of Nekounam (may his sanctity be preserved), Session (564)
The Holy Qur'an is a text that, prior to its religious aspects, was revealed as a scientific and comprehensive source to guide humanity in various dimensions of life, including human and social sciences. This divine scripture provides content not only relevant to the time of its revelation but also original and untouched material capable of addressing the intellectual, social, and ethical needs of humanity for millennia to come. However, the ritualistic and sanctified approach limited to mere recitation, preservation, and ceremonial use of the Qur'an has hindered the full utilisation of its scientific potentials. This treatise, focusing on verse 205 of Surah Al-Baqarah, endeavours to examine the dimensions of the hypocrites conduct and its impact on society through a scientific and psychological lens. This analysis, while remaining fully faithful to the original text, employs an elevated and scholarly language befitting a highly specialised academic audience to elucidate profound Quranic concepts and their application in modern sciences.
Before being regarded solely as a religious or devotional book, the Holy Qur'an is a scientific text that functions as a treasury of human, social, and psychological sciences. This perspective is founded on the belief that the Qur'an transcends mere ritual acts of worship, offering a comprehensive framework for analysing human behaviour and social structures. However, throughout history, due to the absence of a scientific approach within Islamic societies, this divine book has been confined to sanctified practices such as recitation for reward, safeguarding in homes, or use in limited ceremonies.
The sanctified approach to the Holy Qur'an, which restricts it to recitation for spiritual reward, ceremonial use, or protection of places, has impeded the discovery of its scientific and social capacities. This reductionism, rooted in popular sanctity, has overshadowed the scientific truth of the Qur'an and prevented the comprehensive utilisation of this divine source.
The Qur'an is not a book revealed solely for the time of its revelation or the past centuries; rather, it offers original and untouched content for thousands of future years of humanity. This book resembles a vast banquet that provides intellectual and spiritual nourishment not only for current generations but also for posterity. Unlike limited resources that exhaust upon consumption, the Holy Qur'an is an infinite source from which every generation can benefit without diminishing its essence.
The Holy Qur'an, beyond being a religious text, is a scientific book possessing immense capacity for analysing human and social issues. Critiquing the sanctified approach and emphasising a scientific reexamination of it are necessities for harnessing this divine source in the modern era. This perspective calls for revisiting interactions with the Qur'an to transcend the constraints of popular sanctity and step towards uncovering its scientific truths.
In verses 204 to 206 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the Holy Qur'an presents a tripartite framework for psychological analysis of the human being: personality (inner identity), performance (daily behaviours), and reaction (response in stressful situations). This structure, compatible with principles of modern psychology, examines humans in three dimensions. Personality refers to the innate identity of the individual, such as patience or anger; performance encompasses daily behaviours stemming from personal interests and choices; and reaction indicates how the individual responds to tensions or criticisms.
These verses are composed so scientifically and contemporaneously that, within scholarly circles, they are accepted as advanced theories even without direct reference to the Qur'an. This capacity demonstrates the Qur'an's ability to engage with modern knowledge, allowing application in fields such as psychology and sociology.
The popular sanctity attributed to the Holy Qur'an has obstructed the comprehension of its scientific reality. Excessive emphasis on religious aspects has impeded the exploration of its scientific and social dimensions, highlighting the necessity of balancing sanctity with truth.
The tripartite structure of personality, performance, and reaction in verses 204 to 206 of Surah Al-Baqarah presents a scientific framework for analysing human behaviour. These verses, despite their alignment with modern sciences, have suffered from the adverse effects of popular sanctity. A scientific reexamination of these verses could enrich human knowledge and foster engagement with contemporary sciences.
Translation: And when he turns away, he strives in the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and offspring. And Allah does not love corruption.
The term tawall in this verse denotes the acquisition of office, power, or social position. The hypocrite, upon attaining authority or power, utilises this position as an instrument for corruption. This concept illustrates the relationship between power and hypocrisy, wherein the office provides a platform for destruction.
The word sa refers to the hypocrites purposeful endeavour to create corruption. This effort, distinct from indifference or complete sacrifice (juhd), occupies an intermediate state where the hypocrite prioritises personal interests. Unlike those who accept even their own death for a cause, the hypocrite seeks to preserve himself while leading others to ruin.
Human beings in the Qur'an are categorised into three groups: the indifferent, who pursue daily life; the hypocrites, who through sa engage in corruption; and the sacrificers, who accept even death for their goals. Among these, the hypocrite, with a purposeful yet self-centred effort, wreaks havoc on society.
The phrase f al-ar indicates the hypocrites material and worldly objectives, devoid of any spiritual dimension. Unlike the believer who seeks divine proximity even in worldly affairs, the hypocrites actionsranging from worship to social activitiesare entirely materialistic.
Li-yufsida fh points to the hypocrites attempt to generate disorder, despair, mistrust, and turmoil within society. This corruption leads not only to social disruption but also to the weakening of ethical values.
The hypocrite is akin to a social parasite who has never established an independent government throughout history. Due to lack of content and identity (l ilha hul wal ilha hul), the hypocrite only engages in destruction and is incapable of constructive creation.
Unlike the disbeliever, oppressor, or believereach having a defined purposethe hypocrite lacks any constructive goal. His sole pursuit is destruction, without offering any substitute, thereby becoming a source of disorder.
The phrase wa yuhlik al-arth wal-nasl refers to the destruction of growing products (crops) and human generations. arth denotes the potential capacities of society such as economy, administration, and labour, while nasl refers to human generations misled by corruption.
arth is the product in growth, neither barren land nor harvested crop. In modern societies, this concept extends to economic and social systems such as currency, gold, and infrastructure.
Destruction of arth leads to the ruin of social infrastructures including economy, administration, and labour force. The hypocrite, by creating turmoil in these areas, destabilises societal foundations.
Historically, destruction of offspring meant physical death due to famine; nowadays, it refers to moral deviation such as theft and prostitution. This decline is a direct consequence of hypocritical corruption.
Hypocrites, by fostering despair and mistrust, endeavour to reduce religion to a personal, non-governmental matter. This act undermines religions role in societal governance.
In modern societies, arth encompasses economic systems like currency and gold. The hypocrite disrupts these systems, plunging the communitys economy into chaos.
Hypocritical corruption, especially in economic domains such as currency fluctuations and gold, is uncontrollable. This inefficacy demonstrates the hypocrites success in fomenting disorder.
Verse 205 of Surah Al-Baqarah, by delineating the hypocrites conduct upon attaining office and striving for corruption, identifies him as a factor in destroying arth
