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MAN AND JAHILYAH (IGNORANCE)
PRESENTED BY
AL-BALAGH FOUNDATION
In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most
Merciful
"Is it (then that) the judgement of (the time of
pagan) ignorance they desire?
And who (else) can be better than Allah
to judge for a people of assure faith."
Holy Qur'an (5:50)
"Judgement is of two kinds -the judgement of Allah-
the Great and Almighty - and
the judgement of the people of the
ignorance (jahiliyah). So, whoever misses Allah's
judgement, surely
will judge according to the judgement of the people of
jahiliyah."
Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a.s.)
Preface
Dear reader, presented here is another in the series of
Islamic Concepts published by Al-Balagh Foundation and distributed
to all interested parties in order to continue its sacred, and cultural
message.
In 'Man and Jahiliyah (Ignorance)', we offer a
brief definition to the present Muslim generation and the constant reader
who has interest in this series. The subject involves the most dangerous
matter threatening modern civilization and the most important one in human
life. This booklet discusses how to diagnose and single out ignorance in
behavior, society, and thought and as we journey along modern history's
pages whose chapters and events are written under the cloud of immoral and
material 'jahiliyah'. Through this discussion, we hope to instill
belief, civility, and knowledge in the Muslim reader and help him to be
familiar with the doctrine of his faith. The Almighty Allah says:
"And (bow you) verily that My path is the straight
one, so follow it, and follow not (other) ways for they will scatter you
away from His path; this He enjoins on you so that you may guard
(yourselves against evil)."
Holy Qur'an (6:153)
We offer our dear readers this addition to the series in
order that the concepts of such knowledge, and righteous values will not
become a source of confusion in his mind. Thus, helping to prevent the
foot from slipping after its firmness or the believing community and its
Islamic values from dissolving in the depths of ignorance. For, if this
should happen, the misguided believers will be absorbed and used up.
Therefore, the Muslims will blunder into the darkness of deviation from
truth. Besides, they will lose their identities and personalities after
being leaders of mankind and the bearers of the light of guidance on the
earth.AL-BALAGH FOUNDATION
What does Jahiliyah mean?
1. Islam calls the pagan life of Arabs 'Jahiliyah'
(ignorance). This label specifically identified the lifestyle to be found
in the land of the Arabs before the Islamic Mission began. It included the
beliefs and customs of the pagan Arabs who lived in a most decadent and
perverse manner. This stage in history was full of chaos and corruption,
and witnessed a decline in the sociology and ideology of the age. This was
because the signs of truth had disappeared in that dark historical stage.
The aspects of deviation from truth and justice had become embodied in the
society, much in the same manner as the perverse practices of Sodom and
Gommorah in the time of Prophet Lot, so that evil was acknowledged as good
and good was acknowledged as evil.
2. Islam calls this lifestyle of the Arabs desert
dwellers, 'Jahiliyah', to identify the ideological and social
nature of that age and to compare it to general 'jahiliyah' of
nations and peoples that have arisen during man's evolution. Therefore,
where we have written 'jahiliyah' with a capital "J" we mean
specifically the Age of Ignorance of the Arabs in the pre-Islamic age, and
when it is specified with a "j" it refers to global ignorance at any stage
in man's evolution where ignorance has buried truth, as is found in our
social and ideological values today.
3. Islam calls that miserable historical period of Arab
lifestyle 'Jahiliyah' because it is a word which represents
ignorant beliefs, practices, rules, laws, customs, values and behavior of
a perverse society.
4. Islam does not call the Arabs, 'Jahiliyah',
before the emergence of its blessed mission because of academic ignorance,
nor does it call them ignorant 'jahilin' because of illiteracy nor
for backwardness in the areas of sciences, so we understand that
'Jahiliyah' had a specific and special meaning.
5. Islam called the Arabs of that age 'jahiliyah'
because even in the presence of academic and artistic knowledge, the
social manner and behavior of the people and its acceptable lifestyle were
such that the word, 'Jahiliyah', is suitable for them. The Holy
Qur'an has told us about other nations with capabilities in science,
engineering, and skills. Still, it regarded them as 'jahiliyah'
(ignorant).
6. The Qur'an describes nature as equal among nations of
'jahiliyah'. In the Qur'anic viewpoint, all of these nations were
ignorant. We are able to understand this equality clearly through the
comparison which the Qur'an has made between the backward state of Arabs
and the developed state of nations before them.
7 Allah, the Exalted, says:
"What! have they not travelled in the earth and
seen how was the end of those before them? They were more (in number) than
those and mightier in strength, and greater are the relics (of their
power) in the earth, but availed them not what they were earning. And when
came unto them their apostles with clear proofs (of their truthfulness),
exalted they in what they had with them of knowledge, but encompassed them
that which they were wont to scoff."
