Ignorance about faith has always remained in human history in one form or the other. However, in Islam, ignorance is not bliss. Mainly, because Allah, Al Kareem (The Most Gracious) has meticulously arranged complete guidance for humanity. That is why we hear people embracing Islam daily and it being the fastest growing religion in the world. However disturbing cases of Islamophobia are also reported globally, which are a curse to any civilized society.
How does Allah (swt) guide the humanity?
Only Allah (swt) knows regarding His divine Guidance plan how ever, what is known to us through the Quran and the Sunnah informs us of the following:
- The oath – Allah (swt) took a covenant from every soul before sending it to the world and introduced Himself to it as his/her Rabb (Creator and Sustainer). (Ref Al Araaf 6:171-172)
- Our Fitrah – Every heart is imprinted with the recognition of it’s True God just as it is equipped to tell the difference between right from wrong.
- A chain of messengers – They were sent to every part of the world with Allah’s (swt) Divine knowledge as a follow up.
- A series of books – They were revealed to different prophets to facilitate their mission of establishing Deen, Quran being the final revelation sent to Muhammad (sa) for the world.
- The universe and our own body – The perfect alternation of night and day, coming of seasons, animals and their customized habitats, our own functioning organs and their perfection are an evidence upon a perfect one true God (Ilah e Waahid).
- Angels – Allah (swt) sends righteous ideas, thoughts, solutions as guidance to all through His angels working by the moment to serve us.
- Dua – When people invoke Him with their needs and troubles, He responds, cares and guides them.
- People – Allah (swt) plants righteous people around us to take heed from and come closer to Allah (swt). Caring parents, loving spouse, trusting friends, supportive siblings, a genuine teacher, even a complete stranger who is well-meaning, etc.
- Events – Allah (swt) plans such happenings around us that impact us deeply and draw us to Islam. For e.g. someone’s death, a financial loss, 5 times call of the Adhaan, etc.
But at the end of it all, it is the choice of the human to believe or to disbelieve with clear consequences announced for both. Allah (swt) Al Hakam (The Just) does not commit injustice with any of His creation, but some of them deliberately choose to transgress and reject all signs.
“O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart and that to him you will be gathered.” (Al Anfaal 8:24)
Types of ignorance (Jahal)
Ignorance about Islam can occur due to:
- Lack of knowledge
- Misinterpretation of knowledge
- Rejection of knowledge
- Preference to heedlessness over knowledge
- Knowledge without any action
- Action without Divine knowledge
The perfect metaphor used by Ibrahim At Tawejri in Kitaab at Tauheed for Divine knowledge is that of a beautiful tree of righteousness, contentment and pleasure. On the contrary, ignorance is a tree of filth, darkness and sins. Both types of trees grow, produce and show opposite activity.
Just the way people are at various stations of guidance, similarly people are diverse in their state of ignorance too:
- Ignorant about Allah’s (swt) names, attributes and actions
- Ignorant about the Deen and Shariah
- Ignorant about Qada and Qadr (Predestination)
Some ignorant ones are many in numbers and some are few. Some have a more intense state of ignorance than the rest. Hence they all differ from each other. But they all are unanimously at the highest risk of a doomed end unless they repent and reform.
“And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colours. Similarly only those fear Allah from among His servants who have knowledge. Indeed Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.” (Fatir 35:28)
The guided and misguided can never be the same in their deeds in the world and reward in the hereafter. They do not have the same worth before Allah (swt) and neither do they have the same value before the people. An ignorant human harms himself and the society while the guided believer benefits himself and his community.
“Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing (in prayer), fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, (like one who does not?) Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’ Only they will remember (who are) people of understanding.” (Az Zumur 39:9)
1. Harm by the one who is ignorant about Allah’s (swt) names, attributes and actions
- They spread fear among people creating hatred in their hearts for Allah (swt). For e.g. Allah (swt) only punishes. They block the path to Allah’s (swt) mercy and love.
- They discourage other ignorant people from repenting and reforming. They have no good thoughts about Allah (swt) (Husn Zan Billah).
- They perceive Allah (swt) as evil who does not appreciate Iman and the momin’s struggles. They transfer this toxicity to other people who have a weak and corrupt faith too.
- The ignorant people reject Allah’s (swt) reasons and causes behind a certain command. They lie that Allah (swt) works with His Divine Will that can target anyone as He has full authority and is not to be trusted.
2. Harm by the one who is ignorant about Deen and Shariah
- These worshipers introduce innovations into Islam without evidence and preach them high and low. Hence desires and culture adulterate Deen and is being practiced far and wide today.
- The innovators invite others to join them, worship with extreme devotion and detest anyone who attempts to correct them. That is why Biddat (innovation) is beloved to Shiatan.
- They associate their innovated ideas with Allah (swt) and the Prophet (sa) hence never repent from it and create divisions in faith.
- Sometimes the fabricated worship and defiled conduct and mindset emerging from it of believers becomes a source for disbelievers to misunderstand Islam.
3. Harm by the one who is ignorant about Qada and Qadr (Predestination)
- They cite the example of Iblis that he was such a devoted worshipper until he fell from his high status due to ill fate. Allah (swt) contrarily inform us that it was due to Iblis’s crooked intention that he had hidden until his arrogance surfaced and he was exposed as he refused to follow commands.
- The one who is ignorant about Allah’s (swt) attributes and true religion reaches incorrect conclusions and makes faulty decisions, when things happen in his life whether good or bad.
- Especially in cases of misfortune, he complains about Allah (swt) to His creation who are equally weak and sinful as he is. This is the worse kind of criticism against the Creator.
“They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be (within) His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.” (Az Zumur 39:67)
True divine knowledge leads to contentment of the heart. This contentment leads to servitude by the worshiper. Hence Iman is born and needs to be cultivated in the light of the Quran and the Sunnah. This is the only way to dispel the darkness of ignorance from muslim and non-muslim societies.
Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not be divided. And remember the favour of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became by His favour brothers…” (Al Imran 3:103)
Partially adapted from Fiqh ul Quloob taught by Safiya Khan, Karachi.
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