Spiritual Ignorance
One of the most important factors revealed by Allah as regards to religious moral values is spiritual ignorance: If any of the idolaters ask you for protection, give it until they have heard the words of Allah. Then convey them to a place where they are safe, because they are a people who do not know. (Surat atl-Tawba: 6)
Only the Qur’an contains the knowledge essential for pure faith, for no other scripture clearly describes what true belief in the One God is, defines deities and idols, explains the form that pure faith should assume, details the behavior and mentality that pleases Allah, shows how people are misguided to idolatry, reveals Satan’s snares of earthly desires and deceits, and discusses the attitudes and behavior to be avoided. The reader must understand that the learning we are discussing here is not a dry accumulation of facts, for knowledge, as defined in the Qur’an, is that which impacts one’s heart and spurs one’s mind and conscience. If people only learn the information imparted in the Qur’an but do not reflect on them as they should be, they cannot expect to gain any benefit from it.
Several verses tell us of Allah’s oneness and the non-existence of whatever else people may consider a deity, as well as about idolatry and its adherents. These matters are frequently emphasized and described in great detail to impress upon people how vital it is that such terms be understood. Those who have not read and reflected on the Qur’an are, according to it, spiritually ignorant.
The position of such people is identical to that of the idolatrous communities of the pre-Islamic era. Among the Muslim Arabs, this period is known as the “Days of [Spiritual] Ignorance.” Those who reject Islam, regardless of when or where they live, are therefore considered spiritually ignorant. Given that the Qur’an was revealed 1,400 years ago and is now available in all major languages, there is no excuse or justification for such ignorance and idolatry. People may claim to be devout, but if their faith is based on hearsay knowledge and handed-down superstitions, they are still spiritually ignorant because they are not living by the Qur’an’s moral values and have not yet correctly understood the faith revealed by Allah:
When they are told: “Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger,” they say: “What we found our fathers doing is enough for us.” What! Even if their fathers did not know anything and were not guided! (Surat al-Ma’idah: 104)
Many prophets have described the idolaters as spiritually ignorant people. For example: We conveyed the tribe of Israel across the sea, and they came upon some people who were devoting themselves to some idols that they had. They said: “O Musa, give us an idol, just as these people have idols.” He said: “You are indeed an ignorant people.” (Surat al-A‘raf: 138)
Remember the brother of ‘Ad [Hud], when he warned his people by the sand dunes–and warners passed away before and after him–“Worship no one but Allah. I fear for you the punishment of a terrible Day.” They said: “Have you come to us to divert us from our deities? Bring us what you have promised us, if you are telling the truth.” He said: “All knowledge is with Allah. I only transmit to you that with which I have been sent. But I see that you are an ignorant people.” (Surat al-Ahqaf: 21-23)
The concept of ignorance expressed in these verses is highly significant, for it includes not only not knowing, but also failing to understand the facts even though one sees and recognizes them. The Israelites, who knew Prophet Musa (as) and the Torah sent down to him, and who witnessed his struggle against Pharaoh, are an example of this, for they adopted other deities even after obtaining this knowledge. It was as if they actually knew nothing at all. What is even more astonishing is that they actually asked Prophet Musa (as) to set up an idol for them. This shows that salvation from spiritual ignorance lies in acquiring information and in understanding that knowledge which enters one’s heart and then both affects that person’s heart and is reflected by his or her thoughts and behavior.This is the error made by some of the earlier peoples who deviated into idolatry, especially some of the Israelites (we apologize to those who are truly sincere). Although they possessed considerable information and had learned it well, they still went astray. The Qur’an describes such people as donkeys loaded with books:
The metaphor of those who were charged with the Torah but then did not uphold it is that of a donkey loaded with weighty tomes. How evil is the metaphor of those who deny Allah’s Signs! Allah does not guide those who do wrong. (Surat al-Jumu‘a: 5)
The Qur’an also tells us that …when a group of them (Jews) heard Allah’s Word and then, after grasping it, knowingly distorted it? (Surat al-Baqara: 75). In other words, having divine knowledge is not enough; one needs a sincere heart, one that is rooted in a genuine fear of and respect for Allah, in order to evaluate that information properly. Insincerity
The Qur’an defines insincerity as refusing to abide by the facts discussed above, even after one learns and understands them, in order to preserve their worldly interests. Those who read the Qur’an properly and have reason and a conscience can easily understand what type of behavior and morality pleases Allah. After acquiring this knowledge, they are expected to abide by it and shape their life around it according to their level of sincerity. Those who are insincere can abandon these truths in an instant for the sake of small benefits and advantages. Chasing after their worldly desires, greed, and passions, they exceed the bounds that Allah has established for humanity. Ignoring His commands and prohibitions, they live for this world and exchange the Hereafter for next to nothing.
