Verse 137 of Surah Al-Baqarah, like a brilliant gem in the constellation of divine revelation, depicts profound concepts of guidance, discord, and divine sufficiency within a social and theological framework. Addressing the believers, this verse emphasises the necessity of adherence to unified religious principles and their impact on societal dynamism and health. The present exegesis, adopting an academic and comprehensive perspective, elucidates various dimensions of the verse and, through the use of refined metaphors and allegories, endeavours to clarify its profound meanings for specialised audiences in Qur'anic sciences and theology. The analytical structure is systematically organised to preserve the entirety of the original content while enriching and enhancing the coherence of the text with supplementary explanations.
Verse Text with Diacritics:
فَإِنْ آمَنُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا آمَنْتُمْ بِهِ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوْا ۖ وَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا هُمْ فِي شِقَاقٍ ۖ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ ۚ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Translation:
Therefore, if they believe in that which you have believed in, they have surely been guided; but if they turn away, then indeed they are in discord. So Allah will suffice you against them, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
The verse, employing a conditional structure, presents two opposing pathways to its audience: guidance through faith in the doctrinal principles of the believers, and discord as the consequence of turning away from these principles. The concluding segment of the verse, with the promise of divine sufficiency, instils firm reassurance in the believers that they shall not remain alone in the face of challenges.
Address to the Believers
A pivotal point is that verse 137 of Surah Al-Baqarah, by addressing "you have believed", designates the believers as the model of guidance and calls others to emulate this paradigm.
This address underscores the central role of the Islamic community in providing a comprehensive model for guidance. The verse indirectly invites other groups, such as Jews and Christians, to accept the doctrinal principles of the believers, yet the primary focus is on the believers themselves to maintain their theological unity in the face of external challenges.
The verses address to the believers not only accentuates their responsibility in preserving religious principles but also functions as a warning to maintain cohesion against external deviations. This address portrays the Islamic community as a luminous beacon on the path of guidance.
Guidance Beyond Individual Actions
Guidance in the verse denotes a fluid and healthy social process that transcends individual acts such as prayer and fasting, being dependent on the harmony between the individual and society.
The concept of "they have surely been guided" refers to felicity and salvation through acceptance of doctrinal principles. Contrary to prevalent interpretations which limit guidance to individual worship, the verse portrays guidance in a social context as a flowing river that directs both individual and society in a harmonious course toward felicity.
Difference Between Primitive and Modern Societies
In primitive societies, individual acts alone could achieve guidance due to simpler social structures and minimal social interactions. However, in modern societies, where social fluidity has increased owing to civil supervision and structural dynamism, guidance without synchronisation with social trends becomes ineffective. Just as a millstone without a wooden base loses its function, individual acts of worship without a fluid social backdrop remain ineffectual.
Guidance in verse 137 is akin to a current encompassing both individual and society. In modern societies, the realisation of guidance requires reform of social structures to enable acts of worship to attain their spiritual ascent.
Ineffectiveness of Worship in a Non-Fluid Society
Individual acts of worship such as prayer and fasting lose their spiritual efficacy without a fluid social context and cannot lead to societal guidance.
The exclusively individualistic perspective on worship, prevalent in some religious societies, is critiqued by the verse. The questions of the younger generation regarding the persistence of social problems despite the abundance of worship stem from the absence of a fluid social process. Like a tree that cannot thrive in unsuitable soil, acts of worship in a society lacking cohesion and dynamism lose their effectiveness.
The Impact of Social Structures on Worship
The Holy Quran states in another verse: Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing (Al-Ankabut: 45). This effect is conditional upon the existence of a context that harmonises social structures with religious principles. In the absence of such a context, acts of worship become formalistic deeds that fail to realise guidance.
The critique of the individualistic approach to worship is an invitation to reconsider the function of religion in modern society. Worship can only serve as a spiritual ascent within a fluid and socially coherent framework.
The Concept of Discord
Discord, meaning social fissure and disintegration, is set in opposition to guidance and constitutes the consequence of turning away from doctrinal principles.
The phrase then indeed they are in discord refers to a state of social disorder and fragmentation resulting from rejection of the truth. Contrary to interpretations that translate discord as hardship, here it denotes structural collapse and social schism, akin to a road with deep cracks that impedes movement.
