لطفا منتظر باشید ...
MAN AND JAHILYAH (IGNORANCE)
PRESENTED BY
AL-BALAGH FOUNDATION
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 matter of Allah. They are
like the breaking of eggs in the nest of a dangerous
bird, because their breaking looks bad but keeping them
intact would mean production of dangerous young
ones.[7]
Through contemplating deeply on these Islamic analyses
and texts-the verses and sermons-and analysing their
ideas, one will know the features of 'Jahiliyah'
society, recognize the clearest characteristics of the
life in it, and know the most common elements among the
various 'jahiliyah' nations.
These texts altogether denote that the society of 'jahiliyah'
is deviated from what is right; it does not follow the
teachings of religion, nor it seeks light from its
system, nor it conforms to the principles of its law.
Besides, they (the texts and verses) focus on the aspects
and the common features among the international beliefs
in the attitude towards the Divine Messages, in behavior,
and the psychological situation of these ignorant
beliefs.
These ignorant beliefs refuse and doubt' the messages
of Prophets, and insist on disbelief, going astray, and
following low desires.
The definite result of this rejection is that the
refusing person has followed a material, animalistic
direction. Thus, lust overcomes him, pleasures lead him,
because he has broken off his relation with Allah, So he
has inclined to the earth, deified the volatile world of
lust, and worshipped the turns of the self.
It is natural that this material and ignorant life is
full of corruption, crimes, and vanity.
We have read that the Qur'an describes these ignorant
thoughts and noted their diseases and corrupt aspects.
The Qur'an has shown the most prominent, sick aspects of
those ignorant thoughts as: oppression, crime,
haughtiness, extravagance, arrogance, deviation, doubt,
corruption and destruction on earth, bloodshedding,
sneering at truth, blindly following the leaders of
deviation and corruption, and following lusts and low
desires.
After this Qur'anic discussion, we have read that Imam
Ali (a.s.) has analyzed the most prominent aspects of 'Jahiliyah
'life. He (a.s.) has stressed those aspects which the
Qur'an has stressed such as: decline, degradation,
behavioral and ideological fall. He (a.s.) refers to
bloodshedding, disbelieving in Allah, refusing the
messages of the Prophets, ignorance in religion, shaky
pillars of religion, going astray, bewilderment,
haughtiness, spite, fanaticism, victory of lust and low
desires, and so on.
With this Islamic analysis which we have read in the
Qur'anic texts and Imam Ali's sermons, we are able to
know that the pre-Islamic society is the one which
refuses to believe in Allah and deviates in its behavior
and life system from Allah's right path, irrespective of
being an ignorant society like the Bedouins and pastorals
or being a society which lives in the age of the atom,
computer, space travel,...etc.
'Jahiliyah' is a civil situation having
behavioral, psychological, and physical elements. It has
no relation to the degree of science and knowledge
existing in the society. It is just as Imam Ali (a.s.)
says:
The worst religion, and the worst
house.
Whenever this mark of evil and corruption, is found in
faith, the social system and the method of life, then we
are able to call the person who lives in its shade as
ignorant 'jahili', and we are able to describe the
human life following it as 'jahiliyah'.
For this reason, the Holy Qur'an calls the deviated
person, 'dhal' (one who has gone astray), and
those who deviate 'dhaloon'.
'Dhal' is the person who does not know the way
and blunders far away from the truth and guidance whether
in his thinking and faith or in his worship, life system,
and way of his dealings.
Describing the ignorant life and society, Imam Ali
(a.s.) has often used the word 'hayara'
(bewildered) in his sermons. That is because
bewilderment, worry, estrangement, uneasiness, etc., are
the most prominent morbid symptoms from which the
ignorant person suffers. All these diseases hit him
because he is deviated from Allah's path and His law.
Thus estrangement, bewilderment, going astray, and
uneasiness are the distinguishing and essential marks of
the ignorant society which is full of vanity, oppression,
corruption, and low desires.
Islam has shown that the ignorant person is deviated,
lost, bewildered and restless, for such a person suffers
from mental disorders. This condition has an influence on
all aspects of his life.
So, man finds himself standing before two ways in
every period or age. These two ways are: 1) The way of
guidance and belief; and, 2) The way of ignorance and
misguidance.
