In an era of technological upheaval, understanding our divine heritage and trusting in Allah’s guidance is vital to overcome the challenges and fulfill our true purpose
By Syed Shahab Ud Din Andrabi
We are living through a very extraordinary and onerous time. Though this might be taken by many as paradoxical, owing to the technological luxury that ostensibly claims to have made life easy and affordable for humans, be that as it may, the flip side of it is enormously cataclysmic. Contrary to what many opine on this matter, the technological evolution and resurgence is incontrovertibly a boon. Haplessly, we have left no stone unturned to make it a bane.
Parenthetically, before I proceed, it is imperative to shed light on the word ‘resurgence’ used above so that it is intelligible to readers that nothing is used casually.
Allah says in Surah Baqarah Chapter 2 verse 31, “And He (Allah) taught Adam the names of all things and then presented them (things) to the angels and said if you are right, then tell me the names of these things.” When Allah informed the angels concerning the creation of Adam (AS), the angels gave a knee-jerk reaction, not out of opposition or acrimony but out of mere curiosity, that this new creation will shed blood and spread mischief in the land. The Islamic literature and especially Ibn Kathir (RA) have indisputably explained the cause of this knee-jerk reaction which angles gave. The existence of Hinn and Binn, which was succeeded by Jinn on earth, along with the affairs surrounding them, had amply convinced the angels that humans would shed each other’s blood and create mischief on earth.
One more thing noteworthy is the stark difference between shedding blood and mischief mentioned in the verse preceding verse 31. The angels used both of these words separately when they inquired from Allah (SWT) about this newly created creature. Insofar as the former is concerned, its meaning is apparent and application vivid to the hilt, especially when we look at the global aperture meticulously, where conflicts and bloodshed are rife. However, the latter is something where we need to do some digging and extract the intended meaning that the word carries. When the angels said to Allah (SWT) that ‘humans would create mischief on earth’, what they actually anticipated was that humans would replace the divine rule-making authority of Allah (SWT) with a human-made set of rules, the consequence of which would be bloodletting everywhere on earth. Another point worth mentioning here is that the philosophy and the crux of the story of Adam (AS) serve as an irrefutable and solid rejoinder to those who have been hell-bent on proving that Islam doesn’t require its adherents to present a systematic model of its philosophy to the world.
In relation to the word ‘resurgence’, verse 31 of Surah Baqarah is of paramount importance. Verse 31 naturally begs the question, what were these things whose names Adam (AS) had been taught, which even angels were oblivious of? The classical interpretation puts forth that Adam (AS) was taught the names of all things, be they small or huge. There is absolutely nothing to negate this interpretation, as it amply highlights the commendable efforts the classical scholarship put in to make things easier for later generations. What is even more commendable is the origin with which the classical scholarship, like the student of Ibn Abbas (RA), Mujahid (RA), has begun the interpretation and explanation of verse 31. The extent of the things whose names Adam (AS) had been taught is panoramic, as it includes everything from the start of the creation till the destruction of this world.
For instance, on an occasion when Adam (AS) was sleeping in the paradise, in the meantime, Allah (SWT) created his wife from his rib. When Adam (AS) woke up and found a woman with him, the angels asked Adam (AS) her name and Adam (AS) replied, her name is Hawa. What is ironic in this whole story is that, though Adam (AS) knew that her name was Hawa, he didn’t know that she was created to be his wife. That is the reason when Adam (AS) inquired from her who she was, Hawa (AS) replied, ‘your wife’. That amply substantiates that Adam (AS) was taught the name of every single thing that would come about in this world till it perishes.
When we stretch the explanatory horizon of the verse, it becomes effortlessly intelligible that the technological revolution and resurgence we are witnessing at the moment is something which Adam (AS) knew about, and as his progeny, we are merely witnessing its exfoliation. Furthermore, what convincingly proves that we are actually witnessing a mere resurgence in some different form in the field of technology is the saying of Ali bin Abi Talib (AS) regarding Zulqarnain, “that Allah (SWT) had given him the capability to travel over clouds”. This saying of Ali bin Abi Talib (AS) gives us a clear and unadulterated hint that in the past, during the era of Zulqarnain, something similar to our aeroplanes might have existed, or another interpretation that this saying divulges, reflects the potential emergence of some kind of technology through which humans would travel over clouds, as we do now.
The cardinal point I am trying to make is that we possess enough of our own literature to enlighten our pathways. The only thing which we need to endeavour to accomplish is to surmount the sense of inadequacy and dubiousness that we feel regarding the Quran and the Hadith. No matter how much we try, we will never be able to break the shackles of misery and humiliation that have clouded us despite having access to enormous resources unless we follow and take guidance from the book of Allah and the Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH). Without any kind of equivocation, Allah (SWT) has decisively stated in Surah Baqarah verse 85 about the chastisement He is going to inflict on those who partially adhere to his commandments, by humiliating them in this world and making them taste the hellfire in the everlasting one.
About those who deem revisiting the Islamic literature extraneous and an exercise in futility should recall what the Prophet (PBUH) said at Khutbah Hajjatul wida, “All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly.” In light of this, we are in a far better position to understand and comprehend Islam than many of our predecessors. Therefore, we should shun our obdurate attitudes and embrace the book of Allah (SWT) with such fervour with which we have embraced this worldly and temporal life, to extract the light, the guidance and the Intellectual wealth it possesses.
an*********@***il.com