Critique of Erroneous Interpretations
Some exegeses, such as Majma al-Bayan, have rendered discord as hardship. This interpretation does not align with the verses context nor the root meaning of the word shaqq. Discord signifies separation and disruption of natural order, not mere hardship. This critique underscores the necessity of linguistic and contextual precision in verse analysis.
Discord, as a profound fissure in the foundation of society, serves as a warning against abandonment of doctrinal principles. The verse, by juxtaposing discord with guidance, emphasises the importance of social cohesion for realising felicity.
Social Fluidity and Guidance
Social fluidity, as a prerequisite for guidance, demands dynamism and flexibility of social structures in harmony with religious principles.
In modern societies, social fluidity has increased due to civil supervision, extensive communications, and structural dynamism. Within such a context, individual acts without alignment with social processes are like a ship without sails in a stormy sea, losing their efficacy.
Challenges of Modern Societies
The text, referring to tangible examples such as behavioural monitoring in public spaces, demonstrates that modern societies are no longer primitive and require coherent structures for realising guidance. The absence of these structures leads to inefficacy of worship and exacerbation of social problems.
Social fluidity is a current that sustains religion within society. Without this current, acts of worship become soulless shells that fail to realise guidance.
Empirical Induction and Scientific Inquiry
Scientific induction, through comparative study of societies, can resolve ambiguities concerning the function of worship and provide reasoned answers to the questions of the younger generation.
The text, emphasising the concept of induction, calls for comparative examination of societies regarding social corruption. This scientific method can furnish empirical evidence on the impact or lack thereof of worship within diverse social contexts and respond to youthful inquiries.
Application of Induction in Religious Sciences
Induction, like a lamp in darkness, can illuminate the path to a better understanding of religions role in mitigating corruption. Comparing countries on social indices such as corruption and insecurity can lead to more precise analysis of worships function.
Scientific induction is a tool that extricates religious sciences from isolation and empowers them to address modern challenges. This method is a bridge connecting religion with the needs of contemporary society.
The Promise of Divine Sufficiency
The phrase So Allah will suffice you against them, as a divine promise, conveys empowerment and assurance to believers in the face of enemies and adversaries.
This phrase, like a potent talisman, assures believers that God will suffice them against challenges and foes. The singular address to the Prophet (peace be upon him) indicates the centrality of reliance and trust in God for the fulfilment of this promise.
Mystical and Practical Dimensions of Sufficiency
Drawing upon the victories of early Islam, the phrase So Allah will suffice you against them is presented as a dhikr that transfers divine empowerment to the believers. This promise functions as a shield protecting the believer amid lifes storms.
Divine sufficiency is like a beacon that illuminates the path for believers amidst the darkness of challenges. Reliance on God is the key to harnessing this promise and achieving empowerment against adversaries.
Material and Structural Challenges in Religious Sciences
Material and structural deficiencies in religious sciences impede the realisation of the role of religious scholars in societal guidance and require structural reforms.
The text, citing material problems such as difficulties in parking cars due to fuel shortages, critiques structural weaknesses in religious sciences. These issues, like thorns in the feet of scholars, hinder their mission to guide society.
Proposals for Strengthening Scholarship and Expression
The text advocates the establishment of a committee to register and evaluate the scholarly and rhetorical abilities of religious scholars. Recording five minutes of speech and writing five lines daily is proposed as an exercise guiding scholars towards academic empowerment.
Criticism is directed against mere imitative writing that relies solely on quoting others. Religious scholars should be like gushing springs, producing original knowledge and avoiding blind imitation.
Reforming structural weaknesses in religious sciences is akin to reconstructing a dilapidated edifice that can elevate scholars to academic and social authority. Strengthening scholarly expression and eschewing imitation are keys to this transformation.
Dimensions of Divine Attributes
The attributes All-Hearing and All-Knowing signify Gods complete omniscience over words and deeds, reassuring believers that God is fully aware of their intentions and challenges.
The phrase and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing refers to Gods comprehensive awareness of all matters. Contrary to limited interpretations assigning All-Hearing to words and All-Knowing to deeds, these attributes demonstrate divine comprehensiveness and reassure believers.