The Qur'an highlights this in the following verse:
Is it then the judgment of ignorance that
they desire? And
who is better than Allah to judge for a people who are
sure?
Holy Qur'an (5:50)
Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a.s.) has stated:
Judgement is two kinds: the judgement of
Allah, the Great and Almighty, and the judgement of the
people of ignorance 'Jahiliyah', So, whoever misses
Allah's judgement, surely will judge according to the
judgement of 'Jahiliyah'.
To give man a clear idea of the aims and purposes
which Islam strives to achieve, the Qur'an tells him
about these aims and purposes:
And thus did We reveal to you an inspired
Book by Our command. You knew not what the Book was, nor
(what) Faith (was), but We made it a light, guiding
thereby whom We please of Our servants…
Holy Qur'an (42:52)
...and We have revealed the Book to you
explaining all things, and guidance and mercy and good
news for those who submit (themselves to Allah).
Holy Qur'an (16:89)
The Qur'an also describes the faithful believers,
those who follow the way of faith and know the right
path. It has shown that they are guided aright and live
in safety, security, and peace:
Those who believe and mix not up their
faith with iniquity -those are they for whom is security
and they are (the ones) guided aright.
Holy Qur'an (6:83)
That is because they have believed in Allah and the
light that has come from Him. They have followed the way
of righteousness and have not mixed their belief with
oppression nor deviated from Allah's path and His 'shari'ah'.
Rather they have conformed to Allah's laws, commands and
teachings. Therefore, they are rightly guided, safe, and
happy here and in the Hereafter.
Unlike the true believers, those who have led
themselves towards error, deviation and misguidance and
turned away from Allah's remembrance, have turned their
lives into an inferno and a torment. The Qur'an describes
their life and end as follows:
And whoever turns away from My monition,
verily his shall be a life straitened, and We shall raise
him up on the Day of Judgment, blind. He shall say: 'O,
my Lord! why have you raised me blind? Whereas indeed I
was seeing (before)?' (Allah) will say: 'Thus (is the
recompense) for did come to you Our signs but you did
ignore them; and even so are you forsaken this
Day.'
Holy Qur'an (20:124-126)
Because of their turning away from Allah's
remembrance, refusing and disobeying the true will, they
have gone astray, They have blundered in the darkness of
ignorance and deviation. Allah, the Exalted, says:
...and whoever disobeys Allah and His
Apostle, indeed he has strayed off a manifest
straying.
Holy Qur'an (33:36)
Have you then seen him who takes as his
god his vain desires, and Allah has allowed him to be
astray (with his), knowing (it), and set a seal upon his
ear and his heart and caused upon his eyes a veil; who
can guide him after (his being allowed to stray by)
Allah? Mat! Will you not then reflect?
Holy Qur'an (45:23)
So, this is the reality of 'jahiliyah', i. e.,
deviation from the religion of Allah, refusing His
message, disobeying His Apostles, adoring lusts and
temptations, and obeying the tyrants and the aggressors.
Finally, if we study similar ideas of ignorant life,
we will reach the following conclusions:
'Jahiliyah' (Global ignorance) was a social
disease, It was a psychological state afflicting
individuals, peoples, and nations in each period and
generation. The aspects of this ignorant life are quite
similar regardless of time and place.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
In their hearts is a disease, Allah
increases their disease,...
Holy Qur'an (2:10)
And say those (pagans) who know not: '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 all alike; We have indeed made clear the
signs to people who are certainly sure.
Holy Qur'an (2:118)
The evidence to this similarity is the long history of
mankind, the succession of nations and offsprings, the
appearance of the symptoms of the ignorant life in many
generations and nations in each period of history, and
the deviation from the right path and the call to
guidance and the Prophets.
On the pages of history and life's stage, we see
standing examples belonging to the past and present life
of mankind-we see atheism, oppression, tyranny,
terrorism, bloodshedding, loss of truth, persecution of
the oppressed, exploiting the poor, and widespread vices.
These are the reflections of the ignorant current on
the life of mankind. This current represents deviation
from the truth, justice, belief. Consequently,
bewilderment, going astray, and deviation from the
straight path are the most important marks of 'Jahiliyah'
from which man suffered too much crises and endured their
pains.
