Preface

Surah Al-Baqarah, akin to a profound ocean, encompasses fundamental concepts that guide humanity on the path towards felicity and perfection. Verses 166 and 206 of this Surah, like two radiant gems, examine the concepts of obedience (tabaiyyat), disassociation (tabarr), and honour, and through eloquent language, direct mankind towards the recognition of truth and the avoidance of falsehood. This treatise, through contemplation on these two verses and reference to other Quranic verses, endeavours to elucidate these concepts within a scholarly and coherent framework. The objective is to present a profound interpretation that acts as a bridge between Quranic knowledge and the intellectual needs of contemporary man, thereby facilitating the comprehension of truth.

Part One: Obedience and Disassociation in Verse 166 of Surah Al-Baqarah

The Concept of Obedience and Disassociation

إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِینَ اتُّبِعُوا مِنَ الَّذِینَ اتَّبَعُوا وَرَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الْأَسْبَابُ

When those who were followed disassociated themselves from those who followed, and they saw the punishment, and the bonds between them were severed.

Verse 166 of Surah Al-Baqarah functions as a mirror, presenting the reality of wrongful obedience and involuntary disassociation before human eyes. Obedience, as a natural current, flows inevitably or voluntarily in all creatures, from atoms to humans. This universal attribute sometimes aligns with truth and produces felicity, while at other times, following falsehood leads humanity towards perdition. Disassociation, however, is a voluntary and specific attribute requiring awareness and choice. Disassociating from falsehood guides man towards truth, whereas disassociating from truth results in misguidance. In this verse, the Holy Quran speaks of involuntary disassociation in the hereafter; a situation where the followers of falsehood, after witnessing the punishment, detest their leaders, but such detestation is like water beyond reach and is of no avail.

Key Point: Obedience to truth leads to felicity, and disassociation from falsehood brings man closer to reality. Yet, wrongful obedience and involuntary disassociation in the hereafter are fruitless and underscore the importance of recognising truth in this world.

General Obedience and Specific Disassociation

Obedience, as a pervasive current, flows within all beings. From the movement of atoms in their orbits to the conscious choices of humans, all are manifestations of obedience. The Quran states in another verse:

وَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِینَ تَابُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا سَبِیلَکَ

And forgive those who repent and follow Your path.

This verse demonstrates that measured obedience to truth is the outcome of repentance and noble creation. However, disassociation is a conscious step necessitating will and recognition. Disassociation from falsehood leads man towards light, but disassociation from truth, like fleeing from illumination, results in darkness and error. The difference between these two attributes lies in their generality and specificity; obedience is like a river that encompasses all creatures, whereas disassociation is a choice meaningful only within human volition.

Obedience and Recognition of the Lord

The misfortune of humanity, like a sinister shadow, stems from blind obedience without recognising the truth. Obedience to truth is valuable only when accompanied by knowledge of the Lord and purposeful intention. The Quran states:

فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَایَ فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّی

So whoever follows My guidance, he is indeed of Me.

This verse regards obedience to truth as the path to felicity. Conversely, obedience to falsehood, as mentioned elsewhere, leads to destruction:

لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنْکَ وَمِمَّنْ تَبِعَکَ مِنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِینَ

I will surely fill Hell with you and those who follow you all together.

Obedience without recognition of the Lord is like walking in darkness, which leads solely to misguidance. The Quran invites humanity to follow reason and divine revelation:

وَاتَّبَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ بِسَبَبٍ

And We followed some of them by means (of others).

This verse emphasises the importance of discerning truth. Blind obedience, even if motivated by goodwill, is akin to sowing seeds in barren soil and yields no fruit.

Key Point: Knowledge of the Lord is an essential condition for correct obedience. Without recognition of truth and purposeful intention, obedience has no value and leads to misguidance.

Part Two: Honour and Its Types in Verse 206 of Surah Al-Baqarah

The Concept of Honour and Critique of Sinful Honour

وَإِذَا قِیلَ لَهُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ أَخَذَتْهُ الْعِزَّةُ بِالْإِثْمِ ۚ فَحَسْبُهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَلَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ

And when it is said to him, Fear God, pride in sin seizes him; so Hell is sufficient for him, and how wretched is the resting place.

