Page 34 - True Wisdom Described in the Qur'an

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TRUE WISDOM DESCRIBED IN THE QUR'AN

under canopies. What an excellent reward! What a
wonderful repose! (Surat al-Kahf: 30-31)

SAGACITY – DISCERNMENT
Sagacity is the human ability to understand and comprehend
things quickly. Discernment is the ability to recognize the
essence of things, to be foresighted and to have an insight on the
truth in its every detail. The source that provides both these
qualities to human beings is their wisdom.
In one of His verses, Allah draws attention to the importance
of discernment and defines people who lack this quality as
blind; "The blind and the seeing are not the same. Nor are
those who believe and do right actions the same as evildoers.
What little heed they pay!" (Surah Ghafir: 58)
In another verse in the Quran, the difference between those
who possess this quality through wisdom and those whose
sight and comprehension are blocked is compared as:
Is he who knows that the truth has been sent down to
you from your Lord like him who is blind? It is only
people of understanding who pay heed. (Surat ar-Ra‘d:
19)
One who possesses sagacity and discernment has the capa-
bility to analyse an event, a behaviour, or a word in the best pos-
sible way. He can draw the best conclusions from his past
experiences and use these in the most appropriate way for fu-
ture events. He can cleverly analyse his situation, means, and
the condition he is in and can make the most out of these and
use whatever means he has at hand to the best advantage.
Before he undertakes any task, he takes every possible precau-
tion, foreseeing any future problems, and acts accordingly.