Islam and Jahiliyah
Accordingly, 'jahiliyah' is a concept and a
civilization. Besides, it is a mark with which we can
differentiate the enemies of Islam through their
different philosophical, mental ideologies and their
various schools and social systems in each period and
generation in history.
Whoever does not follow Islam, nor believes in it, nor
conveys its message and the system of its life and call
is ignorant and misguided even if he becomes changeable,
pretends, practices hypocrisy, and uses misleading
slogans.
The civil and historical fact is a clear evidence of
the existence of two opposite blocs throughout history
and presentation of human life- its past, its present and
its future. These are: the bloc of faith and monotheism
and the bloc of deviation, misguidance and global
ignorance 'jahiliyah '.
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was truthful when he said:
Verily, there are two ways-the good way, and
the evil way.
When we consider carefully the life of Allah's
Messenger (s.a.w.), and his holy struggle 'jihad', we
understand that he used this slogan against the 'jahiliyah'
(ignorance) of his time. He also wanted this slogan to be
the slogan of the whole humanity after him just as it was
the slogan of the Prophets and the Apostles before him.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) conformed to this slogan
truthfully both on the theoretical and practical levels.
Concerning the theoretical level, he presented to mankind
the most wonderful and greatest message and ideology. He
also presented the best law and the most accurate,
miraculous Divine system. This system is distinguished by
justice, mercy, and equality. It responds to instinctive
law and sound mental logic which aims to free mankind,
destroy all ignorant slogans, and demolish their
concepts, faiths, fables, and customs. Furthermore, this
system aims to uproot all these bad backgrounds to create
a social and ideological change.
On the practical level, Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.)
firmly began to demolish the foundations of the ignorant
society in order to establish the foundations of the
happy Islamic society. He wanted Islam to prevail in that
society and to make one unified Muslim nation, free from
the ignorant marks in thinking, faith, law, morals,
worship, and general human dealings.
The Holy Qur'an has continued to take care of this
Prophetic construction and to support it with awareness
and spiritual lawful maintenance to stress the importance
of this Islamic line and protect its originality and
purity from the ignorant ideas which may come into the
pure Islamic life. So, Allah has addressed His great
Prophet by telling him about those devious persons who
try to demolish this marvellous Islamic construction and
distort its originality and purity: Allah, the Exalted,
says:
Have you not observed those who think they
believe in what has been sent down to you and what has
been sent down before you? They intend to resort to the
judgment of 'taghoot' (the Satan) though they have been
commanded to deny him;...
Holy Qur'an (4:60)
Allah revealed the address and the warning to his
great Prophet to fix the originality of the Islamic life
and concentrate its independence. In the meantime, Allah
focused on carrying out a mental, lawful, practical unity
to show the Muslims that the system of their life, the
system of their judgement, and the way of their worship
are clear in their religion. So, they must not resort to
the tyrants to make them laws, regulations, and beliefs.
That is because the tyrants deviate and mislead the
Muslims from their faith and the way of their thinking.
The Holy Qur'an went on stressing to the Prophet
(s.a.w.) to make him practise the process of application,
construction, and social reform based on Islamic
foundations. It showed him how to complete and perfect
this construction. So, it addressed him condemning the
deviation of some people and their cleaving to the ideas
of 'jahiliyah' and its judgement and laws.
Thus, the main aim is to denote clearly the features
of the two ways- the way of 'jahiliyah' (global
ignorance) and the way of Islam-and also to make the
Muslim know that human history, everywhere and everytime,
follows two lines opposite to each other in aims and
motives. Besides, human conflict goes around two axes
opposite in their trends and different in their contents
and purposes. These two axes are Islam and 'jahiliyah'.
Furthermore, a Muslim should know that all different
titles and slogans such as schools of thought, calls to
act, philosophies and theories, which appeared throughout
the history of mankind, including contemporary ones or
those that may appear in the future are none other than 'jahiliyah'
All these are only various sides and recurring forms of
the conflict which go on between 'jahiliyah'
(global ignorance) and belief represented by Islam, the
religion of all Prophets and mankind.
