system, prophets and saints constitute the natural and divine intermediaries between God and His servants. Denying these intermediaries is analogous to disregarding a bridge that facilitates the way to the destination. The Quran, by emphasising the role of the mission, rejects any attempt to eliminate these intermediaries.
Intermediaries lacking qualification and fabricated by ignorance lack legitimacy. Following such individuals results in misguidance and holds no value in the divine system. This is like a traveller who, instead of a knowledgeable guide, follows a misguided one, leading only to perdition.
Religious knowledge requires continual review and dynamism to withstand competing cultural currents, such as canonisation practices in Christianity. Negligence in this regard is akin to a garden left untended by its gardener, failing to flourish.
Canonisation in Christianity, due to the absence of valid criteria and association with corruption, faces criticism. Such acts are worthless compared to the miracles of divine saints, which are rooted in piety and purity. They resemble counterfeit jewels that fade before genuine gems.
Summary of this Section: Divine intermediaries are the sole legitimate pathway to attain divine knowledge. Critiques of negligence in religious scholarship and rejection of fabricated intermediaries underscore the necessity of dynamism and authenticity in religious guidance.
Etiquette in the pursuit of divine knowledge entails respecting hierarchies and accepting guiding intermediaries. Prophets, such as Moses (peace be upon him), who was personally approached by God (فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ, Ta-Ha: 12), presented their requests with decorum and submission.
Maintaining hierarchies in religious and scientific systems is like a building that collapses without sturdy foundations. Educational systems must nurture elites and, through quality, train outstanding scholars and scientists.
Believers, unlike disbelievers, seek to see God or receive miracles through the mission and Imamate. This difference is akin to a traveller who follows a knowledgeable guide versus one who walks independently.
Summary of this Section: The correct path to seek divine knowledge is through etiquette, preserving hierarchies, and following divine intermediaries. This path is the sole means to fulfil humanitys spiritual aspirations.
The exegesis of verse 118 of Surah Al-Baqarah invites reflection on humanitys innate God-seeking nature and the correct pathways to attain divine knowledge. This verse confirms mankinds intrinsic desire for the vision of God and reception of signs while emphasising the necessity of respecting divine hierarchies, following prophets and saints, and purifying the heart. The critique of disbelievers improper methods serves as a lesson for believers to proceed on the path of guidance with etiquette and sincerity. The heart, as the house of God, is the centre of receiving divine knowledge and can comprehend signs and miracles only through refinement via worship. Criticism of negligence in religious scholarship
