A179
Surah: 007 - Ayah: 179
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7:179
In the chain of the progress and regress of a human being, one type of animal precedes mankind and the other comes after (as a consequence of disobedience). The one which comes before may be good or bad, but the one which comes after, is always bad and extremely bad. Thus some of the apes and swine of the remote past, were extremely vicious and mean animals, which came into being because of the disfiguration of some disobedient people, whether the disfiguration was external or internal. For the Qur'anic wisdom says that some people, despite being in the human form become animals, as God says: "Already have We urged unto hell many of the jinn and mankind, having hearts wherewith they understand not, and having eyes wherewith they see not, and having ears wherewith they hear not. These are as cattle - nay, but they are worse'. These are the neglectful" (7:179). This shows that the one who ls disobedient is ignorant.
There are three categories of the external senses: (a) the senses of animals, (b) the senses of animal-like human beings, for the Quran says that they are like animals (7:179; 25:44) and (c) the senses of mumins. From this example one can realize the importance of the external senses of the mumin. Thus those mumins who have succeeded in acquiring the knowledge of certainty, it is due to the external senses.
A life which is physically life but spiritually death, can be called life-like death, for as has been said in verse (7:179): "And certainly We have created for Hell many of the jinn and men; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are worse; these are the heedless ones."
Patience cannot be applied to angels also because it is an attribute which results from supporting the 'aql (intellect) and opposing nafs (carnal soul) in their natural conflict, while the angels have only intellect, not the nafs. It cannot be applied to animals either, because they have only nafs, but not 'aql. Thus an exalted attribute like patience is created only in those who have the faculties of both 'aql and nafs. Such a position is that of humanity and by humanity is meant the Prophets, Imams and their followers. Thus, it is only they who are human beings in the true sense. As for those who are not human beings in the real sense, but who only appear to be human beings, God says:
"And certainly We have created for Hell a large number of jinns and men; they have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle, nay more misguided: for they are negligent" (7:179).
This verse clearly shows that there are many people who, despite their being in a human form, are like animals, or in other words they are human-like animals. The reason for which is evident from the details of the verse itself; there is neither injustice nor any lack of guidance, but they did not use their hearts, eyes and ears which were granted to them. As a result of this negligence, they fell from the rank of humanity and went even more astray than animals, for the animals stand in the place given to them, whereas they deviated far from their original place. The main cause for their wrong-doing is negligence. The word negligence has many understandable allusions. It alludes to their having neglected the fountainhead of the guidance of their time, therefore they could not attain that knowledge in whose presence, the human heart, mind, eye and ear cannot be covered by the veil of negligence.
This epistle or booklet has been written on the special significance of Intellect and Wisdom. For intellect (or its result, which is knowledge and recognition) is so unique that in its absence there is nothing which can take its place, however there is nothing which can take its place, however excellent it may be, including prostration, prayer and tasbih (glorification of Allah). This is not said as a result of mere supposition or imagination, but is among the cogent and clear Quranic realities. In the sense that the Quran does not promise Paradise to the innumerable creatures in the heavens and the earth which are without soul and intellect. This includes those human beings also who are like cattle (7:179), despite the fact that every creature and everything is in constant prostration to God. (13:15; 16:49; 22:18)
All creatures, mankind and jinn hallow Him and all of them know the way of their prayer and tasbih (24:41). What then is the reason that for many people chastisement is due (22:18)? A satisfactory answer to this question is also in the Quran. As is said “they will say: Had we but listened or used our intellect, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing fire” (67:10). From this verse it is evident that the absence of true intellect is the greatest chastisement, and it is this chastisement which is the fire of ignorance, namely, intellectual chastisement.
Man, in his original nature, is neither angel nor animal. He is created between both. This is his greatest problem and trial, that he is linked to both of them. For his soul is from the animal world and his intellect from the angelic world. In this tug of war between the intellect and the animal soul, all depends on which one he opposes and which one he supports. If he establishes the kingdom of intellect in his personal world, then it is not impossible to become an angel. Contrary to this, if he follows his animal soul, then obviously, he will become an animal, although apparently, he appears to be an human being. This is an explanation of the Qur'anic diagnosis of sick humanity. You can see in verses (7:179; 25:43-44), that such hearts, which cannot understand according to the standard which God and His Prophet have fixed, are sick and such eyes, which cannot see in accordance with the will of God, are ailing and those ears which are not able to listen to the truth, are diseased. Thus, such people have gone more astray than the cattle. The wise Qur’an, in the form of such exhortations, by giving very great importance to prevention, gives it preference over medicine and cure.
Wisdom (hikmat) in reality is the name of knowledge, the reality of everything and the light of intellect. Therefore all spiritual diseases are cured by it. It is particularly necessary for those which are caused by ignorance, for they can be fatal for the intellect and the soul of faith. Death, with respect to the human existence, is of three kinds: physical death, spiritual death and intellectual death. Among these physical death is known to all people, but unfortunately most of them do not understand the perdition of the intellect and soul, although it is mentioned in the Qur’an as “cattle”, which means to fall down from the rank of humanity and faith and to become like cattle (7:179; 25:44; 47:12). Such people, by dying the death of the disease of ignorance, have neither the intellect of religion nor the soul of faith.
Note in the Mighty Qur'an why many people, despite apparently being human beings, are counted among cattle (7:179; 25:44). The reason for this is that they do not pay attention to the realities and recognitions and do not use the greatest favour of the intellect, do not recognise the Prophets and the awliya, do not know the law of annihilation, therefore, they do not have any real happiness.
Q403 Could you cite a verse of the Qur’an by which we can easily understand the above-mentioned reality?
403
- God willing! Study verse (7:179) carefully: “And indeed, We have created for Hell a large number of jinn and men. They have hearts [but] they do not understand therewith; they have eyes [but] they do not see therewith; they have ears [but] they do not hear therewith; they are like cattle; nay, even worse than them. They are the people who are heedless.”
- Such people are indeed human-like animals. The cause of this is absence of knowledge and awareness, which is the result of heedlessness and which in turn is the result of not using their external senses.
This verse has been referred 9 times.