Verses 174 to 176 of Surah Al-Baqarah, articulated with eloquence and profundity, critically address the phenomenon of concealing divine truths and the selling of religion. They emphasise the pivotal role of the elite in religious and social deviations. These verses, employing rhetorical and contemplative language, underscore the heavy responsibility borne by the intellectual elite in preserving and disseminating divine guidance and warn of the dire consequences of concealment and distortion. The present text, adopting a scholarly and systematic approach, provides a comprehensive analysis of these verses by integrating the content of the lecture series, thereby offering a precise and profound exegesis suitable for specialised audiences and academic settings. The objective is to elucidate the role of the elite in safeguarding the divine trust and avoiding egotism, identified as the root of deviations.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَشْتَرُونَ بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بَطُونِهِمْ إِلَّا النَّارَ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ ۚ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلَالَةَ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَالْعَذَابَ بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ ۗ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي الْكِتَابِ لَفِي شِقَاقٍ بَعِيدٍ
Those who conceal what Allah has revealed from the Book and sell it for a small price, they consume nothing but the fire within their bellies; Allah will neither speak to them on the Day of Resurrection nor purify them, and they will have a painful punishment. They are those who have purchased error in exchange for guidance and punishment in place of forgiveness; how patient they are with the fire! This is because Allah has revealed the Book in truth, and indeed, those who differ concerning the Book are in extreme discord.
The addressed audience in these verses are the elite of the society; those who, due to their access to epistemic sources such as the Holy Quran, Hadith, and religious knowledge, hold ownership of guidance. This group, owing to their social influence and awareness, bears a grave responsibility in the preservation and dissemination of divine guidance. Concealment, distortion, or deviation from this guidance leads to widespread societal corruption, as if the sun of knowledge is hidden behind the clouds of egotism.
The use of the verb form اشْتَرَوُا (they purchased) in the causative (iftal) form emphasises the deliberate and conscious nature of the act of selling religion. This characteristic distinguishes the sin of the elite from disbelief born of ignorance, rendering it more severe because they knowingly transform guidance into misguidance.
Selling religion is a detrimental transaction in which guidance and forgiveness, valuable divine commodities, are exchanged for misguidance and punishment, which are worthless and harmful commodities. This exchange is akin to selling precious jewels for ashes.
The elite, due to their access to the Quran, Hadith, and religious foundations, possess ownership of guidance and can either present it to society or conceal it. This ownership is like a key that opens or locks the doors of felicity.
Guidance, comprising the Quran, Hadith, and religious knowledge, is a highly valuable commodity of infinite worth. Selling it for misguidance resembles exchanging diamonds for pebbles.
Misguidance is an insignificant and harmful commodity that is purchased in place of guidance in the transaction of selling religion. This choice is like preferring darkness over light.
In the second part of the verse, the elite sell divine forgiveness and purchase punishment. This exchange is tantamount to surrendering paradise for hellfire.
Guidance and misguidance appear in the agentive dimension (the actor of the transaction), while forgiveness and punishment pertain to the final dimension (the goal of the transaction). This distinction reveals the profound deviation of the elite.
The transaction of selling religion possesses three characteristics: exclusivity to the elite, volitional and conscious nature, and based on ownership of the commodity of guidance. These features differentiate it from other sins.
Selling religion, due to the volitional and knowledgeable status of the elite, differs from disbelief stemming from ignorance. The humble disbelievers may receive divine mercy, but the elite, because of their betrayal, deserve punishment.
Misguidance is an original and weighty commodity deliberately chosen by the elite. This choice is like pouring black paint over the white canvas of guidance.
Egotistical desires are the principal cause of selling religion and choosing misguidance. As stated in the Quran: He has taken his desire as his god (Al-Jathiyah: 23), desire is like an idol enslaving reason.
The knowledge and awareness of the elite become ineffective against egotistical desires and lead to misguidance. Egotism is like darkness erasing the whiteness of knowledge.
The elite, due to their knowledge and social influence, are more vulnerable to egotistical deviations, comparable to a high-speed driver susceptible to a collision with a pebble, resulting in destruction.
The narration of advice to the scholars underscores the need for advising scholars, as they are more exposed to egotistical dangers.
The increase in pulpit appearances and verbosity of scholars, if motivated by self-interest, diminishes sanctity and purity. This phenomenon is akin to a performance that removes the mask of sanctity from the face.
Scholars such as Sheikh Abbas Qomi, due to their sincerity and simplicity, stand apart from contemporary scholars like spiritual antiques.
The phrase فَمَا أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ (how patient they are with the fire!) expresses divine astonishment at the elites endurance in choosing punishment. This astonishment is like a sigh rising from the depth of their deviation.
The self, as the antithesis of reason, by prevailing over it, leads the elite to deviation. The self is like a shadow that erases the light of reason.
Revelation, complementing reason, is sent to control the self, yet the egotism of some elite renders even revelation ineffective.
The phrase نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ (He revealed the Book in truth) emphasises the integrity and firmness of the Quran. The Book is like a pure spring revealed for the guidance of society.
Differences concerning the Book arise from extreme discord, which stems from egotism. This division is like a deep fissure that fragments society.
All religious and social disputes have their roots in the egotism of the elite. These desires are like winds driving the ship of guidance towards the storm.