For this reason, the religious Muslim person should
know the nature of the conflict between 'jahiliyah'
and Islam, and not be cheated when the names and titles
are changed, for they are different forms for one
ignorant fact. Also he must regard the dissidents of
Islam as ignorant persons repeating the 'jahiliyah'
(ignorance) of the ancient nations and peoples in new
created titles and forms.
Essential Centers
If we carefully study the patterns of 'jahiliyah'
life throughout history, we find that 'jahiliyah'
society has many morbid symptoms and phenomena, from
which the lights of belief, religion and guidance have
been estinguished. Also we discover the main centers on
which human and social construction of the ignorant
societies stand. These basic centers can be summed up as
follows:
1. Ideological Deviation:
The history of civilizations and their ideology,
throughout the stages of the 'jahiliyah' life,
tell us that there is an ideological abnormality and
deviation from the faith of monotheism. This problem is
regarded as the basic center and general rule for all
ignorant beliefs beginning from the ancient nations,
mentioned by the Holy Qur'an and ending with the
ignorance of Arabs, Greeks, and including our modern,
material civilization.
Therefore, man, in these ignorant societies, is
abnormal and deviated in his thinking, understanding, and
even in his explanation of existence and life.
This ignorant man always thinks about material things,
while he refuses moral and spiritual values.
That is because ignorant thinking concerning the
universe and life is simple and primitive.
This kind of thinking has made ignorant societies
unable to recognize the existence of Allah and believe in
His Apostles. Also this material thinking has made them
unable to believe in One Allah, having perfect attributes
and being far above the qualities of the created world.
Therefore, these ignorant societies turn to inactivity,
refusing belief in the Creator, and believing in
primitive images as idols to be worshipped instead of
Allah. These images take on the cloak of godhood in these
societies, and all morals are based upon satisfying the
requirements of these images.
2. Emotional and Psychological Deviation:
Throughout its different periods, 'jahiliyah'
(global ignorance) stands on devious emotional and
psychological principles. That is because the pure innate
and sound psychological trends do not accept abnormality
and deviation. Rather they accept the idea of
righteousness and behavioral balance, and they help
belief to flourish.
However, an ill and complicated personality always
inclines towards straying from the line of psychological
righteousness and balance which belief follows. So, the
corrupt personality, which suffers from schizophrenia and
weak will, or the personality which suffers from
self-conceit, spite, haughtiness, selfishness, and sexual
perversion always follows the ignorant system to express
its ill complexes and psychological deviation. The Holy
Qur'an often speaks about this ill personality. It
analyses its construction and depicts its inner content
to make man aware and to teach social understanding
which, in turn, make him avoid falling into this deep
abyss.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
In their heart is a disease, and Allah
increases their disease, for them is a painful
chastisement, because of the lie they were saying.
Holy Qur'an (2:10)
They denied them in iniquity and arrogance
while their hearts were convinced; see then how was the
end of the mischief makers.
Holy Qur'an (27:14)
Through its diagnosis and analysis, the Qur'an points
to the place of the illness and the starting point of the
deviation bringing about a 'jahiliyah' in various
stages of man's evolution. It is emotional deviation and
psychological disease from which the 'jahili'
(ignorant) person suffers. He turns away from truth and
guidance because of the influence of this disease.
Although the truth is clear, the ignorant person
refuses it and tries to get rid of the rules of
psychological righteousness and rational beliefs and
behavior.
Imam Ali (a.s.) deeply analyses and describes this
ill, ignorant, immoral and psychological situation by
saying:
Desires had deflected them and self-conceit
had swerved them. Extreme ignorance had made them
foolish. The sons of vanity, the brothers of
fanaticism, and the horsemen of ignorance proved him to
be true.
So, they put out what was hidden in their
hearts from the fires of fanaticism and the spites of
ignorance.
Consequently, in every period and generation, 'jahiliyah'
(global ignorance) is distinguished by fanaticism,
haughtiness, deviation, and psychological and moral
abnormality.
