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Understanding, meditation,
observation, reasoning, are words reiterated
many times in the Qur'an in the context of
criticizing the disbelievers' insistence on
blind imitation of their wrong traditions and
refusal of the truth. For example, Allah
Almighty says, (And
when it is said unto them: Follow that which
Allah has revealed, they say: We follow that
wherein we found our fathers. What! Even
though their fathers were wholly unintelligent
and had no guidance?)
(Al-Baqarah 2:170).
Allah Almighty also says, (Will
they then not meditate on the Qur'an, or are
there locks on the hearts?)
(Muhammad 47:24). In this verse, Allah
Almighty calls the disbelievers to reflect on
the verses of the Qur'an and try to get the
message they imply.
Likewise, the Qur'an calls
people to meditate deeply upon Allah's
creation. He Almighty, for instance, says, (Verily!
In the creation of the heavens and the earth,
and in the alternation of night and day, there
are indeed signs for men of understanding.)
(Aal `Imran 3:190).
The Qur'an also awakens people
to reflect upon Allah's creation and the truth
of their being by posing rhetorical questions
in this respect. Allah Almighty says, for
example, (Have
they not observed all thing that Allah has
created…)
(An-Nahl 16:48). He Most High also says, (Will
they not regard the camels, how they are
created?)
(Al-Ghashiyah 88:17).
There are also many verses in
the Qur'an that wind up with impressive
questions in this regard, such as, (Will
they not then heed?)
(As-Sajdah 32:26), (Will
they not then see?) (As-Sajdah 32:27), (Will
they not then understand?)
(Ya-Sin 36: 68).
The importance of the role of
reason in understanding, and thus believing
the message of Islam is further emphasized by
considering the person's capacity of
understanding and reasoning as the basis of
his or her being held legally responsible in
Islam. That is why Almighty Allah forbids all
things that may cause harm to man's intellect
and make him intoxicated. Hence, He Almighty
says, (O
ye who believe! Strong drink and games of
chance and idols and divining arrows are only
an infamy of Satan's handiwork. Leave it aside
in order that ye may succeed)
(Al-Ma'idah 5:90).
The Qur'an also stresses that
having sound knowledge is the means for
developing one's intellectual faculties; this
is implied in Almighty Allah's words (And
such are the parables We set forth for
mankind, but only those understand them who
have knowledge)
(Al-`Ankabut 29:43).
Contemplating the above sample
verses, it is emphasized that the Qur'an
awakens people to realize the truth of their
existence and calls them to give up the blind
imitation of wrong traditions and the fanatic
attitudes they hold in this respect. This is
because Islam considers sound human reason as
the source of man's honor and the basis that
gives humankind true guidance and leads to a
genuinely enlightened civilization.
Hence, it is high time now for
Muslims all over the world to free their
reasons from the shackles of blind imitation
so as to assume their correct Islamic role of
enlightenment in this world. They should give
up all ways of [old-fashioned] idle reception
of the process of education and replace them
with critical and scientific thinking, so as
to be able to progress and resume their
pioneering roles in various fields of
knowledge.
To fulfill this objective, it
is not enough to memorize the Qur'an by heart;
Muslims must also meditate upon its meaning
and message and inculcate in their children's
minds that the Qur'an teaches them the way to
lead positive and enlightened lives.
Theses are points for all
reasonable people to consider, and
exceptionally truthful are Almighty Allah's
words (But
none remember except men of understanding)
(Al-Baqarah 2:269).
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