Holy Qur'an (40:82-83)
"Have they travelled not in the earth and seen how
was the end of those before them? They were stronger than them in
strength; and they dug up the earth and built on it more than what these
did build; and there came unto them their apostles with clear proofs
(miracles); (for) it is not Allah Who should do them (any) injustice, but
they did injustice to their own selves. Then evil was the end of those who
wrought evil, for belied they the signs of Allah, and at them they used to
mock."
Holy Qur'an (30:9-10)
"And how many of the generations We did destroy
before them, they were (even) better in riches and in splendor. Say you (O
Our Apostle Muhammad) As to those who are in error, the Beneficent (Allah)
will certainly lengthen the span (of their) life; until they behold what
they were promised, be it the chastisement (in this world) or the Hour (of
Doom); Then shall they know who is worse placed and (who is the) weakest
in forces!"
Holy Qur'an (19:74-75)
In this manner, the Qur'an has revealed the depth and
content of those nations to stress that scientific development of man and
his civil advancement are not able to save him from the claws of deviation
and take him out of the fangs of ignorance as long as he embellishes
ignorant faith and embodies the same abnormal ignorant behavior of the
general society.
Although these ignorant deviated nations are scattered
throughout history and are different in scientific and civil levels, they
share common factors. One mental state combines them together and unifies
their deviated course.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
"And those (pagans) who have no knowledge say: 'Why
does not Allah speak to us or a sign come to us?' Even thus said those
before them, the like of what they say; their hearts are alike; We have
indeed made clear the signs to people who are certainly sure."
Holy Qur'an (2:118)
This similarity among the hearts of the deviated nations
and peoples and the unity of the mental trend, which the Qur'an has
revealed, is the common line which identifies all aspects of the
pre-Islamic period of ignorance and is the center from which all
activities of the ignorant man begins.
This similarity is the factor forming the identity and
personality of this pre-Islamic nation. Also this description may be
applied to all stages of human history whose generations have evolved into
a devious and deviated system and refused to follow the straight path of
truth and peace-the straight path of Allah, the law of the Lord, and the
message of salvation.
When we examine Islamic texts and phrases about
identifying and describing the life of (pre-Islamic period) ignorance, we
are able to understand the meaning of the idiom 'Jahiliyah' and the
reason why the Qur'an has used it. Also we are able to understand why the
same idiom has been applied to other nations throughout history.
We are able to understand this terminology and labelling
once we learns of the ignorance in the history of past nations and its
connected parts, when we follow the unity of the line and trends which
associated 'jahiliyah' through its effects and remains, and when we
study the description of the Qur'an about the most important aspects of
'Jahiliyah", its ways of thinking, and its psychological and
behavioral trends.
When we reach this awareness, we find that
'jahiliyah' means error, going astray, deviation from Allah's
straight path, and negligence in His worship. That is because
'jahiliyah', in the Qur'anic viewpoint, means a religion and
lifestyle that follows a line contrary to the line of Islam in nature and
aim. It follows the line of deviation from the path of true religion and
Allah's 'shari'ah' (law) which guides man.
'Jahiliyah' (ignorance) is a way of life. It has
its own faith, way of thinking, and lifestyle including social manners,
worship, values and concepts, viewpoint towards life, method to create
civilization, and a direction for human activities in areas such as
culture, art, literature, politics, economy, power, law and order,
etc.
8. In order to unveil the ugly face of 'jahiliyah'
and discover the thread that entwines current ignorant international
thoughts, it is better to return to the Holy Qur'an which describes
'Jahiliyah', and its people, and the dimensions of their lifestyle
and the features of their civilization and social system. Also it denotes
their general framework and the basic rules of their formation. The Qur'an
says:
"And none but the guilty led us astray."
Holy Qur'an (26:99)
"And indeed they have led many astray, and nothing
increases to the wrongdoers except perdition."
Holy Qur'an (71:24)
"But if they answer you not, know that they only
follow their low desires. And who is more erring than he who follows his
low desires without any guidance from Allah? Surely Allah guides not the
wrongdoing people."
Holy Qur'an (28:50)
"But they rejected him, so We delivered him and
those with him in the ark,..."
Holy Qur'an (10:73)
"Then, after him We sent messengers to their
people. They came to them with clear arguments, but they would not believe
what they had rejected before. Thus do We seal the hearts of those who
exceed the limits."
