Verse 147 of Surah Al-Baqarah, akin to a radiant jewel within the epistemological constellation of the Holy Qur'an, carries profound concepts concerning the Divine Reality, Quranic recitations, and Prophetic concerns. This verse, by emphasising the Divine origin of truth and forbidding persistent doubt, establishes a firm framework for comprehending the relationship between truth, infallibility, and the Prophethood of the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him). The present treatise, through the aggregation and systematic rearrangement of the lecture content and exegetical analyses, offers a precise and exalted elucidation of this verse in an academic format. The objective is to provide a text that serves as a valuable and reliable reference for researchers in Quranic sciences, Islamic theology, and philosophy of religion, particularly at the specialised academic level. The structure of this work, organised through thematic sections and precise subheadings, is designed to preserve all details, reinforce semantic connections, and enhance the literary richness of the text through refined metaphors.
الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّكَ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ
Truth is from your Lord; so never be among the doubters.
Verse 147 of Surah Al-Baqarah exhibits distinct semantic and structural differences compared to verses 145 and 146. In verse 145 (إِنَّكَ إِذًا لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ), the phrase those to whom We gave the Scripture functions as a descriptor of the wrongdoers, since the preliminary conditional particle (إِنَّكَ إِذًا) attributes injustice to a specific group. This structure emphasises the deviation of certain People of the Book. However, in verse 147, such attribution is absent, and the focus lies on Divine truth and prohibition of doubt. This distinction, like a clear line between the darkness of deviation and the light of truth, highlights the centrality of truth in this verse.
Verse 146 (وَإِنْ فَرِيقًا مِنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ) refers to the concealment of truth by a faction of the People of the Book, who, despite knowing the truth, hide it. In verse 147, truth appears in the nominative case (الْحَقُّ) rather than the accusative, a difference serving as a key to unlocking epistemic doors, indicating the independence of Divine truth. This autonomy separates the truth from human knowledge or concealment, presenting it as a Divine and independent reality.
The nominative reading (الْحَقُّ) in verse 147, as opposed to the accusative reading (حَقَّ), is immune to epistemological problems. The accusative reading implies they know the truth, but you doubt, which contradicts the Prophetic infallibility. The nominative reading, like a shield against distortion of meaning, presents truth as an independent reality and forbids the Prophet from any doubt regarding it. This reading preserves the exalted status of the Prophet and emphasises his certainty.
The current Qur'anic reading, exemplified by the Asim recitation, despite the existence of variant readings, holds the highest scientific and historical credibility. It is like a pure spring flowing amidst a myriad of winding paths, immune to the difficulties faced by other recitations, and congruent with consensus and historical transmission chains. This superiority stems from the precise and systematic transmission of the Qur'an through reliable narrators.
If the verse were read in the accusative case (وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ حَقَّ مِنْ رَبِّكَ), the meaning would shift to they know the truth, but you doubt, contradicting Prophetic infallibility. Such a reading constitutes a slippery slope towards distortion of the verses meaning. From the perspective of Qur'anic sciences, this critique underlines the importance of selecting the correct recitation.
Verse 147 of Surah Al-Baqarah, through emphasis on the nominative recitation and the independence of Divine truth, provides a robust framework for understanding the reality and Prophetic status. Structural differences with prior verses, the superiority of the current reading, and critique of the accusative reading collectively underscore the necessity for precision in Qur'anic recitation and interpretation. This section lays a firm foundation for deeper analyses in subsequent parts.
In verse 147, truth denotes that which is established and corresponds to reality and that which is from God. This truth, like a star in the epistemic sky, encompasses revelation, the heavenly Book, and justice. From the Qur'anic philosophical viewpoint, truth is a Divine standard immune to any epistemic relativity and forms the basis for all just realities.
Truth refers to that which is real and just, whereas falsehood is a reality devoid of truth and justice. Injustice, like a dark shadow, represents a false reality as it violates justice. This distinction, akin to a bright line between light and darkness, accentuates justice as the criterion for discerning truth from falsehood.
Veracity applies to propositions conforming to reality itself, whereas falsehood pertains to propositions inconsistent with reality. This definition functions as a precise scale assessing the correctness of statements. Veracity and falsehood relate to the correspondence
