Page 40 - The Basic Concepts in the Qur’an

Sources of Wisdom

Allah indicates in the Qur’an those to whom He grants wisdom. According to what is
related in the Qur’an, the main source of wisdom is the fear of Allah:

O you who believe! If you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion (to judge between
right and wrong), remove from you (all) evil (that may afflict) you, and forgive you: for
Allah is the Lord of grace unbounded.
(Al-Anfal, 29)

The starting point of fearing Allah is having a conception of the attributes of Allah and of
the judgement Day. Allah grants man the sense to judge between right and wrong only when
man fears Him. This is actually a kind of comprehension attained as a result of the softening
heart with the fear of Allah:
Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a
Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins
of those who fear their Lord tremble there at; then their skins and their hearts soften at
the celebration of Allah’s praises. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides therewith
whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide him.
(Az-Zumar, 23)

Man should always strive to have more of this fear. To this end, he should pray, reflect on
Allah’s power, might and punishment, and endeavour to have a deeper comprehension of Him.
So fear Allah as much as you can; listen and obey and spend in charity for the benefit
of your own soul.Those saved from the covetousness of their own souls are the ones
that achieve prosperity.
(At-Taghabun, 16)

Possessing the sense to judge between right and wrong is an indication of the wisdom of a
person. Such a person is surely endowed with the capacity to ponder. This gift of
comprehension is called (insight) or “vision” in the Qur’an. Etymologically, in Arabic the origin
of the word basirah “insight” is “to see.” Yet this is quite different from the normal act of seeing.
A person lacking insight is described as one whose heart and mind is covered lest he should
understand the Qur’an.”

And We cast a veil upon their hearts (and minds) lest they should understand the
Qur’an, and made them hard of hearing. When you commemorate your Lord and
Him alone in the Qur’an, they turn on their backs, fleeing (from the truth).
(Al-Isra, 46)

The word “understand” in the verse above is of great significance. In many other verses,
the lack of understanding prevalent among people is mentioned. This conveys a message: in the
physical sense, unbelievers perceive ( in other words, they hear ) what they are told by
believers, yet they fail to comprehend the meaning and content of the message. This is a state of
inebriation, a shift of consciousness and a metaphysical fact. Allah informs us about a “veil cast
over their hearts:”
And who is more wrong than one who is reminded of the signs of his Lord, but turns
away from them, forgetting the (deeds) which his hands have sent forth? Truly, We
have cast veils over their hearts lest they should understand this, and made them hard
of hearing. If you called them to guidance, even then would they never accept
guidance.