3. Behavioral Deviation:
Among the basic centers which contributes in creating
and distingushing the 'jahiliyah' society and
individual is the state of behavioral abnormality and
deviation. Deviation from righteousness, and absorption
in abnormal practices and habits are the most prominent
marks among all ignorant societies. In addition, these
habits are the most visible social forms which show
deviant, ignorant content. In our time we see marital and
child abuse, child pornography, drug addiction,
alcoholism, prostitution, homosexuality, political
oppression and arrogance, and the coveting of wealth and
power as signs of our modern day 'jahiliyah'.
The Qur'an speaks about this ignorant deviation by
unveiling this common feature among all ignorant
societies.
It says:
So verily those who are unjust shall have
a share (of the burden) like unto the share (of the
burden) which had their fellows (of old). Therefore, let
them ask Me not to hasten it on.
Holy Qur'an (51:59)
Soon will I (allow to) turn away from my
signs those (who) unjustly are proud in the earth; while
(even) if they see all the signs they will not believe in
it; and (even) if they see the right way, they will not
adopt it for a way; and if they see the way of error,
they will adopt it for a way; this is because they belied
Our signs and were heedless of them.
Holy Qur'an (6:146)
...and hinder (others) from the path of
Allah and seek it to be crooked; these are in error far
away (from the right path).
Holy Qur'an (14:3)
Those who hinder (people) from the path of
Allah and seek to make it crooked, and they in the
Hereafter disbelieve.
Holy Qur'an (6:45)
In this manner, the devious behavioral society is
constructed and is a distinguishing mark of the ignorant
individual throughout different periods and the
succession of his generations until Allah inherits the
earth and what is on it. In other words, everywhere and
every time the ignorant person plays, corrupts, commits
crimes, spreads ruin and destruction, goes deeply into
evil, and scorns all human values and life principles
without any concern or sanction, he is guilty of 'jahiliyah'.
This ignorant person reaches this definite, inescapable
result because he feels no sense of responsibility to the
Almighty, Just Creator, and refuses to believe in the
reward and punishment due on the Day of Judgement.
The Results of Ignorant Deviation
Throughout history, mankind has been the scapegoat and
the victim of ignorant deviation in his life. Mankind is
responsible for the sins of its crimes and the results of
its deviation. The Qur'an refers to this fact and
explains the results of such deviation and ignorant
corruption which despoils life and turns it into an
inferno and torture.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
...O mankind! your rebellion is against
your own selves,...
Holy Qur'an (10:23)
Mischief has appeared in the land and the
sea on account of what the hands of people have wrought,
that He, may make them taste apart of what they have
done, so that they may turn (away from evil).
Holy Qur'an (30:41)
The Qur'an has given this warning and shown the danger
of it in order to urge man to resist 'jahiliyah'
and face its crimes and deviation so that each person
will be able to play his role and shoulder his
responsibility in resisting jahiliyah and
defending the will of life and the welfare of mankind.
Ignorant regimes like communism, capitalism,
existentialism, racism, etc., and their corrupt
influences on man are clear evidences of man's sufferings
and misery.
A close look at the past and present history of 'jahiliyah',
will show:
1. The prevalence of materialism, and [he
absence of rational thought, which rises above material
things and greedy selfishness and self-interest
and balances the moral, material, and spiritual powers of
man, respecting the interests of others, and honoring
their rights in life.
This stonehearted material current has led to the
death of moral values and victory for the opportunist
selfish criteria. It has deadened the conscience of man
and made him lazy in his awareness and sensitivity.
2. The appearance of conflict and crimes among
men instead of love, peace, agreement, and cooperation.
Chaos and social alienation have replaced stability,
moral discipline, and balanced law. Thus, life becomes a
jungle of conflict and an oasis of blood, hidden behind
the bars of oppression, terrorism, and deviation.
The analysis of Imam Ali (a.s.) for this awful
phenomenon in the ignorant life is very accurate when he
said:
And idols were worshipped, kinship was
disregarded, and raids were made.[8]
In vices which trampled the people under
their hoofs, and trod upon them with their feet, and
stood on their toes.[9]
You ate filthy food. You shed blood of each
other, and you disregarded your kinship[10]
So, this phenomenon of wars, destruction, and
bloodshed, is the great common trait among all ignorant
societies of the earth.
