Verses 169 and 170 of Surah Al-Baqarah in the Holy Qur'an, as part of the Divine discourse aimed at explicating the obstacles to human guidance, examine the role of Satan in the deviation of humans and their inclination towards blind imitation of inherited traditions. These verses, by delineating a constellation of epistemological, ethical, and social challenges, provide a comprehensive portrayal of the complexities inherent in the path towards human perfection. Verse 169 alludes to the infiltration of Satan in both practical and epistemic dimensions, whereas Verse 170, through its critique of imitation of predecessors devoid of intellect and guidance, invites humans to deliberate upon the foundational tenets of their beliefs and behaviours. This treatise, integrating the content of the lecture and comparative analyses, offers a precise and systematic exposition of these verses, articulated in an exalted and scholarly language tailored for an audience of specialists and academics.
Translation: "He only commands you to commit evil and indecency and to say about Allah that which you do not know."
Verse 169, in a succinct yet profound expression, elucidates Satan's strategy in leading humans astray. This verse portrays Satan's infiltration in two distinct but complementary domains: the practical domain, manifested by commanding "evil" (s) and "indecency" (fahsh), and the epistemic domain, revealed through the inducement to "say that which you do not know about Allah." These two aspects function as dual wings of misguidance, diverting humanity from the path of truth.
Satan, through his whisperings, directs humans towards undesirable and reprehensible actions. The term "evil" denotes moral and behavioural wrongs that undermine the foundations of justice and good, whereas "indecency" refers to overt abominations that transgress the limits established by Shariah and reason. This dimension encompasses the general populace, ranging from ordinary people to those exhibiting deviant conduct. Satan, by embellishing vile deeds, steers humans towards practical misguidance.
The second dimension of Satans infiltration lies within the epistemological sphere, leading to statements about God that lack foundational basis. Such discourse, born of ignorance and unawareness, targets especially the elites and intellectuals, such as scholars, scientists, and prodigies. Satan, by exploiting the illusory self (nafs mutawahhima), encourages humans to express unfounded judgments concerning divine matters. This epistemic deviation is particularly calamitous due to the profound influence the elites exert upon society.
The illusory self, akin to a shattered mirror, presents distorted images of reality to the human being. It engenders an illusion of knowledge, prompting baseless assertions. Within Islamic psychology, the illusory self is recognised as a primary source of epistemic errors which, by undermining rationality, lead to misguidance. This notion holds heightened significance among elites who bear the intellectual authority within society.
Verse 169, by delineating the practical and epistemic dimensions of Satan's infiltration, calls upon humans to reflect upon their vulnerabilities. This verse, by sketching the roadmap of misguidance, exhorts humans to fortify rationality and commit to knowledge and sincerity in order to withstand satanic temptations. This exposition not only highlights the intricacies of human nafs but also underscores the imperative vigilance against ethical and epistemological deviations.
Translation: "And when it is said to them, Follow what Allah has revealed, they say, Rather, we will follow that upon which we found our forefathers. Even though their forefathers understood nothing and were not guided."
Verse 170, employing an interrogative tone, critiques the blind imitation of predecessors. By utilising the passive verb "it is said," the verse refrains from attributing a negative response directly to Allah, thereby preserving divine sanctity. Humans, when invited to follow the revelation, seek refuge in their inherited traditions, and even if these traditions lack rationality and guidance, they refuse to abandon them.
The phrase "Even though their forefathers understood nothing and were not guided" functions as a rhetorical interrogation, inviting humans to contemplate the basis of their adherence. This interrogation, by referencing the absence of theoretical wisdom (aql) and practical wisdom (guidance), demonstrates that imitation of predecessors lacking intellect and guidance leads to misguidance. These two attributes serve as foundational pillars of human perfection and are essential prerequisites for accepting any authority.
In this verse, "understood nothing" denotes the lack of theoretical wisdom (knowledge and awareness), and "were not guided" signifies the absence of practical wisdom (sincerity and righteous action). This distinction refers to the two principal components of human perfection in Islamic philosophy. The absence of either causes one to stray from the path of truth. Like a gardener who, without knowledge and sincerity, destroys his saplings, a human deprived of knowledge and sincerity steps into the realm of misguidance.
Blind imitation, devoid of discrimination (tamz) between knowledge and sincerity, resembles walking in darkness without a lamp. Humans must attain the station of discrimination to distinguish authentic speech from inauthentic. This discrimination necessitates the advancement of general knowledge and strengthening of rationality to escape the snares of prejudices and baseless traditions.
Verse 170, by criticising blind imitation and inviting adherence to revelation, summons humans to reflect on the foundations of their beliefs and behaviours. The verse, emphasising knowledge and sincerity as essential conditions for following, urges humans to exercise vigilance and discrimination, distancing themselves from inherited traditions lacking intellect and guidance. This critique serves as a mirror revealing human prejudices and illuminating the path to emancipation.
Translation: "And you have not been given of knowledge except a little."
This verse highlights the limitation of human knowledge and warns against ignorant speech. Human knowledge is but a drop in the boundless ocean of Divine cognition. This limitation invites caution in utterances regarding divine matters, since ignorant speech, especially among elites, results in widespread deviation.
Ignorant speech, particularly among elites such as scholars and scientists, is calamitous due to its wide influence. Many human misfortunes stem from the ignorance of the elites who impose baseless statements upon society. Such speech acts as a poison infiltrating the veins of cultural and epistemological life, leading to misguidance.
Many religious teachings, due to lack of authentic sources, have lost their originality. A significant portion of rulings and fatwas, based on reputation, consensus, or unfounded caution, lack scientific validity. This challenge burdens the religious community, complicating the implementation of rulings and causing confusion.
The accumulation of impurities and baseless