As we saw above, those who ascribe equals to Allah cannot overcome this great sin until they abandon their incorrect worldview and repent. It makes no difference if they exhibit the greatest scrupulousness with regard to those matters that do not conflict with their worldly interests. For example, observing many religious observances may be of no benefit if they deliberately ignore even one of His commands—if they neglect to perform the five regular prayers, for instance. If they continue to follow this path wholeheartedly, they may become idolaters. Since they pick and choose which of His commands they will follow, they have turned their desires into deities:
It has been revealed to you and those before you: “If you associate others with Allah, your actions will come to nothing and you will be among the losers.” No! Worship Allah and be among the thankful. (Surat az-Zumar: 65-66)
As can be seen, insincerity in this sense is not unique to those remote from religious morality. Some people who become idolaters due to their insincerity apply double standards while maintaining a devout external appearance. In other words, they seek to satisfy their own desires by adding religious motifs to their lives. But attempting to ease their conscience through self-deception cannot succeed. They observe the faith according to their own wishes, instead of according to Allah’s commands and prohibitions, and thus establish and live by their own man-made religion. Those who have sincere faith, who adhere to what Allah has revealed instead of their desires, urgings, and suggestions, however, seek only His mercy and approval, for as sincere servants to Him they can do nothing else. Thus, they never have to choose between their desires and faith. But idolaters, whose mentality is the exact opposite of the believers’ mentality, are insincere toward Allah right from the very outset. Although He knows their hearts, intentions, lies, and every deed, they continue to follow their own hypocritical path in the misguided belief that He will accept their insincere excuses. They often convince themselves of this “truth,” for almost all of them state, when asked, that they deserve of Paradise.
The Qur’an, however, tells us something different: those who knowingly turn toward idolatry, despite knowing the truth, have lost the ability to reason. Thus, there is no point to looking for reason or logic in their incomprehensible and insincere double standards. Bearing this in mind, we can see that both unawareness and a failure to appreciate Allah properly underlies their insincerity and the ascription of equals to Allah that originates from it:
They do not measure Allah with His true measure. The whole Earth will be a mere handful for Him on the Day of Rising, and the heavens will be folded up in His right hand. Glory be to Him! He is exalted above the partners they ascribe! (Surat az-Zumar: 67)
Hypocritical and insincere idolaters are a danger to themselves and all others, for they encourage others to follow them. The only escape from this lies in sincerity and the knowledge that Allah may bestow salvation upon them if they repent sincerely. This process involves turning to Allah with a sincere heart by beginning to base their life on His approval, learning the Qur’anic truths, and applying what they learn to their life. However, they will be successful only if they submit fully and unconditionally to Him as soon as possible and hope for His mercy: Say (from Me): “O My servants, you who have transgressed against yourselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Truly Allah forgives all wrong actions. He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” Turn to your Lord and submit to Him before punishment comes upon you, for then you cannot be helped. Follow the best that has been sent down to you from your Lord before the punishment comes upon you suddenly, when you are not expecting it. (Surat az-Zumar: 53-55)
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