And it is the terrible matter from which the angels
asked in astonishment:
...will You (O Our Lord) appoint therein
one who will cause mischief and shed blood...
Holy Qur'an (2:30)
The modern materialistic 'jahiliyah' sheds more
blood than in the past. We have the power of mass death
and destruction to the point of overkill. We
have learned and used the most diabolic methods of
torture, murder, cannibalism, sexual perversity, violent
crimes, and abuse. For this reason, peace has disappeared
from the earth and the beating of peace and love has
stopped in every heart.
3. The collapse of the individual's personality,
and the absence of personal sanction-the death of
the human conscience-which the Qur'an describes through
its words:
Thenceforth were your heads hardened as
stones or harder still,...
Holy Qur'an (2:74)
When the conscience has died, human feeling has also
disappeared along with the feeling of sympathy, justice
and responsibility toward the humanity of others. Thus,
man has withdrawn into the darkness far away from the
circle of light. He has lost the criteria, dispelled the
will of good, mixed the values, and refused guidance and
awareness.
These definite results of the 'jahiliyah'
trends, which man has reached, are the bitter results
caused by deviation and distance from the straight path
of Allah and the call of the Prophets. They are the
results about which the Qur'an speaks and has put man
face to face with them in order that he may know his
responsibility and choose his role in life, The Qur'an
describes these results as oppression, crimes, tyranny,
going astray, deviation, cruelty, and animality. It says:
...yet they behaved proudly and so they
were a guilty people...
Holy Qur'an (7:133)
...while (even) if they see the right way
they will not adopt it for a way...
Holy Qur'an (7:146)
...and if they see the way of error, they
will adopt it for a way...
Holy Qur'an (7:146)
...who had gone astray aforetime and led
many astray and went astray away from the right
path.
Holy Qur'an (5:77)
Mischief has appeared in the land and the
sea on account of what the hands of men have
wrought,...
Holy Qur'an (30:41)
...and We did them not any injustice, but
they were to their own selves unjust.
Holy Qur'an (16:118)
When the Qur'an places these facts before man and
describes for him such phenomena, it wants him to rise
against his ignorant reality and change the form of life
and civilization so that he will be able to build his
life according to the guidance of belief and his society
according to its rules and message. This process begins
by building his personality and changing. his own
psychological content.
How Can we get rid of ignorant
backgrounds?
Generally, nations and peoples suffer from deep-rooted
pagan 'jahiliyah', which is regarded as the most
dangerous one in history.
It is the source of ignorant thoughts and the ill
deviations from which the ancient nations suffered.
Today, the ignorant diseases and phenomena that afflict
different nations and cause them to live in the ugliest
scenarios in modern material civilization. In other
words, modern man naturally and usually practises
unbelief, atheism, moral corruption, oppression,
aggression, greed, domination, exploitation, wars,
destruction, and social chaos.
Even the Muslims, who believe in Islam, are forced or
satisfied to follow these ignorant currents and decline
into their deep abysses with the exception of those true
believers who have understood this destructive danger,
and who avoided it and refused to follow it. Therefore,
if we analyse society and its modern civilization, we
will be able to divide both the individuals and their
societies into three parts:
1. An ignorant society whose life embodies all
ignorant aspects such as communism, capitalism,
materialism, deviated religions, idol worship,...etc.
2. Society in which individuals believe in
Islam, but do not embody its beliefs in their lives nor
apply it to their actions. Their society is also
deviated and lost. It has no Islamic identity nor does it
represent the original ideology. It imitates others in
laws, art, literature, concepts, and method of life, in a
manner which makes the social aspects and the form of
general life similar to the ignorant form and the lost
life which does not know originality and discipline.
Therefore, in such a society, it is usual to see
nightclubs, bars, dissolute women, prostitution houses,
usury banks, the system of the material life, the
patterns of art, and the kinds of material culture,
immoral literature, etc.
3. The faithful individuals who conform to
Islamic beliefs, but are too few to form a social
current to enable them to change the regime of life and
mark Islam on the personality of the civilization stand
apart and isolated in their society. They are deprived of
the legitimate benefits of a healthy society, Therefore,
the total application and the full conforming to Islam,
as a faith, a way of life, law, and behavior in order to
achieve the sincere worship for Allah, the Glorified, are
not naturally applied in the life of our societies nor
embodied in our public life.
