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wa-lā taqfu mā laysa laka bihī ʿilmun ʾinna s-samʿa wa-l-baṣara wa-l-fuʾāda kullu ʾulāʾika kāna ʿanhu masʾūlan
Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed hearing, eyesight, and the heart—all of these are accountable.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Isra’ – Verse 36
36. “And do not follow that of which you have not knowledge; verily the hearing and the sight and the heart, all these will be questioned about it.”
The mention of eyes, ears and heart in this verse is perhaps used as examples, for in the day of resurrection, besides man himself, one’s organs such as his hands, feet, and other bodily organs will be questioned, too, in which case they will burst out speaking and make confessions. Throughout history, most of the rebellions, and quarrels, have been the consequences of hastily set-up trial procedures and judgments, undocumented words, and views which have not been backed up by research.
Putting into practice the content of this verse will provide protection for the individuals as well as the society against all fraudulent activities and erroneous behaviors, for undue optimism, simple-mindedness in believing others, and accepting rumors turn the society into a chaotic state and submissive towards the enemy.
Blind obedience, pursuance of habits and hallucinations, following the order of one’s ancestors, acceptance of the baseless foretellings, and dreams, conjectures, surmises, judgments which are unfounded, bearing testimonies without knowledge, taking sides, appraisal or criticism without prior knowledge, baseless interpretation and analysis, issuing verdicts without knowledge, quoting of groundless rumors, ascribing something wrong to Allah, and religion without authorization, decision-making in cases of emotional tensions and crisis, relying on swearing and crocodile tears of others without due reasons, all are examples of the sentence and are absolutely forbidden, where it says:
“And do not follow that of which you have not knowledge…”
In accordance with the circumstances of sequential and credible quotations, following knowledge implies the pursuing of decisive, religious principles such as the verdicts of a ‘Mujtahid’ or that type of knowledge which is acquired with reassurances which approach the level of certainty. It is just like the case in which people gain knowledge about their illness and rely on the prescription of a compassionate physician who is a specialist, just in the same way one tends to have access to Allah’s commandments by inquiring about the verdict of an all-embracing devout ‘Mujtahid’.
Therefore, this stage of awareness will be enough for the moment though there is a hierarchy for knowledge which comprises other deeper categories, namely: ‘Ilm-ul-Yaqin’ meaning knowledge with certainty, ‘Ayn-ul-Yaqin’ which signifies knowledge which is equated with certainty in itself or intuition, and ‘Haq-ul-Yaqin’ meaning knowledge which is identical with the truth. In conclusion, the Immaculate Imams (as) used to make their companions abstain from listening to and saying of different kinds of vain words, recommending them to guard of themselves against letting everything enter their hearts and ears. They used to allude to this noble verse in connection with this matter.
As Imam Sadiq (as) recited this verse when instructing the person who would stay over time when using the toilette so as to be able to listen to the music and songs of his neighbour, He said:
“Ears, eyes, and hearts will be questioned for having listened, having seen, and for having kept memories.”
Imam Sajjad (as) also stated:
“Man is not entitled to say what he wants.” 12
Therefore, one’s life must be based on correct knowledge and information as well as logic and insight. We must not spread rumors making a fuss about them and damage the prestige of the innocent individuals and violate their rights. The blissful Qur’an disrupts the entire population of the sorcerers, magicians, and fortune-tellers who used to assemble simple-minded individuals around themselves. One’s faith in the Reckoning Day and clearing of accounts provides the basis for his being of virtuous; and one is also going to be questioned with regard to his hidden intentions in the Resurrection Day.
Footnotes