In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Chapter 2,
As for the deniers, whether you warn them or not, they will not have faith. God has set a seal upon their hearts and ears, and on their eyes there is a covering. A grievous punishment awaits them. (Quran, 2:6-7)
If one closes one’s eyes, one will not be able to see. If one blocks one’s ears, one will not be able to hear. However clear the call of truth may be, it can only be understandable and acceptable if one open one’s mind to it. God’s inaudible call in the universe, and the audible expression of that call by the preacher of God’s word, cannot touch those who have closed minds.
The call to truth is founded on reality; it accords with nature. When it is raised, no one can fail to recognize its truth. If one hears it with an open mind, one will know in one’s heart that it is true. But the practical situation is that the centuries-old conventional set-up of the time has taken on a particular form. Some religious and secular posts come to exist within the framework of this setup; certain people occupy these seats. Certain people reach greatness by complying with the concepts of fame and honour prevalent and accepted in the society. Others lead lives of content by attaching themselves to vested interests which are established in the existing set-up.
The preacher of God’s word is an unfamiliar figure in this setup. He calls people to the will of God, but people think that to accept his call would mean demolishing the world they have made for themselves. Despite the absolute verity of the message of truth, two things prevent them from understanding it properly: pride and worldliness. In the conventional set-up, certain people have obtained high positions in society. Such people think that by following some “insignificant person” their honour would be endangered. This feeling incites them to arrogance. They look down on the preacher of the truth and disregard his call. Worldly interests also come in the way of accepting the truth, for the preacher of truth is not a representative of the conventional set-up. His call is new and unfamiliar. People think that acceptance of his call would be a threat to their material security.
It is these states which prevent people from accepting the truth; the Quran has called them seals over people’s hearts. The minds of those who do not consider the true call seriously, who are proud and worldly in their attitude, are covered with an invisible veil which makes their minds impervious to the truth. When one is prejudiced against something, one cannot see its rationality, even if there are clear signs in support of it.
There are some who declare: ‘we believe in God and in the last day,’ yet they are not true believers. They seek to deceive God and those who believe in Him, but they deceive none save themselves, though they may not perceive it. There is a sickness in their hearts which God has increased: they shall be sternly punished for their hypocrisy. When it is said to them: Do not commit evil in the land,’ they reply; ‘We only want to make peace.’ Truly, it is they who are the evil-doers, but of this they are not aware. And when it is said to them: ‘Believe as others believe,’ they reply: ‘Are we to believe as fools believe?’ Truly it is they who are the fools, if they only knew it! When they meet the faithful, they declare: ‘We too are believers.’ But when they are alone with their devils they say to them: ‘we follow none but you: we were only mocking.’ God mocks at them, leaving them to wander blindly on in their contumacy. Such are those that barter away guidance for error: their commerce does not prosper. (Quran, 2:8-16)
For those who put worldly interests first, total and unconditional devotion to the truth appears unwise, for their true allegiance is to their worldly interests, and it is only on a superficial level that they can attach themselves to the truth. They consider themselves clever. They think that they are safeguarding themselves in the world, and also qualifying to be considered among the pious. But this is no more than wishful thinking; it is a figment of their imagination rather than a real fact of life. Every test in life removes them further from the way of truth and closer to their selfish ways. Their hypocrisy is like a cancer which grows and grows, they consider the true believer to be destroying themselves, for no good reason, for the sake of truth. They call their own policy, on the other hand, one of reconciliation; for they think it enables them to pursue a safe course without clashing with anyone; but this is just unawareness on their part. If they were to think deeply they would realize that peace on earth can only come from man giving himself up to God alone. Evil, on the other hand, lies in obstructing any movement aimed at consolidating man’s relationship with his Lord. Their seemingly profitable trading is in fact running at a loss, for they are forsaking pure truth for an adulterated version of the truth which can benefit no one. □