For this reason, in our life, concepts, behavior,
regime, and laws, there are many ignorant foundations and
non-Islamic concepts which came to us from both Eastern
and Western ignorant and material thoughts. Such thoughts
feed our own thoughts, our life, and our concepts.
Regarding this cultural invasion and influence,
Muslims should sincerely do their best and devote their
efforts in order to make essential changes, uproot 'jahiliyah'
(global ignorance) and demolish its rules and pillars.
Therefore, Muslims should build their personalities
and their society according to Islamic values, ideas, and
principles. The following Qur'anic verse should be their
example in life:
And that there should be among you a group
who call (mankind) to virtue and enjoin what is good and
forbid what is wrong; and these are they who shall be
successful.
Holy Qur'an (3:104)
The Methods of Salvation
To save a Muslim from spreading the infection of 'jahiliyah'
and to help Muslims uproot its foundations in their
society and civilization, and to achieve prevention and
fortification against foreign, civil, and mental
invasions, it is necessary for them to follow the
following steps:
1. Achieving a full understanding for life
according to original Islamic methods so that a
Muslim knows the value of his life. He should ask
himself:
What does existence in life mean?
What is the value of all beings with whom I deal?
How should my psychological relation be with life?
And how do I organize my relations in it?
A Muslim should consider these questions and take them
into account in order to build his life on original
Islamic teachings. Islam will guide him in all aspects
including his possessions, rule, power, fame, life,
death, pleasure, pain, and the human relations. These
teachings differ completely from an ignorant
understanding and its material viewpoint towards things,
the world, and life.
Therefore, the first step to get rid of ignorant
concepts is to achieve an aware understanding of
existence and life on the basis of Islam and to make a
general, psychological change to turn ignorant awareness
and understanding, entering our societies, into a
believing mental system and believing civil awareness
which revolves around the axis of servitude to Allah,
sincere loyality to Him, and going directly toward Him.
When a Muslim understands the meaning of life and its
value, and recognizes the same right in it for others on
the basis of these values and principles, he will see
that all aspects of misery and aggression on the earth,
such as poverty, aggression, terrorism, corruption,
exploitation, enslavement, vanity, haughtiness, making
light of man's values and rights, will disappear. Man
will live a life of purity and dignity.
2. After this understanding is achieved, the
reconstruction of both the Muslim's personality and the
society will fit together. It will cause the
purification of the conscience and awareness of a Muslim
against ignorant backgrounds and motives hidden in his
depths, so that he may achieve the reconstruction and
reorganization of the human personality from its inner
side on the basis of sound, Islamic understanding. Thus,
a Muslim will become honest, self-purified, a lover of
good, ready to practise the Islamic life, and ready to
accept its teaching.
3. The third method of uprooting ignorant backgrounds
is to establish an Islamic society which
unifies its individuals within the framework of an
organized human unity full of believing spirit and
truthful, believing direction and in which a Muslim will
practise Islam as a living fact and as a social system,
thought, behavior, life, and pure servitude to Allah only
under the shade of a lawful authority which believes in
Islam and stands on its principles in order to build the
society with its foundations, activities, and the aspects
of life based on original Islamic rules.
With this method, we are able to get rid of ignorant
backgrounds and keep the course of the Muslim individual
and society within the boundaries of Islam.
However , if we are satisfied with mere theoretic
belief, while all, or most, of our behavior, life system,
dealings, and laws of our society are far and deviated
from Islam, we will not achieve full belief nor raise
ourselves to the level of true Islam as Allah desires for
us.
Rather our belief will bend toward 'jahiliyah'
and servitude at random, though many of us do not feel
this contrast, duplicity, and collapse.
The Nature of Conflict between
Jahiliyah and Islam.
The real meaning of 'jahiliyah' is:
Refusing the obedience of Allah and
deviation from the system of religion.
While Islam means:
The surrendering and obedience to Allah's
cosmic order, and conforming to His system of religion in
life.
