Verses 268 and 269 of Surah Al-Baqarah, like two radiant gems in the constellation of the Holy Quran, encompass profound and multilayered concepts addressing fundamental subjects such as the influence of Satan on the human psyche and behaviour, the significance of almsgiving as an ethical and devotional act, and the status of wisdom as abundant goodness. These verses, with a concise yet profound language, invite mankind to reflection on spiritual, social, and psychological dimensions. The present text, adopting a scientific and systematic approach, analyses these verses and elucidates their various facets by utilising interpretative, philosophical, and sociological frameworks. The objective is to present the concepts of these verses in a lofty style suitable for specialist audiences, thereby serving as a guide for religious and ethical research.
Translation: Satan threatens you with poverty and commands you to indecency, whereas God promises you forgiveness from Himself and bounty; and God is vast and knowing.
Key Point: Verse 268 of Surah Al-Baqarah, with its multidimensional structure, reveals a scientific necessity for analysis in the domains of exegesis, philosophy, Islamic psychology, and sociology. This verse invites humans to contemplate the confrontation between satanic whisperings and divine promises.
This verse, by portraying the dichotomy of Satan and God, refers to the opposition between multiplicity and unity. Satan, as the embodiment of multiplicity and division, directs humans towards poverty and indecency, while God, the manifestation of unity and mercy, promises forgiveness and bounty. This dichotomy requires an interdisciplinary approach examined from various perspectives, including Islamic psychology and religious philosophy.
One fundamental challenge in religious academic institutions is the focus on theoretical rhetoric without attention to practical application. This approach, sometimes leading to repetitive concepts without innovation, undermines the capacity of religious sciences to address contemporary needs. Methodological reform is essential to transform religious sciences into a dynamic source for resolving social and ethical issues.
Key Point: Verse 268, by introducing the trinity of Satan, poverty, and indecency, refers to Satans influence on human economic and moral behaviours. This trinity, in opposition to Gods promise of forgiveness and bounty, sketches a map of the battle between good and evil.
Satan, as a motivating factor, leads humans toward deviation through the temptation of poverty and indecency. Poverty, as an obstacle to almsgiving, and indecency, as a consequence of moral deviation, are two facets of satanic influence emphasised in this verse.
The verse emphasises divine unity, the source of forgiveness and bounty. This unity stands in contrast to satanic multiplicity, which through various temptations draws humans towards division and corruption. Neglecting this unity traps humans in multiplicity and anxiety.
Indecency, as one of the focal points of this verse, refers not only to individual deviations but also to social and institutional corruption. In many societies, behaviours classified as indecency in the Holy Quran are legally and institutionally promoted, indicating moral degeneration.
Key Point: Poverty and indecency are respectively linked to non-almsgiving and improper almsgiving (accompanied by arrogance and ostentation). This relationship demonstrates Satans impact on human economic and moral conduct.
Poverty results from fear of almsgiving, which Satan instils in the human heart, while indecency results from improper almsgiving motivated by unethical reasons such as arrogance and ostentation. These two represent manifestations of Satans influence on the psyche and behaviour of humans.
Almsgiving, as an act involving the relinquishment of wealth, encounters psychological resistance. Satan exploits this resistance by intensifying the fear of poverty within humans. Overcoming this fear requires faith rooted in trust in divine promises.
Indecency in almsgiving, especially in the form of arrogance and ostentation, manifests psychological sadism wherein a person alleviates their own psychological distress by harming others. This behaviour not only nullifies the ethical value of almsgiving but also exacerbates inner anxiety.
Stinginess, as one of the spiritual vices, is the fundamental root of indecency in almsgiving. This trait acts as a barrier against benevolence, directing humans toward behaviours where the pleasure of harming others replaces goodwill.
Improper almsgiving, particularly in religious domains such as Khums (Islamic taxation), has occasionally resulted in financial misuse. This not only damages public trust but also weakens religious values. Historical examples of pious scholars, such as a Sayyid who sought permission before using Khums, highlight the importance of piety in this context.
Verse 268 of Surah Al-Baqarah, by portraying the confrontation between Satan and God, invites humans to reflect on their economic and moral behaviours. This verse, emphasising Satans impact on poverty and indecency alongside Gods promise of forgiveness and bounty, provides a comprehensive blueprint of the battle between good and evil. The critique of religious scientific methodologies and the call for their reform are additional messages of this verse, underlining the necessity of reassessing educational and practical approaches.
Translation: He grants wisdom to whom He wills; and whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been given abundant good; and none will remember except those of understanding.
Key Point: Verse 269, like an isolated island among the verses of almsgiving, holds a special position in the architectural design of Surah Al-Baqarah. This verse, focusing on wisdom as abundant goodness, establishes a profound connection with proper almsgiving.
Verse 269 shines as a unique gem amidst the verses related to almsgiving, prompting questions about its place and role within the Quranic structure. Emphasising wisdom as abundant goodness, it provides guidance for proper almsgiving and avoidance of indecency.
Wisdom in the Holy Quran is a multilayered concept that on the one hand refers to divine knowledge and on the other to ethical and practical conduct. Contrary to popular understanding that sometimes reduces wisdom to medicine or philosophy, the Quran presents wisdom as the ability of sound and well-founded reasoning.
Popular understanding of wisdom, sometimes limited to simplistic solutions, is incompatible with the depth of the Quranic concept of wisdom. Quranic wisdom necessitates strong reasoning, supported by the Divine Book, and accompanied by truthful practice.
Wisdom, as abundant goodness, is deeply connected to proper almsgiving. Almsgiving rooted in wisdom is free from indecency and ostentation and results in abundant good. This connection underscores the importance of intellect in guiding economic and moral behaviour.
Key Point: Desired religious knowledge must possess three characteristics: firmness (wisdom), documentation (Book), and truthful practice. These three form the foundation of an efficient scientific system.
For efficiency, religious knowledge must be firm, documented, and accompanied by truthful practice. Firmness implies strong and logical reasoning; documentation refers to the existence of a valid source; and truthfulness denotes the actualisation of knowledge in individual and social behaviour.
Religious knowledge sometimes lacks efficiency due to absence of systematic approaches and emphasis on undocumented traditions. Reforming this approach requires the formulation of a scientific system that integrates wisdom, the Book, and truthfulness.
Verse 269 of Surah Al-Baqarah, emphasising wisdom as abundant goodness, provides guidance for proper almsgiving and avoidance of indecency. This verse, with its unique position in the Quranic structure, stresses the necessity of systematic religious knowledge and its linkage with practice.
Verses 268 and 269 of Surah Al-Baqarah, like two wings for flight in the heavens of divine knowledge, invite humans to contemplate the confrontation between Satan and God, and the role of wisdom in guiding moral and economic behaviours. These verses, by delineating the trinity of Satan, poverty, and indecency, and emphasising divine forgiveness and bounty, provide a comprehensive map of the battle between good and evil. Wisdom, as abundant goodness, serves as guidance for proper almsgiving and avoidance of moral deviations. Critiques of religious scientific methods and calls for their reform are additional messages of these verses, underscoring the necessity of reassessment in educational and practical systems. This text, relying on multidimensional analyses, endeavours to present the concepts of these verses clearly and systematically for specialised audiences.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