Holy Qur'an (10:74)
"Then after them We sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh
and his chiefs with Our signs, but they were arrogant, and they were a
guilty people."
Holy Qur'an (10:75)
"But, on account of the fear of Pharaoh and their
chiefs persecuting them, none believed in Moses except a few of his
people. And Pharaoh was truly high-handed in the land; and surely he was
extravagant."
Holy Qur'an (10:83)
"They said: O Hud, you have brought us no clear
argument, and we are not going to desert our gods for your word, and we
are not believers in you."
Holy Qur'an (11:53)
"Say: O people, if you are in doubt as to my
religion, (know that) I serve not those whom you serve besides
Allah,..."
Holy Qur'an (10:104)
"And when he holds authority, he makes effort in
the land to cause mischief in it and destroy tilth and offspring, and
Allah loves not mischief."
Holy Qur'an (2:205)
"The life of this world is made to seem fair to
those who disbelieve, and they mock those who believe..."
Holy Qur'an (2:212)
"And they say: Our Lord, we only obeyed our leaders
and our Feat men, so they led us astray from the (right) path."
Holy Qur'an (33:67)
9. If we want more clarity about this collapsed civil
situation, let's consider carefully the sermons of Imam Ali (a.s.) from
Nahjul- Balagha, in which he explains the formation of
'Jahiliyah' and analyses the form of its life and faith as
follows:
"Allah sent Muhammad (s.a.w.) as a warner (against
vice) for all the worlds and a trustee of His revelation, while you people
of Arabia were following the worst religion and you resided among rough
stones and venomous serpents. You drank dirty water and ate filthy food.
You shed blood of each other and cared not for relationship. Idols are
fixed among you and sins are clinging to you."[1]
Then, he (a.s.) speaks about the situations and
conditions that preceded the Holy Prophetic mission as follows:
"At that time people had fallen into vices whereby the
rope of religion had been broken, the pillars of belief had been shaken,
principles had been sacrileged, the system had become topsy turvy,
openings were narrow, passages were dark, guidance was unknown and
darkness prevailed.
Allah, The Most Beneficent, was being disobeyed.
Satan was given support and belief had been foresaken. As a result, the
pillars of religion fell down, its traces could not be discerned, its
passages had been destroyed and its streets had fallen into decay. People
obeyed Satan and tread his paths. They sought water from his watering
places. Through them Satan's emblems were flying and his standard was
raised in vices which trampled the people under their hoofs, and treaded
upon them with their feet. The vices stood on their toes (in full stature)
and the people immersed in them were astrayed, perplexed, ignorant and
seduced as though in a good house with bad neighbors. Instead of sleep
they had wakefulness and for antimony they had tears in the eyes. They
were in a land where the learned were bridled (mouths forced shut) while
the ignorant were honored."[2]
In another place, he (a.s.) says:
"Allah sent the Prophet at a time when the people were
going astray in perplexity and were moving here and there in mischief.
Desires had deflected them and self-conceit had swerved them. Extreme
ignorance had made them foolish. They were confounded by the unsteadiness
of matters and the evils of ignorance. Then the Prophet (s.a.w.) did his
best in giving them sincere advice, himself trodding on the right path and
called (them) towards wisdom and good counsel."[3]
"I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His
Messenger whom He deputized when the people were collecting in the abyss
and moving in bewilderment The reins of destruction were dragging them and
the locks of malice lay fixed on their hearts."[4]
In another place of his sermons and sayings, we read
another analysis of the nature of the ignorant man and his moral and
psychological character. Imam Ali (a.s.) sheds bright light on the nature
of this man in each period and stage and makes these sick symptoms as
distinguishing qualities for the ignorant man and society.
Imam Ali (a.s.) speaks about evil, deviation and the call
of Satan. He (a.s.) denotes that the followers of this call are
ignorant:
"And the followers of fanaticism, the brothers of
fanaticism and the horsemen of haughtiness and ignorance proved him
(Prophet Muhammad, (s.a.w.)) to be true."[5]
In another speech concerning 'Jahiliyah', we read
another analysis of this restless social situation and discover another
dimension in its structure. He (a.s.) says:
"The conditions were full of distress. The hands were
scattered The majority was divided They were in great anguish and under
layers of ignorance. They buried their daughters alive, worshipped idols,
disregarded kinship and practised robbery."[6]
Imam Ali (a.s.) is not statisfied with speaking about
'Jahiliyah', analysing its structure, and discovering the meanings
of civilization and life therein. Rather, he warns people against the bad
background of those ignorant thoughts. He says:
"Do not be like those rude people of 'Jahiliyah' who
did not exert themselves in religion nor use their intellects in the
