the Lectures of Nokounam (Session 1088)
The Holy Quran, akin to a guiding beacon, unveils the path to salvation for humanity and, through profound expression, critiques human systems while elucidating divine laws. Verse 50 of Surah Al-Maidah, like a brilliant gem within this luminous collection, presents two fundamental axes before us: condemnation of adherence to Jahiliyyah laws and praise for the superiority of divine laws for a people who have attained certainty. This verse, in a clear and articulate language, calls upon mankind to step from the darkness of Jahiliyyah towards the light of certainty. In this composition, with a deep examination of this verse and the analyses derived from the discourses of religious scholars, an endeavour is made to elucidate its lofty concepts in a coherent framework and eloquent expression. This reflection assists not only in understanding the verse but also in comprehending historical and contemporary challenges in the realisation of divine laws.
Jahiliyyah, in the mirror of the Holy Quran, is not merely ignorance but a deep-rooted and established system that overshadowed human societies before the advent of Islam. This system, referenced in several Quranic verses, is characterised by traits such as oppression, materialism, and a lust for power. Jahiliyyah, like a towering tree, had roots embedded in pre-Islamic culture and traditions, and the people of that era, following their ancestors, sought to perpetuate this system.
أَفَحُكْمَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ ۚ
Do they seek the judgement of Jahiliyyah?
This verse, through a thought-provoking question, criticises the inclination towards Jahiliyyah laws. The people of that time, due to their fanaticism towards ancestral traditions, sought to preserve the Jahiliyyah system, which was like an old yet familiar edifice. This inclination did not arise from awareness but from attachment to a materialistic and unethical past.
One of the greatest obstacles confronting the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the Holy Quran was the dominance of Jahiliyyah over the society of that era. Jahiliyyah, like a stormy sea, encompassed all facets of social life, and the people were immersed in ignorance and oppression. Religious scholars narrate that the Prophet (PBUH) said: No prophet has been harmed like me. This statement clearly reflects the hardships of confronting a pervasive Jahiliyyah, which, like a fortified fortress, resisted divine invitation.
The Jahiliyyah system is identified by traits such as oppression, bullying, and materialism. This system, like a fixed religion deeply rooted among the people, accepted no conditions for its acceptance and hence held a deceptive appeal for the common and ignorant masses. In contrast to divine laws, whose acceptance requires awareness and certainty, Jahiliyyah, with its simplicity and lack of conditions, drew people towards itself.
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حُكْمًا لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
And who is better in judgement than Allah for a people who have certainty?
This segment of the verse, like a star in the firmament of knowledge, declares the unsurpassed superiority of divine laws over all human systems. Divine law, rooted in the boundless knowledge and wisdom of God, like a pure spring, shows humanity the path to felicity.
The Holy Quran predicates the superiority of divine law upon the certainty of a people. The term Qawm Yqinn (a people who have certainty) does not refer to scattered individuals but to a community whose hearts are firmly rooted in certainty of divine laws. Certainty, like a rare gem, transcends superficial faith and verbal Islam. Faith may be confined to acts and outward appearances, and Islam sometimes is merely tongue articulation, but certainty, like a fire in the heart, demands profound and heartfelt belief.
According to religious scholars, certainty is a quality implanted in the hearts of believers and requires knowledge, wisdom, purity, and integrity. These traits act like fertile soil in which the seed of certainty grows. However, this certainty is rare among people due to its stringent and heavy conditions.
From the Quranic perspective, certainty, faith, and Islam represent different levels of religiosity. Islam may sometimes be confined to speech and external forms, and faith may be satisfied with visible deeds and conduct. However, certainty, like a lofty summit, points to profound heartfelt conviction. This distinction indicates that superficial religiosity, manifested in religious rituals like prayer and fasting without spiritual depth, cannot lead to understanding divine laws.
In the early period of Islam, Jahiliyyah was a heavy shadow over the Islamic society. Depictions of that era sometimes show violent, bullying, and vociferous people who, despite superficial acceptance of Islam, remained inwardly adherent to Jahiliyyah culture. This penetration, like a thorn in the foot, hindered the genuine expansion of Islam.
In the present age, Jahiliyyah has appeared in a new guise. The civilised exterior, with suits and neatness, conceals a harsh and Jahili culture within. Contemporary mischiefs, manifested in complex and technical forms, have transformed from traditional theft to modern methods such as financial abuses in banks and offices. This modern Jahiliyyah, like a wolf in sheeps clothing, continues to root itself in human societies.
One indication of contemporary Jahiliyyah is hypocrisy between slogans and actions. Human rights, raised like a deceptive banner, are neglected in practice. Similarly, in some Islamic societies, claims of religiosity accompany unethical behaviours. This hypocrisy, like a broken mirror, distorts truth and prevents the attainment of certainty.
One of the greatest obstacles to the realisation of divine laws is the absence of a Qawm Yqinn. Without a society that has attained certainty, divine laws, like a fragrant flower amid rubbish, remain unperceived. This metaphor shows that divine law, although inherently excellent and lofty, is only received with a pure perception and an aware heart.
وَجَعَلْنَاهُ مَهْجُورًا
And We have made it neglected.
This neglect results from the dominance of Jahiliyyah law over societies. Although the Holy Quran is like a shining sun accessible to all, comprehension and application of it have become rare and scarce due to the lack of certainty.
إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ
Indeed, the self is prone to command evil.
This inclination of the self, like an opposing wind, draws humans towards Jahiliyyah and prevents them from attaining certainty.
To achieve certainty and overcome Jahiliyyah, transformation in society and religion is essential. A society that has not attained certainty cannot benefit from divine laws. This transformation, like a new spring, requires reform in beliefs, behaviours, and social culture.
Many verses of the Holy Quran, due to lack of appropriate conditions, do not find realisation in contemporary societies. This failure is a consequence of the absence of a Qawm Yqinn and the dominance of Jahiliyyah. To contextualise the verses, a new and aware society must emerge, which, like fertile soil, is prepared to receive the seeds of divine guidance.
History, like a slow stream, gradually advances towards transformation. Even after one and a half millennia since the advent of Islam, human societies remain ensnared in the grip of Jahiliyyah. This slowness illustrates the difficulty of achieving certainty and overcoming the culture of Jahiliyyah.
Verse 50 of Surah Al-Maidah, like a clear mirror, portrays the contrast between Jahiliyyah and divine laws. Jahiliyyah is a deep-rooted and established system that, in past and present, has prevailed over human societies in different forms. Against it, divine law, like a precious gem, is comprehensible and effective only for a people who have attained certainty. The absence of certainty, like a sturdy barrier, obstructs the realisation of divine laws and has caused the Holy Quran to become neglected among people. To break free from this Jahiliyyah and attain certainty, transformation in society and religion is imperative. This transformation, like a spring breeze, can guide aware hearts towards divine guidance.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
Allahumma Salli ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad
