Verse 213 of Surah Al-Baqarah, like a brilliant jewel in the Divine Word, opens a window towards understanding human history, the role of the Prophets in guidance, and the influence of revelation in the evolution of civilizations. This verse, expressed in a concise and profound manner, speaks of the initial unity of mankind and, by referencing the mission of the Prophets and the revelation of the Book, provides a comprehensive framework for analysing social, scientific, and historical developments. In this treatise, with a scientific and systematic approach, we elucidate the multifaceted dimensions of this verse and, drawing upon the lectures of religious scholars, endeavour to present its deep worldview in an academic and dignified format. The structure of this work is based on extracting key points, exegetical analyses, and supplementary explanations, enriched with literary allusions and examples to enhance its semantic depth.
Translation:
The people were a single community; then Allah raised up the Prophets as bringers of glad tidings and warners, and revealed with them the Book in truth to judge between the people concerning that wherein they differed. And none differed about it except those to whom the Book was given after the clear proofs had come to them, out of envy among themselves. Then Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that wherein they differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.
This verse, akin to a comprehensive map, depicts the stages of human development from the initial unity to divine guidance and clarifies the role of the Prophets and the heavenly Book in resolving disputes and guiding towards the Straight Path.
Key point: Verse 213 of Surah Al-Baqarah is considered one of the most intricate social verses of the Holy Quran due to its comprehensiveness in social, historical, and scientific domains, offering a grand worldview.
This verse, with brevity and depth, elucidates the stages of human transformation and opens a novel perspective from sociology, history, and philosophy towards understanding religions role in civilisation building. Its comprehensiveness necessitates an interdisciplinary approach intertwining human and religious sciences.
The verse is divided into two principal parts: كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً and فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ. The first part refers to the primordial unity of mankind, living as a unified tribe in an early period free from doctrinal disputes. The second part reveals divine intervention via the mission of the Prophets who, through glad tidings and warnings, directed humanity towards knowledge and perfection.
Analysis: This structure depicts the historical progression of human guidance from natural unity towards divine order, as though God, like a sagacious gardener, planted the sapling of knowledge in the soil of human existence.
Key point: The term فَبَعَثَ signifies a purposeful incitement and special awakening of the Prophets to guide humanity, marking a pivotal point in the history of civilisation.
The prophetic mission, like a divine spark, kindled the fire of knowledge in the human heart. This motivation led not only to spiritual guidance but also to the foundation of sciences and crafts. The Prophets, as pioneers of civilisation, laid the foundations of human knowledge through receiving revelation.
Key point: The Prophets, empowered by divine revelation, were the first founders of sciences and crafts in human history and transformed religion into the mother of sciences.
Prior to the prophetic missions, humanity lived in a natural unity devoid of scientific foundations. The Prophets, by receiving revelation, imparted both spiritual and practical sciences to humankind and established the foundations of scientific civilisations. This viewpoint contrasts secular perspectives that attribute the origin of science solely to human experience, considering religion as the source of knowledge.
Analysis: The role of the Prophets, like a torch in the darkness of ignorance, illuminated the path for human progress and revealed the necessity of revisiting the history of science from a religious viewpoint.
The phrase كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً refers to a period when humanity, as a free and liberated people, lived in traditional unity without doctrinal disputes. This state resembled a raw substrate requiring divine guidance for flourishing.
Analysis: This unity was like fertile soil in which God planted the seed of knowledge through the mission of the Prophets for the sapling of civilisation to grow.
Key point: Demonstrating the role of religion and the Prophets in scientific advancement requires comparative research and global dialogue to establish religions position as the mother of sciences.
The contemporary world faces challenges in understanding religions role in science. Demonstrating this role requires research aligning the history of science with religious texts, illustrating how revelation shaped the foundations of human knowledge.
Key point: Industry, like the alchemy of progress, transforms science from theoretical concepts into practical applications, enabling the development of civilisations.
History demonstrates that every scientific advancement owes much to industrial tools. For instance, the invention of fire in ancient times sparked scientific and civilisational growth. Industry, by providing measuring instruments and applications, converts science from abstract ideas into tangible reality.
Key point: The absence of industrial tools and precise measurement methods has hindered the advancement of religious science and the determination of spiritual values.
Religious science, lacking industrial backing, has remained incapable of explaining spiritual values such as the reward of deeds or the weight of sins. This weakness has reduced the influence of religious sciences in the contemporary world and underscores the necessity of utilising modern technologies.
Analysis: Religious science, like a robust tree without irrigation tools, has been prevented from full blossoming and requires integration with industry.
Key point: The valuation of deeds and religious concepts depends on precise measurement, and without industrial tools, these values remain abstract notions.
Measurement, like an accurate scale, converts religious values from vague expressions into comprehensible realities. Without measuring instruments, claims such as the weight of blessings or the impact of congregational prayer turn into baseless slogans.
The inability to measure religious values, such as the reward for two units of prayer or the weight of injustice, results from the lack of industrial tools. This incapacity has diminished the credibility of religious science vis--vis empirical sciences and highlights the need to develop measuring technologies.
Analysis: This incapacity is like a veil obscuring the truth of religious values and calls for novel tools to uncover it.
Key point: Unscientific claims, such as the weight of the heavens compared to prayer or unrealistic capabilities, undermine the credibility of religious science.
Assertions like the superiority of the weight of two units of prayer over the power of angels lack scientific foundation, not only rendering them invalid but also fostering doubt in religious concepts. These claims require critical scrutiny and scientific evidence.
Modern advances in measuring blood, fats, and other substances result from industrial development. These capabilities demonstrate the capacity of science to address complex