Verse 206 of Surah Al-Baqarah acts as a warning lamp, critiquing sinful honour. Honour, like a precious jewel, is divisible into four categories:

• Intrinsic Honour: Exclusive to the Lord and manifests solely in the Divine essence. The Quran states: Indeed, all honour belongs to God.
• Perfection Honour: Specific to the believers and the Godly, deriving from faith and piety. This honour, like a deeply rooted tree, does not vanish with death or defeat.
• Illusory Honour: Temporary and unstable honour arising from power, wealth, or skills such as the sorcery of Pharaohs magicians. This honour, like a fleeting shadow, vanishes with defeat.
• False Honour: A counterfeit honour stemming from polytheism and idolatry. The Quran says: And they took gods besides God to give them honour.

Analysis of Illusory and False Honour

Pharaohs magicians, as examples of illusory honour, possessed temporary honour through their sorcery skills; however, lacking faith, this honour inclined towards falsehood. When they believed, their illusory honour transformed into perfection honour. The Quran states:

قَالُوا بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَالِبُونَ

They said, By the honour of Pharaoh, indeed we are the dominant.

This illusory honour, like a bubble on water, shattered upon confrontation with truth. Conversely, the perfection honour of the believers is like a firm mountain, enduring and preserved with the Lord:

وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِینَ

And to God belongs the honour, and to His Messenger, and to the believers.

Key Point: Intrinsic honour is exclusive to God, and perfection honour is special to the believers. Illusory and false honour, like a deceptive mirage, lead man to perdition.

Honour and Faith in Verse 8 of Surah Al-Munafiqun

وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِینَ وَلَٰکِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِینَ لَا یَعْلَمُونَ

And to God belongs the honour, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.

This verse, like a blazing torch, attributes honour to three groups: God, the Messenger, and the select believers. Intrinsic honour belongs solely to God, while the honour of the Messenger and the believers is of the perfection and servitude type. Hypocrites, due to their hypocrisy and fragmented existence, are deprived of this honour. Hypocrisy is like spoiled milk that curdles and breaks the integrity of existence, trapping the individual in illusion and doubt. The interpretation of this verse consists of extracting its meaning, not adding to it. Adding meaning is like pouring water back into a well, leading to distortion.

Part Three: The Role of Recognition of the Lord in Obedience and Honour

The School of the Lord

Recognition of the Lord, like a golden key, unlocks the path to correct obedience and the acquisition of perfection honour. Prophets and saints learn in the School of the Lord:

اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ یُعَلِّمْکُمُ اللَّهُ

Fear God; God will teach you.

This school is where the Prophets, through supplications such as O God, reveal Yourself to me and O God, guide me from Yourself, attain divine knowledge and guidance. This recognition acts as a firm shield, protecting man from false obedience and illusory honour. Neglecting recognition of the Lord is like falling into a deep well, leading man toward wrongful obedience and false honour.

Key Point: Recognition of the Lord is a condition for felicity in obedience and attaining perfection honour. Knowledge without this recognition is like a sword without a handle, resulting in misery.

Cultural and Social Critique

An exclusive emphasis on forbidding false obedience without explaining the paths of obedience to truth resembles misleading guidance that causes confusion. Religious knowledge must institutionalise the culture of obedience to truth and attainment of perfection honour in society by promoting recognition of the Lord and teaching supplications such as O God, guide me from Yourself. This endeavour, like planting a good seed in fertile soil, prevents neglect and blind obedience.

Summary

Verses 166 and 206 of Surah Al-Baqarah, like two stars in the sky of knowledge, illuminate the concepts of obedience, disassociation, and honour. Obedience to truth, accompanied by recognition of the Lord and purposeful intention, leads to felicity and perfection honour; whereas obedience to falsehood results in involuntary disassociation in the hereafter and illusory or false honour. Honour is categorised into intrinsic, perfection, illusory, and false types; intrinsic honour belongs solely to God, and perfection honour is special to select believers. Hypocrites, due to hypocrisy and ignorance, are deprived of this honour. Religious knowledge must guide society towards perfection honour and felicity by elucidating recognition of the Lord and promoting obedience to truth. This interpretation, like a faithful guide, invites man to contemplate truth and avoid falsehood.