Within the boundless realm of Quranic knowledge, Verse 269 of Surah Al-Baqarah shines like a brilliant jewel whose focal point is wisdom as the essence of firm knowledge and a guide for humanity towards abundant good. This verse, expressed succinctly yet profoundly, refers to the exalted status of wisdom in the existential domain of man and the limitations of human knowledge. The exegesis of this verse, drawn from scholarly discourses, not only elucidates the concept of wisdom but also presents a deep critique of the various layers of human knowledge, ranging from conjecture and suspicion to true science and wisdom, thereby charting the path of human elevation. This treatise, with a systematic structure and a refined language, endeavours to present the concepts of this verse in an academic and scientific format for erudite audiences, emphasising the semantic connections between wisdom, knowledge, and the critique of epistemological frameworks within the religious community. The structure of this work comprises main sections with specialised subtitles, each addressing an aspect of the verse and its interpretation, accompanied by precise conclusions and a final summary.
يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
He grants wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever is granted wisdom has certainly been given much good; and none will remember except those of understanding.
This noble verse, in clear and decisive wording, introduces wisdom as a divine gift bestowed by Gods will upon chosen servants. This abundant good is not merely a sublime form of knowledge but a guidance that only the wise (those of understanding) can comprehend and benefit from. This section will analyse the concepts of this verse and its position within the Quranic epistemological system.
From the Quranic perspective, wisdom is firm and steadfast knowledge that transcends superficial science. This knowledge acts like a steadfast ship in the stormy sea of human conjectures and assumptions, guiding man towards the shore of truth. Unlike science, which concerns itself with the attributes and features of objects, wisdom regards the identity and reality of things. As expressed in the scholarly discourse, wisdom is a "sound and correct finding" that not only comprehends limited characteristics but attains recognition of the inner reality and essence of existence. This knowledge resembles a lamp that dispels the darkness of ignorance and illusion and facilitates the understanding of divine realities.
Another verse from the Holy Quran states:
وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
"And you have not been given of knowledge except a little."
This verse clearly indicates the limitation of human knowledge. The scholarly discourse, relying on this verse, emphasises that wisdom, being a higher level than science, is considerably rarer. Humans, in most instances, are trapped in the snares of illusions, assumptions, and fantasies, and rarely attain the rank of wisdom. This rarity is akin to a precious gem buried deep within the earth, attainable only through profound effort and endeavour.
The scholarly discourse clarifies the difference between wisdom and science with an original metaphor: science is like describing the features of a building, stating "this building is beautiful, tall, or sturdy," whereas wisdom is the understanding of the buildings identity and reality. Science remains in the realm of attributes (such as colour, shape, or size), while wisdom penetrates into the inner essence and substance of things. To put it figuratively, science is like a mirror reflecting the external appearance of objects, but wisdom is like a window opening towards the truth.
Wisdom, as firm and steadfast knowledge, is not only distinct from science but also holds an exalted position within the Quranic epistemological system due to its rarity and depth. This knowledge, focused on the identity and reality of things, is a guidance that only the wise (those of understanding) can comprehend and benefit from. The critique of human sciences limitations and the dominance of illusions over man further highlights the necessity of paying attention to wisdom.
The scholarly discourse, with a critical view of the epistemic condition of humanity, states that most people (ninety percent according to the text) are caught in the trap of illusions, conjectures, and doubts. This situation is like a swamp that submerges man and prevents him from reaching the shore of knowledge and wisdom. Reference to Khayyams verses, which speak of human misguidance on the path of certainty, deepens this critique:
Some are thoughtful on the path of religion / Others have fallen into conjecture on the way of certainty.
I fear the day will come when the ignorant will say / "This path is neither this nor that."
These verses clearly demonstrate that humanity, instead of knowledge and certainty, is immersed in suspicion and illusion. This condition poses a great obstacle in the pursuit of wisdom.
The scholarly discourse employs a brilliant metaphor, likening human society to a "city of the blind" where ignorance is regarded as perfection and knowledge is considered a defect. This metaphor acts like a mirror reflecting the bitter reality of an ignorant society. In such a society, those who open the eyes of their knowledge are subjected to ridicule rather than praise. This critique reveals the social roots of ignorance and stresses the necessity of epistemic transformation.
The scholarly discourse, with profound insight, refers to humanitys ignorance concerning the true meaning of "There is no god but Allah" (La ilaha illa Allah), which is the essence of monotheism. For most people, this phrase remains an ambiguous concept, and they fail to attain its profound understanding. In other words, human knowledge is limited to the perceptible (such as family and honour) and incapable of grasping the unseen and revelation. This limitation is like a cage preventing man from soaring towards the truth.
The critique of human knowledge in the scholarly discourse provides a clear picture of the dominance
