WITH INTELLECT WE ARE IN EXCELSIS 1

BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful

Transliteration

[002:170 Wa-itha (and when) qeela (it is said) lahumu (to them) ittabiAAoo (follow)
ma (what) anzala (has sent down) Allahu (Allah) qaloo (they say) bal (nay) nattabiAAu
(we shall follow) ma (what) alfayna (we found) AAalayhi (upon it) abaana (our
fathers) awa law (even if) kana (did) abaohum (their fathers) la (not) yaAAqiloona
(understand) shay-an (anything) wala (nor) yahtadoona (did they right guidance)]

[002:171 Wamathalu (and the example) allatheena ( of those who) kafaroo

(disbelieved) kamathali (is as like) allathee (of he who) yanAAiqu (shouts) bima (to
that) la (does not) yasmaAAu (hear) illa (except) duAAaan (shouts) wanidaan (and
cries) summun (they are deaf) bukmun (dumb) AAumyun (blind) fahum (so they) la
(do not) yaAAqiloona (understand) ]
 WITH INTELLECT WE ARE IN EXCELSIS 2
BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

Translation

[002: 170 But when they are told, "Follow what God has bestowed from on high," some
answer, "Nay, we shall follow [only] that which we found our forefathers believing in
and doing. " Why, even if their forefathers did not use their reason at all, and were
devoid of all guidance?]

[002:171 And so, the parable of those who are bent on denying the truth is that of the
beast which hears the shepherd's cry, and hears in it nothing but the sound of a voice and
a call.* Deaf are they, and dumb, and blind: for they do not use their reason.]

Exegeses

When they are told: 'Follow what God has revealed,' they reply: 'We will follow what
our fathers practiced,' even though their fathers understood nothing and had no guidance.
The unbelievers are like beasts which, call out to them as one may, can hear nothing but a
shout and a cry. Deaf, dumb, and blind, they understand nothing.
This is a very free rendering of the elliptic sentence which, literally, reads thus: "The
parable of those who are bent on denying the truth is as that of him who cries unto what
hears nothing but a cry and a call." The verb na'qa is mostly used to describe the
inarticulate cry with which the shepherd drives his flock.
Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala in these holy verses after telling us about the people who
were in the state of haram and they would put prohibition on the foods not to eat. And
they used to attribute all these things to Allah. The Allah educated them and also entire
Ummah was educated on the issue what to eat and what not to eat. Now in these verses
mentioned above with translations, Allah is telling us about the unbelievers. Allah said
that “when it is said to them to follow what Allah has sent down…” Allah is telling this
situation to Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam). Their answer used to come in
these words “no we shall follow what our fathers used to follow…” If we just give deep
concentration on this part of the holy verse we would come to know that; they did not use
to apply the senses of them. They never bothered to understand what their messenger
told them. They used to give only one answer that they would follow the same footprints
what their fathers used to do. It means that there was a deep covering on their intellect.
The holy Quran has never appreciated this mode of life. This pattern is called Taqleed.
This process of life does not require having intellectual analysis of the matter present
before them. This is the life pattern of animals. To follow matter blindly without
applying sane intellect is not permitted in the Islam.
It is not bad to follow the fathers and their old systems and philosophies. But the
prime concern is this that there should not be any clash of the following process with the
holy Quran or what the messenger told us. The holy prophet (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) used to forbid such kind of blind Taqleed.
The holy Quran tells us that when the verses of the holy Quran come in the hands
of the intellectual people, they compare them with the system and thoughts of their
 WITH INTELLECT WE ARE IN EXCELSIS 3
BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

forefathers. They make the comparison between them. If they find it compatible with
the holy Quran, then they accept it.
The second group is that when the revelation comes to them, not only that they
accept the revelation but also insist to practice what their fathers used to practice.
Without using their brain cells to see what their fathers used to practice, was it all right or
wrong. They used to reject anything new to them. These were and are worst people.
Such people do have no idea either their fathers used to have sane system or insane
system. They only used to cling to the philosophies of their fathers. This is very bad
practice not to use the brain cells.
It is all meant to say that if you follow what your fathers cherished to follow no
problem. Do follow that. It is good to preserve the traditions and customs of the family.
But the question is that: the traditions and the customs of your fathers if are against
common sensical approach or the holy Quran then it is worth abandoning without any
further thought of justification. Why lights of the guidance were continuously sent to us
through inconceivable dimension ahead of third dimension? These were because to let
the human wisdom be the beacon of intellectual rays of guidance. To follow blindly the
days of yore is vehemently rejected. Animals do it. Humans alter the ways with the
amendment of what holy Quran says. Otherwise it is sheepish modus operandi. Allah
says cudgel your brains.
Ahlul Bayt, holy twelve Imams and all puritanical followers of them always kept
the holy Quran in front of their mental insights. Because, it is the DNA coercive genetic
demand to follow the holy Quran knowingly or unknowingly. The proof. What is
perfect in the universe, and the justice to solace the human needs to give them peace in
life – that is the justice of holy Quran. Every intellectual design in mind of any person
irrespective to color, cast, or creed – that is holy Quran. So how can we go out of the
orbit of the holy Quran? And the star of this orbit is Imam Ali (AS). Hassan and Hussain
(AS) are the moons. And the wife of the star and the mother of two brothers is the
Paradise soil.
And those people who never care about the teachings of the holy Quran and they
give preference to the religion of their fathers should not be under false impression. The
day would come when a grand accountability would be initiated against all the lives. Be
it human, sub-human, jinn, or other kind of life. The total of their credits would balance
the total of their debits. So Allah gives emphasis on the use of intellect. Allah says
even though their fathers did not
understand anything nor were they guided? Here one more lesson we get that we should
not follow the way or the footprints of our fathers on the plea that they are our fathers.
They may be wrong. So first of all we have to see that what were the teachings of the
fathers of us. If they are true and according with the holy Quran, then these can be
followed otherwise not.
The intellect is very important for the survival in this world. If a leader wishes to
do the leadership he must have Aqel and Hidayat. Intellect and guidance both go along.

Allah says in surah Yasin when you

 WITH INTELLECT WE ARE IN EXCELSIS 4
BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

want to follow someone, follow him who should not ask you for any reward. We have
seen there are so many people in this world that they charge amount for rendering
services to you. And if you are guided you can follow the guidance of others. You
should make sure that other is also guided who may give you guidance.
In this age if you look at the Ummah, you would note there is the same problem in
them. There are some people and they are Muslims and they are practicing daily prayers
together with other rituals, but at the same time also they want to practice exactly what
their forefathers used to practice. And they do understand that it is not the part of Islam
but despite the face they are doing it all. But in order to please their elders, they are
following the traditions, which are against the holy Quran. Such people are being
discussed in the verses mentioned above. The people don’t use their intellect and they
never cudgel their minds. The consequences of it are too much bad.
And Allah is giving here an example of those who disbelieve is as that of him
who shouts to those flocks of sheep that hear nothing but call and cry. Such people are
deaf and dumb and blind. So they do not understand. Allah is describing the people like
animals who do not use their intellect and lives senses to seek guidance.
Quintessence:
We don’t have to leave our intellect unharnessed. We are humans and we are possessed
with the power brain. Through it we should understand the light like matter and practice
it in our daily practical affairs. If not, then we are sheepish in our modus operandi. This
is the bottom line.