We have to know that the conflict between various
ignorant ideologies and Islam-the religion of prophets
and mankind-is permanent and continuous. We have to be
aware that they are two opposite facts, and have been so
since the beginning of human history and will continue to
be so until the disappearance of the torch of life from
the earth.
This conflict will continue and take various forms and
slogans, but it will last as a conflict between guidance
and misguidance, truth and falsehood, justice and
injustice, and between righteousness and corruption.
This conflict is the conflict of oppositions in the
theater of thought and society. It is the 'jihad'
(holy struggle) of goodness against the call of evil and
deviation. Throughout human history, prophets and the
faithful have recorded wonderful chapters in it. With
strength and enthusiasm they faced the might of tyrants,
rulers and the callers to deviation and misguidance who
are the true enemies of all mankind.
These wonderful attitudes of 'jihad' are a
living phenomena of the law regarding human conflict and
change which is described by the Qur'an as follows:
...and were it not for Allah's repelling
some people with others, the earth would have been full
of mischief; but Allah is gracious to all (His)
creatures.
Holy Qur'an (2:251)
...and had repelled not Allah some people
by others, verily had been pulled down the cloisters and
the churches and the synagogues, and the mosques in which
Allah's name is much mentioned; and verily Allah will
help him who helps Him (His cause);for verily Allah is
All-Strong, Almighty.
Holy Qur'an (21:40)
This is the law of life, the logic of history, and the
law of events and change. On the basis of these facts,
the bloody fights of conflict happened, and the events of
history were written. So, each party of this conflict has
taken its portion and shouldered its responsibility. In
this connection, Allah, the Exalted, says:
Mankind was but one nation and Allah sent
apostles as bearers of glad tidings and warners and sent
down with them the Book with the Truth that it might
judge between people that wherein they differed; and none
differed therein; but those very (people) to whom it was
given, after clear signs had come to them, through revolt
among themselves; whereupon Allah guided those who
believed, by His Will, regarding that which the people
differed about the Truth and verily Allah guides whom He
wills to the Right Path.
Holy Qur'an (2:213)
Whoever follows the Qur'an's descriptions of the
nature of conflict and how it pictures the scenes of
rebellion against the prophets, and tells about the
battles which were waged against the prophets and who
reads how Qur'an honors the followers who believed in
truth and the message of Allah, who defended truth in 'jihad'
against the callers to 'jahiliyah', oppression and
despotism, will be able to identify and recognize the
conflict and that its confrontation and 'jihad', followed
by the believers in Allah's religion and the truth of His
prophets is the only way to persue the enemy's
annihilation. It is the way which must be followed by the
callers to Islam. This conflict is the continuity of the
line of the believing, brave confrontation against the
callers to apostasy and 'jahiliyah'.
Whoever chooses the way of prophets and calls to Islam
should accept what the prophets accepted and should
endure what they endured.
How wonderful the true words of Allah are! They
simplify this plain truth and explain to us the
experience of the conflict and the difficult test which
lies before us:
Or do you think that you will enter the
Paradise while upon you has not yet come the like of that
which befell those who passed before you; distress and
affliction came upon them, they were shaken so that
(ultimately) the Messenger and those who believed with
him said: 'When will come the help of Allah'? (Fear not)
Verily Allah's help is nigh.
Holy Qur'an (2:214)
Alif Lam Meem. Mat! Do people imagine that
they will be let off on (their) saying: 'We believe!' and
they will not be tried? And indeed We did try those
before them, so Allah certainly knows those who are true,
and certainly knows He the liars.
Holy Qur'an (29:1-3)
Consequently, the conflict and the Divine trial are
necessities in order to discover the extent of
truthfulness and sincerity in the heart of the faithful
believer and his belief in the Divine message in his
life.
Furthermore, this conflict is a historical phenomenon
which takes place according to the laws of action and
reaction and social change.
Endnotes
1. Imam Ali, Nahjul Balagha, Dr, Subhi al-Salih,
Beirut ed., 1967 p. 68.
2. Ibid., p. 46.
3. Ibid., p. 140.
4. Ibid., p, 283.
5. Ibid., p. 298,
6. Ibid.,
7. Ibid., p. 240,
8. Ibid., p. 298
9. Ibid., p. 471
10. Ibid., p. 68.
